Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Is there a "good" kind of lying (e.g. covering other people's sins)? Because there are many stories in the Paradise of the Monks speaking about covering our brother's sins, can you clarify this point for me?

There is no such thing as 'good' kind of lying. The monks were very simple people that acted with love to cover the sins of others. "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (1 Pet 4:8). Had they thought about their actions as lying they would have reconsidered, but we learn from them the purity of heart and love for one another that covers all sins. This by no mean should give us a green light to lie when we are aware quite well that it is a sin. Jacob knowingly (Gen 27:12) lied to his father to take a blessing that was actually a fulfillment of God's promise, yet he lived all his life paying dearly for that sin.
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