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Doing Bad Stuff

(The Goal of Parenting, part 3)

Julie is really good about doing a breakfast devotional with the boys.  She reads from a daily devotional and then asks them questions and gets them to respond.

Today I did the devotional, and guess what it was about?  Yep, sin.

So, how do you talk to kids about sin?  (Go here to read about why we need to teach children about sin.)

If you ask my kids what sin is they will tell you it's "doing bad stuff."  This is a typical response, not just for kids, but for adults too.  But is sin really just about not doing bad stuff?  If so, then we can deal with sin by changing our behavior.  As the saying goes, "don't dance, don't drink, don't smoke, don't chew, and don't go out with girls who do."

However, the problem of sin goes beyond behavior modification; it's not about doing bad stuff.  If we deal with sin by simply changing our behavior then who needs Jesus?  All one needs is discipline, or inspiration, or a good therapist, or a strong mind, etc.

The problem of sin is that we cannot deal with sin. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves from sin.  Even really good people who recycle, vote, use their blinkers on the freeway, and listen to Christian radio can't save themselves.

So when we teach our kids about sin, it's not only about doing bad stuff.  Yes, let's correct bad behavior, but we must also teach them that we are lost in our sin and that no amount of good behavior can ever correct our sin.

At breakfast I recalled the story about Aaron nearly drowning at Ko'olina.  That got their attention.  I reminded them that no matter how hard Aaron tried he couldn't get his head above water.  And just as mommy saved Aaron, so did Jesus save us.

I believe that when this really sinks in to our kids, when they really begin to understand in their hearts what Jesus did for us, it's the beginning of a lifelong journey of loving God.

And let me add, I know it sounds like Leave it to Beaver sitting at breakfast and talking about deep biblical truths, but it's not.  In the middle of daddy's teaching are lots of burps, butt jokes, and general mayhem.

This is why we must teach them and keep on teaching them.  Teach them diligently and pray!