Recently I was asked how to keep children from lying. There are several answers to that question. The first is: you can’t. They are born liars. My parents were successful in teaching me not to use profanity, slang, tobacco, alcohol, or girls. They were not successful in teaching me not to lie. I lied my way through high school.
The second answer is to teach them the negative consequences of lying: if caught, an immediate, hard spanking. This will thin down the lying. However, it will also help them to figure out how to not to get caught.
The third is to teach them the everlasting consequences of lying.
• They are washed, made clean, purified, and sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11).
• Their names are written in the book of life (Rev. 21:27).
• They are dead to sin (Rom. 6:1-2).
As it was normal for an unbeliever to lie, so it is not normal for a believer to lie.
If you already know the child is guilty of something, do not ask him if he did it. He will say that he did not do it. You have just helped him lie. Then you have to spank him for lying on top of whatever else he did. There is an American idiom that is right on: “Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies.”
Instead, tell him that you know that he did it, and ask him if he would he like to tell you why. He may still lie, but it will be harder for him to come up with a story. If the story is obviously fiction, tell him you do not want to hear any more.
How do you keep from lying? Recognize that lies are from Satan. Stay filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Recognize that your old man has been put off, and lying is no longer normal.
If you have lied, confess your sin to God. If you do not confess the lies you have already told, it is almost certain that you will lie again.
The second answer is to teach them the negative consequences of lying: if caught, an immediate, hard spanking. This will thin down the lying. However, it will also help them to figure out how to not to get caught.
The third is to teach them the everlasting consequences of lying.
Nothing impure will ever enter into it nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev. 21:27)When we teach this judgment, we should also teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. When people receive Christ, several things happen:
Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Rev. 22:15)
• They are washed, made clean, purified, and sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11).
• Their names are written in the book of life (Rev. 21:27).
• They are dead to sin (Rom. 6:1-2).
As it was normal for an unbeliever to lie, so it is not normal for a believer to lie.
If you already know the child is guilty of something, do not ask him if he did it. He will say that he did not do it. You have just helped him lie. Then you have to spank him for lying on top of whatever else he did. There is an American idiom that is right on: “Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies.”
Instead, tell him that you know that he did it, and ask him if he would he like to tell you why. He may still lie, but it will be harder for him to come up with a story. If the story is obviously fiction, tell him you do not want to hear any more.
How do you keep from lying? Recognize that lies are from Satan. Stay filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Recognize that your old man has been put off, and lying is no longer normal.
If you have lied, confess your sin to God. If you do not confess the lies you have already told, it is almost certain that you will lie again.
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