CHAPTER XXVI.
LYING—CHEATING—STEALING.
Lying.
I refuse to accept the Bible as a moral guide because it sanctions lying and deception.
“And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also; go forth and do so. Now therefore, behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these, thy prophets” (1 Kings xxii, 20–23).
“If the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet” (Ezek. xiv, 9).
“O Lord, thou hast deceived me” (Jer. xx, 7).
“Wilt thou [God] be altogether unto me as a liar?” (Jer. xv, 18.)
“God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie” (2 Thess. ii, 11).