A Form of Lying?

[Youssarian]

Is it wrong to lie and make false statements, even in lighthearted humor?

For instance, the kids and one youth leader in my youth group have this (slightly irritating) habit of saying something that's not true out of humor, and then when the joke's over they'll say, "No, I'm just kidding". Is that acceptable?

(Not to kill anyone's fun, but this thought occured to me when looking at the Outrageous Claims thread in Christian Fellowship. Though I fear posting this may make me a hypocrite, since I've participated in that thread.)

[Moxie]

Even Jesus used humor....trying to imagine camels going through the eye of a needle is funny. I think what you have to evaluate in yourself is your intent. Is your intent to deceive someone, ridicule or make fun of someone in a way that is going to hurt their feelings or cause them to be put down? What is the attitude in your heart when you say these things? If you are using humor and you feel convicted by what you've said then take it to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to give you discernment in these matters. If others are saying things that have offended you then take them aside and speak with them in a loving and gracious manner and ask them not to tease you in that matter.

[EvangMike]

Moxie, the needle Jesus was referring was a low and narrow entrance into a city. Riders could only bring their animals into the city with great difficulty because it was so low. This would keep enemy armies from riding into the city on their horses. This side entrance was used when the main gates were often closed. It was not a joke or humor.

As far as our words go, consider the Bible's description of the blessed man:

Ps 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (guile - deceit, craftiness, subtlety)

Ps 55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. (Notice that the presence of guile were classified as "wickedness")

1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Notice also these two verses that talk about what will help us please God:

1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Re 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

I think the Scriptures are plain:

Jas 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Christians can have fun, and can tell clean jokes. Resorting to deceitfulness, however, is a trick the devil enjoys. We do not need it. Do not decide what is OK for you by the actions of others, let the Word of God make those decisions for you.

Hope this helps. God Bless.

[doubledcattle]

I think people try to make being a Christian to seriously sometimes. There is nothing wrong with what those people are doing. The Bible is full of humor! So we can have fun as well, and yes a needle going through the eye of a camel is funny no matter what it means.

Here is a sermon on humor by Pastor Mark Driscoll. Love this guy or hate him, he preaches the Bible. Check it out.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/religionsaves/humor

[tango]

Is it wrong to lie and make false statements, even in lighthearted humor?

For instance, the kids and one youth leader in my youth group have this (slightly irritating) habit of saying something that's not true out of humor, and then when the joke's over they'll say, "No, I'm just kidding". Is that acceptable?

(Not to kill anyone's fun, but this thought occured to me when looking at the Outrageous Claims thread in Christian Fellowship. Though I fear posting this may make me a hypocrite, since I've participated in that thread.)

I think intent is everything here.

If we make a claim with the intention to deceive someone else that's one thing. If we say something that patently isn't true in the context of humour I don't see anything wrong with that.

If we want to denounce the "Just kidding" humour as sinful, where do we draw the line? If we tell a joke about the man who found a penguin is that sinful, since the man didn't actually find a penguin?

[Slug1]

Ya want funny... put me in a 3 piece suit and I'll get laughing and it won't stop. Anyone around me not laughing with me... they need to stop taking their anti-laughing pills

To the OP: Humor though something that is untrue? Define a lie I guess because if I say something for a reaction and then say I was kiding, am I lying? Did I intend something ill, or damaging and say a lie and didn't reveal the truth?

I don't know, boils down to conviction. I know if I say an untruth with no intent to correct it, then I have lied. If I exagerate something or say something for a reaction and no one is hurt, no ill is done except to get someone to crack a smile or "laugh" and then I say just kidding... I figure that when I say, "just kidding" and all stop laughing and are shocked, then maybe I did push a limit I shouldn't.

Besides, we're talking about kids... I'm a Youth Leader and fortunately my mindset is still on their level and can laugh with them and joke as well... if they do push the limit, or disrepect or whatever and I stop laughing... they know correction is about to be voiced.

Nothing better to allow the kids to release steam by tossing out whatever class was planned and just talk about the day/weeks events and allow them to vent... talk about exaggeration . Then we lead into the discussion of not looking at the person(s) giving them trouble but instead, what trouble that person may be having in their life that causes them to take it out on the Youth in our class... very good classes these end up being, as the kids are releaved somewhat of their daily stresses at school/home but also how to deal with it through surrender to God and also possible minister to these persons stressing them out. The best is sibling rivalry and they're all in the class... what a riot but we push through many misunderstandings.

Maybe when they get back home they're back to beating on each other but at least in the class they talked stuff out

[Longsufferer]

In the simplicity in Christ, even as He asked the religious leaders and scholars, saying, Is it right to do good, or to do evil (and by the way it is irrelevant on which day it is); so also with this, Is it right to lie, or to tell the truth? It is not rocket science, and it is certainly not a philosophical discussion, which by the way was the downfall of Eve, who entered into a philosophical discussion with the serpent, that should provoke us to stay away from such. Lastly, lying is the last sin condemned in the scriptures, and is in the same catagory with murder, and other sins. So the answer to whether or not it is wrong to lie ought to be easily discerned by us all.

