Hi Taken im glad you shared your opinion. I can see you've given it considerable thought unlike some others.
It is a tough question. You gave some great examples of when people might give an acceptable lie. I found myself doing it recently when I was joking around with someone.
Another time when a lie might be appropriate is to keep from hurting someone or a relationship.
For example. You have a wife that asks
"do I look fat in this dress?"
You know she does but what do you say?
Or your child brings home a drawing of the family. It's horrible but you still put it up on the fridge and tell her she's an artist
Cristo...when my wife has asked me how she looks in some clothing I answer based on what I see as the truth and I don't lie to her. If the outfit is really great, then that's an easy answer, and I say of course. When it is clearly awful, I never just say NO, ITS AWFUL, that's the kiss of death. She can read me very well.... And of course I do not want to be shot on the spot. I say something that has a sense of reality and not BS. I say things like it might not match that well with say her hair, or its out of style or something else. You see it is not a lie to say such things because she knows that if I extend my answer in some way, that I have already said NO to her. Thinking that a lie means you do not get to the point quickly or exactly and saying YES or NO is not necessarily lying, because your intention is to not lie, only attempting to somehow cushion the blow of a negative reply....or rejection. Tone and volume (shouting) and style matter to women, and I'm still learning all three....lol
Now in your other example it is similar. If my child was not gifted in drawing and trying their best to draw something or someone and it turned out to be really awful, depending on the age and other conditions like physical or mental handicaps I would still find ways to soften the blow and avoid telling them I totally reject it because it was awful. By being more helpful in your words, you keep them positive and uplifted and you might add in some useful recommendations they take to heart.
If the child was of a pre-school age and saying to them they might be an artist in the future in definitely not a lie, even if their drawing is ghastly. You don't know their potential nor does that child at that time. It is a form of encouragement and thinking of lying or not should not enter one's mind in this case.
I think if our intentions are pure, and we are not devising ways to lie then what comes out of our mouth is most probably not a lie, from our heart. When we devise evil in our heart, they we tend to lie...and not just to others, to ourselves and our Maker.
God knows when we lie and if we get convicted and ponder on the matter for too long, then we know in short order we did lie...busted!
