Are we deceiving children ....

[righteousdude2]

Imho...

.... when we tell them things that we know are not true?

This time of year one often hears discussions of whether or not parents allow their children to "believe in Santa Claus."

I've had different ideas about this, but what about other "white lies" such as "The Tooth Fairy," etc.?

I'd like to read your take on this, preferably including God's Word to back up your position.

...we are decieving children with things that go way beyond Santa and the tooth fairy! We need to be very careful in what we say, and how we live, because there are greater things than Santa Claus to be concerned over.

For instance, many of us, as believers drink and smoke, and tell our children it is perfectly fine so long as it is in moderation! The question is, what is moderation? And can moderation really be difined or taught, and does it always have a "magical" number attached to it? What you consider moderation may not be what the children decide is moderation, when the reach adulthood! And what do we say to our kids when they come in contact with teetotalers who paint these things as sinful practices and a form of filth??

I think we need to be cognizant of the manner in which we live and how we talk; because there will always be those who see these things quite differently than how we bring our kids up to believe!

Another for instance, some believers don't think certain words are cussing. And we tell our kids that this form of the word is acceptable in God's eyes, while the other form of the the same word or meaning of that word isn't

I hope I am making sense to you folks, because I do not mean to judge any of you, and I do not pretend to know what is and isn't acceptable to God! I just think that there are moral choices and values that can take on a falsehood of their own, and we need to examine everything, if in fact we are going to hold those who want their kids to have a few years of believing in "Fairy tales!"

LIke someone once said: When we point a finger at another there are three other fingers on our hand pointing back at us! Selah!

 

[saturneptune]

...we are decieving children with things that go way beyond Santa and the tooth fairy! We need to be very careful in what we say, and how we live, because there are greater things than Santa Claus to be concerned over.

For instance, many of us, as believers drink and smoke, and tell our children it is perfectly fine so long as it is in moderation! The question is, what is moderation? And can moderation really be difined or taught, and does it always have a "magical" number attached to it? What you consider moderation may not be what the children decide is moderation, when the reach adulthood! And what do we say to our kids when they come in contact with teetotalers who paint these things as sinful practices and a form of filth??

I think we need to be cognizant of the manner in which we live and how we talk; because there will always be those who see these things quite differently than how we bring our kids up to believe!

Another for instance, some believers don't think certain words are cussing. And we tell our kids that this form of the word is acceptable in God's eyes, while the other form of the the same word or meaning of that word isn't

I hope I am making sense to you folks, because I do not mean to judge any of you, and I do not pretend to know what is and isn't acceptable to God! I just think that there are moral choices and values that can take on a falsehood of their own, and we need to examine everything, if in fact we are going to hold those who want their kids to have a few years of believing in "Fairy tales!"

LIke someone once said: When we point a finger at another there are three other fingers on our hand pointing back at us! Selah!

Well, if Santa would stop his bad habits, that would cease to be a problem. LOL

 

[Revmitchell]

...

For instance, many of us, as believers drink and smoke, and tell our children it is perfectly fine so long as it is in moderation! The question is, what is moderation? A! Selah!

It is certainly subjective but for some it include only slightly inebriated rather than full blown inebriated. A little drunk rather than falling down drunk.

 

[righteousdude2]

If you're Old Enough to REmember....

It is certainly subjective but for some it include only slightly inebriated rather than full blown inebriated. A little drunk rather than falling down drunk.

.....Foster Brooks played a great, falling down drunk on television! The thing most didn't know about Foster was that he was not a drinker!

 

[Revmitchell]

.....Foster Brooks played a great, falling down drunk on television! The thing most didn't know about Foster was that he was not a drinker!

He did I like watching him on the Dean Martin Roasts

 

[Aaron]

It's the bigger picture in question here - not trying to take joy away, because the whole idea can still be had, and much joy and fun along with it too, without the lie.

I think this would be the counsel of Christ and His Apostles.

And they know it, too, but to validate their positions they have take the absurd position that their deceptions are no more than that of mere storytelling.

And if one doesn't teach his children to believe in the existence of fanciful characters, it must mean he must never ever ever mention them or read stories about them, let alone dress his avatar like one!

I think my childhood was richer, and my joy at Christmas more fullfilling for never having been led to believe in Santa Claus, and it's never lost its "magic."

 

[webdog]

So telling the truth is legalism?

if that's so than I'd rather be legalistic than a sinner any day.

No, its legalism to tell me what I do with my kids is sinful...and to make up commandments that do not exist ("thou shalt not lie")

 

[webdog]

Strange, every year the stories of Rahab, Jonathan and David, God and Hezekiah, God and Moses, Jesus and the men on the road to Emmaus go unmentioned when these awful "lies" were told.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

.....Foster Brooks played a great, falling down drunk on television! The thing most didn't know about Foster was that he was not a drinker!

Though he didn't advertise it to a great extent, he said he was a "friend of Bill W."