We’re continuing our week-long series on sins we often ignore: envy, white lies, complaining, pride, and unforgiveness. These sins feel small, but they quietly bend our hearts and weaken our walk with Christ. Today, we look at one of the most common and most excused: the “white lie.”
Colossians 3:9 says, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices.”
Paul doesn’t grade dishonesty. He doesn’t separate lies into acceptable and unacceptable. Any form of deceit belongs to the “old self,” and Christians are called to leave that behind.
A white lie is a lie we convince ourselves doesn’t hurt anyone. In these moments:
We soften the truth.
We tweak a detail.
We exaggerate to impress.
We avoid saying what is uncomfortable.
And because the intention isn’t malicious, we tell ourselves it’s harmless.
Scripture says otherwise.
Proverbs 12:22: “Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are His delight.”
Matthew 5:37: “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’”
Titus 1:2 reminds us that God “cannot lie.”
Truth isn’t optional for the people of God. It reflects His character.
White lies damage relationships more than we think. They create doubt. They weaken trust. They introduce questions that linger long after the moment has passed. Paul told the Ephesians, “Speak the truth… because we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25). Truth builds unity. Dishonesty, no matter how small, erodes it.
White lies also harm us spiritually.
Paul warns about consciences that become “seared” (1 Timothy 4:2). That doesn’t happen through one major fall. It happens a little at a time. Small compromises teach the heart that truth is flexible. We stop feeling conviction. Integrity becomes negotiable.
And when dishonesty becomes a habit, confession becomes impossible. We hide behind our own words. We excuse instead of repenting. We protect our image rather than expose our sin. David said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away” (Psalm 32:3). That’s what happens when we stop telling the truth.
White Lies in the Church and in Ministry
White lies don’t stay outside the church. They show up in the places where honesty should be strongest.
One preacher may round up numbers or exaggerate results.
Another preacher might embellish the teachings of another preacher he disagrees with.
A teacher may avoid a hard truth.
A leader may give a polite half-answer instead of clarity.
A member may say “I’m fine” while quietly drowning.
Jesus said, “The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Matthew 12:34). And He warned that “people will give an account for every careless word” (Matthew 12:36). The church cannot thrive without honesty. “Speak truth… because we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25). Truthfulness isn’t optional. It is essential.
Walking in Truth
So how do we push back against the lies we excuse?
Remember who you are.
“You have put on the new self” (Colossians 3:10). The old self hides. The new self walks in light.
Slow down.
“Be… slow to speak” (James 1:19). Most white lies are impulsive. Slow words are honest words.
Speak truth in love.
Ephesians 4:15 calls for honesty that is gentle and clear, not harsh or reckless.
Make things right.
If you’ve lied, even in small ways, confess it. Correct it. God honors humility (James 4:6).
We follow a Savior who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Every step toward truth draws us closer to Him. Every dishonest moment, even the quiet ones, pulls us away. The world bends the truth. Christians shouldn’t.
When we walk in the truth, we reflect the God who never lies.
