I thought about this one question for a bit and just had a good laugh and now wish to answer it.
There are quite a few who believe in the following- "Diplomacy is saying 'nice doggy' while reaching for a rock." The saying is attributed to several folks, Ben Franklin is one. is ol' Ben telling us to lie????
I has always thought my mom had it about right- if ya can't say something nice then shut the hell up. (okie woman, she didn't sugar coat her diplomacy)
Now if Phil had kept is comments focused on himself and his earlier days of being a sinning little monkey, if he had just said it is for God to judge and because He gave us freewill each of us must decide our own path, some of us seek His Word and some don't....
I'd admire the hairy dude.
So my answer is he shouldn't lie, he forgot in a bit of hubris.
He should remember THE WORD in more than just the parts that admonish... Judge not and all that sort of thing...
eace