Is Thinking Something Bad The Same As Doing It Or Saying It?
Answer: No. Hating someone and wishing that person were dead are both terrible, but hating only affects the person who is thinking the bad thoughts.
He or she would make the situation much worse by actually killing the other person.
The same is true with stealing, lying, and other bad thoughts. As wrong as it is to think bad thoughts, it’s even worse to do them or say them.
But our thoughts are important, because we often end up doing what we keep thinking about.
Suppose your mother told you not to eat any cookies before dinner.
But you see the cookies on the counter and keep thinking about how good they would taste, especially with a glass of cold milk.
If you keep thinking about this, the desire to eat those cookies will probably grow and grow until eventually you might disobey your mom and take some.
God knows what we are thinking, and he wants us to fill our minds with good thoughts, not bad.
Key verse: O Jerusalem, make your hearts clean while there is still time. You can still be saved by throwing out your evil thoughts. (Jeremiah 4:14)
Related verses: 1 Chronicles 28:9; Philippians 4:8; James 1:14-15
Related question: Is it wrong to think bad thoughts?
Note to parents: At some point most children become concerned about being punished by God for their bad thoughts.
Let your child know that it’s not wrong to have a bad thought, but it is wrong to keep on thinking about it instead of thinking about something else.
Make sure your child understands why it’s wrong to dwell on bad thoughts: Our thoughts grow into desires and actions.
Why Is It Wrong To Do Something If All The Other Kids Do It?
Answer: If something is wrong, it’s wrong, no matter how many people do it. Suppose a group of your friends started throwing stones through windows in the neighborhood.
Would it be OK just because everyone did it? Of course not! It would be wrong whether one person or everyone in school did it.
You can be sure that the police and the homeowners would say it was wrong!
If a lot of kids swear, cheat, lie, do drugs, drink, smoke, disobey their parents, shoplift, or do something else that is wrong, don’t think that you have to do it, too.
You should do what is right, even if you are the only one. That’s what God wants.
If the group you hang around with does things that are wrong and pressures you to join them, find another group.
Get away from kids who are always tempting you to do wrong.
Key verses: I am speaking for the Lord. Don’t live like the unsaved do anymore. They are blinded and confused.
Their closed hearts are full of darkness. They are far away from the life of God. Why? Because they have shut their minds against him.
They can’t understand his ways. They don’t care anymore about right and wrong. They have given themselves over to doing wrong things.
They stop at nothing. They are driven by their evil minds and reckless lusts. (Ephesians 4: 17-19)
Related verses: Judges 2:11-15; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 2:8
Note to parents: Peer pressure on kids can be quite strong. As your child grows older, you can help combat peer pressure by spending time together one-on-one and together as a family.
Should I Tell On Other Kids?
Answer: If a law will be broken or someone will be hurt, yes. God puts adults in positions of authority to protect you and others against wrongdoing.
If those adults don’t know about a problem, they can’t provide that protection.
Tell a parent, teacher, coach, counselor, police officer, or another concerned adult if someone is stealing, doing drugs, selling drugs, drinking, planning to break the law, talking about committing suicide, or talking about hurting someone.
There’s nothing wrong with telling on other kids at times like that.
But there is something wrong with “telling on” kids you don’t like just to get them in trouble.
Remember, you aren’t a parent, teacher, principal, or police officer.
Also, if you tell on someone and that person gets into trouble, don’t brag and make a big deal about what you did.
God’s pur- pose for us is to serve him and help others-that’s the reason for telling in the first place-so bragging is out of place.
Key verse: Take no part in the worthless pleasures of evil and darkness. Instead, rebuke them and bring them out into the light. (Ephesians 5:11)
Related verses: Luke 17:3; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-14
Note to parents: The issue of tattling on other kids is very real – kids hate tattlers so much that some parents encourage their kids not to tell on anybody at any time, fearing that they will lose friends.
But it’s important for kids to report wrongdoing-it’s a basic part of being a responsible friend and citizen.
Teach your child to enforce the rules out of a desire to help others respond properly to God, rather than appearing morally superior.