HEY MIKE! I'm confused about "white lies." I have a friend who ended up telling one in order to save someone's life. (My friend lives in a terrorist-infested area: Nagaland, Northeast India.) Anyway, some say that God would understand the situation. But it's still a compromise, right?
— A.C., Nepal
You've asked a great question, not to mention a difficult one.
While the Bible is clear about the issue of lying — "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful," (Proverbs 12:22) — I can't imagine being put in the kind of situation you described.
I mean, if a bunch of terrorist-type thugs stormed into my house, threatening the life of someone I loved, the last thing I'd want to do is cooperate. I'd even be tempted to lie in order to save a life.
Yet as I think about the verse above, my mind flashes to believers who stood for the truth at any cost.
In dc Talk's book, Jesus Freaks, the guys tell about a terrible incident in Sudan in 1993. Arab Muslims raided a village and slaughtered those who wouldn't renounce their faith in Jesus. A short time later, an American TV journalist interviewed children who had lost their families. The reporter asked, "Would you turn to Islam? Or would you prefer to die for Christ?" One of the Sudanese kids responded, "We will remain Christians because this is the truth."
And in the Bible, when Christ was on trial and threatened with death on a cross, He didn't stray from the truth: " 'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.' " (John 18:37)
My point is, Christians need to live on the side of truth in all situations. A white lie is still dark at the core. And all lies compromise our faith. Even though I, too, would be tempted to crack under pressure, I hope I'd find a way to listen to Jesus and speak the words He'd have me say.
I'm especially comforted by this truth: Jesus understands my humanity and forgives me when I repent and turn to Him. 
