This is a dilemma in the world in general. Christianity is, aside from the sacred religious aspects, an instruction set for how to get screwed by others - at least in the short term. I don't say this with disdain. If it wasn't for my faith I would not be alive. No question. Also, I believe, independent of the religious implications, that the messages put forth in Christian doctrine about how to conduct oneself in life are the absolute right ones.
I don't know how to deal with this conundrum, and would love to hear other opinions. Our military employs psy-ops and disinformation, etc. Is that wrong? What's the balance? Do we have the right to defend ourselves against those who want to destroy our way of life?
“I don’t know how to deal with this conundrum, and would love to hear other opinions. Our military employs psy-ops and disinformation, etc. Is that wrong? What’s the balance? Do we have the right to defend ourselves against those who want to destroy our way of life? “
Reasonable questions, and you may want to (if you haven’t already) studied ‘just war’ theory and its neighbors.
Using the Bible as a guide, most conclude that spying by a legitimate government is not a sin. Some conclude differently, and there are limits to what a spy can do. But God directed Israel to send spies, so, the general consensus is, it isn’t necessarily a sin.
How far to you go with spying? The lie is implied. Killing would be a ‘just war’ argument. What about fornication? I don’t see a justification for that.
Psy-ops and disinformation go in to the “justifiable lie” category. Some great Christians say a believer should never lie. Some teach there is such thing as a justifiable lie, based on such things as the Hebrew midwives, David feigning madness, and the lie of Rahab. I am in that camp. But I qualify it by saying that the lies are only, as far as I can see, to defend innocent life, just as you can kill to defend innocent life.
I don’t want to steer you wrong, though, so I encourage you to read good Christians on both sides of the issue. I do think that use of the justifiable lie is rare, not an everyday thing.
As for “how to get screwed by others,” I disagree. One person plus God is a majority. While as individuals our faithfulness sometimes gets us crucified upside down, normally obeying God’s law brings temporal safety and blessing. It always brings eternal safety and blessing of course.