Is it better to lie to people in church?

[Jackalope]

Sometimes a perceived lie is not a lie but love in disguise.

I'm unsurprised that GC could say this with a straight face.

While there may have been no harm in the lie, and in fact it may have been done out of love, it is still a lie. There is no malicious intent required for it to be a lie, only that it is knowingly false.

lie
noun
1. a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.
2. something intended or serving to convey a false impression; imposture: His flashy car was a lie that deceived no one.
3. an inaccurate or false statement.
4. the charge or accusation of lying: He flung the lie back at his accusers.
verb (used without object)
5. to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.
6. to express what is false; convey a false impression.