[Slug1]

In the simplicity in Christ, even as He asked the religious leaders and scholars, saying, Is it right to do good, or to do evil (and by the way it is irrelevant on which day it is); so also with this, Is it right to lie, or to tell the truth? It is not rocket science, and it is certainly not a philosophical discussion, which by the way was the downfall of Eve, who entered into a philosophical discussion with the serpent, that should provoke us to stay away from such. Lastly, lying is the last sin condemned in the scriptures, and is in the same catagory with murder, and other sins. So the answer to whether or not it is wrong to lie ought to be easily discerned by us all.

To lie is defeinately a sin... but what is lying while joking? As Tango mentioned concerning intent... what's the line and where is it drawn?

[The Mighty Sword]

Is it wrong to lie and make false statements, even in lighthearted humor?

For instance, the kids and one youth leader in my youth group have this (slightly irritating) habit of saying something that's not true out of humor, and then when the joke's over they'll say, "No, I'm just kidding". Is that acceptable?

(Not to kill anyone's fun, but this thought occured to me when looking at the Outrageous Claims thread in Christian Fellowship. Though I fear posting this may make me a hypocrite, since I've participated in that thread.)

the Outrageous Claims thread was such a great thread, I wonder who created it??? ........................

[Slug1]

the Outrageous Claims thread was such a great thread, I wonder who created it??? ........................

You just had to point this out

[Youssarian]

That's a toughie.

Kid: "I woke up this morning and my skin had blue polka dot spots on it and my eyes were green!" Pause. "Just kidding!"
(That wasn't actually said by anybody.)

Is that a lie? Part of it is. The first sentence clearly wasn't true. But then it was countered with the "Just kidding!" part and the entire time it was said in a facetious tone. So does that still count as a sin or does the tone and "Just kidding!" part annul the possibly sinful aspect?

I ask this because it just doesn't feel right when I make jokes that include these non-truths. I guess I'm more literal and a bit more of a hard-liner (or whatever the words are) than your average kid, on this aspect anyhow.

[The Mighty Sword]

That's a toughie.

Kid: "I woke up this morning and my skin had blue polka dot spots on it and my eyes were green!" Pause. "Just kidding!"
(That wasn't actually said by anybody.)

Is that a lie? Part of it is. The first sentence clearly wasn't true. But then it was countered with the "Just kidding!" part and the entire time it was said in a facetious tone. So does that still count as a sin or does the tone and "Just kidding!" part annul the possibly sinful aspect?

I ask this because it just doesn't feel right when I make jokes that include these non-truths. I guess I'm more literal and a bit more of a hard-liner (or whatever the words are) than your average kid, on this aspect anyhow.

I see your point, there is two ways to view this,
"
1. being and having a sense of humor, if it's done with good taste and right off the back it is established in good humor ithink it's fine and GOD will not have anger towards it," be of good cheer", especially when it's done in fun and fun clean fun is not a sin.

2. To lie to gain is complete wrong and ungodly.

[tango]

That's a toughie.

Kid: "I woke up this morning and my skin had blue polka dot spots on it and my eyes were green!" Pause. "Just kidding!"
(That wasn't actually said by anybody.)

Is that a lie? Part of it is. The first sentence clearly wasn't true. But then it was countered with the "Just kidding!" part and the entire time it was said in a facetious tone. So does that still count as a sin or does the tone and "Just kidding!" part annul the possibly sinful aspect?

I ask this because it just doesn't feel right when I make jokes that include these non-truths. I guess I'm more literal and a bit more of a hard-liner (or whatever the words are) than your average kid, on this aspect anyhow.

It's like I said before, it comes down to intent. Do you say those things intending to fool someone into believing something that isn't true in order to deceive them, take advantage of them, or exploit their naivety? Or is it all for fun, in a way that the person hearing the words will also enjoy when the joke is sprung?

To call a disability claims line and claim that you woke up covered in spots in the context of attempting to claim money would clearly be inappropriate behaviour. If you followed it up with "Just kidding, hahahaha" and hung up we might question whether the humour was in good taste but you're still not attempting anything inappropriate. But to make up some wild story about waking up to find your head was missing and having to navigate to it backwards because your eyes weren't attached to your body any more clearly isn't true, and clearly isn't intended to be a false witness against anybody.

If you don't feel right making jokes that include half-truths and untruths don't make them. If the Spirit convicts you then stop doing it, whatever "it" is. But aside from observational humour I think most forms of jokes involve situations that aren't real, but either could be or would be very funny if they actually were. I know a good joke about a talking duck in a bar - it's funny (and it's 100% clean), most people can't see the punchline coming, but needless to say there was never a talking duck.

[YouSavedMe*]

In the form which is described this persons lying appears quite harmless. However i do feel that to justify it too much could lead to a slippery slope of 'where to draw the line'. Lies in any form are best avoided.