If I am reading it right it says, "Don't bear false witness on your neighbor." In other words, if I lie to my kids I am not lieing to jeopardize my neighbor in any way. I am simply upholding a harmless family tradtion of story telling at Christmas-time. So it would appear t me that the spirit in which you lie is more relevant than if you lie. As a matter of fact I wonder if lying or telling the truth is even the issue at all.
2006-12-04 20:47:13 · 7 answers · asked by Red Winged Bandit 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The truth shall set your free. You do not have to lie. Just tell the truth and the children will know why.
2006-12-04 20:50:59 · answer #1 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's not the truth, it is an oral traditon. I can tell you this, I would tell my kids the story of St. Nicholas & origins of the tradtion. When some of my more savvy students would question me on this, I would tell them that was a great mom & dad question,that thier parents would love to answer & I didn't want to take that special question time away from them... That and when they saw Santa to please ask him to remember my Ferrarii that I was still waiting for.Teaching at a Christian school, I was able to differentiate for the children our customs & traditional ways of celebrating, alongside with the actual event that was actually being celebrated.
Precious too, some of them actually did relay my request to Santa, & Santa sent back some very clever answers such as coming in to ask him again in person, etc.
Hopefully fun & no harm done.
I will end by saying that I was a particularily trusting child, and when my Mom burst my bubble at age 10, I felt hurt & betrayed that she would perpetrate anything less than absolute accuracy .Made me question whether the same news re. God himself was soon to follow.
This coming from a non-religious family.Perhaps something to think about with your more sensitive & tender hearted youngsters.
'Sometimes more fun to refer to the old gentleman with a wink & a nod & include them in this enchanting idea in such a way that it eases the transition in a more natural way when the timing is right.Just a thought. Enjoy your time with your children, & Merry Christmas!
2006-12-05 05:12:16 · answer #2 · answered by gettin'real 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Proverbs 6:16-19 says: There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
I am not sure what you mean when you say "story telling at Chrismas time."
2006-12-05 05:29:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you only have to lie if you have to, if a man points a gun at your head and says, "tell me where the money is!" then I would lie to him to escape and call the police. But if your telling your kids something they really want to believe in (like Santa or the tooth fairy) then tell the truth when you need to.
2006-12-05 05:00:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether it's a little lie or a porky, a lie is a lie. Nothing better then the truth. The truth will never get you in trouble, it will always set you free.
2006-12-05 04:59:01 · answer #5 · answered by BFCP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not trying telling the Truth to them and explaining the family traditions in that way?
2006-12-05 05:00:34 · answer #6 · answered by dorianalways 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lie is a lie...no two ways about it.. be honest, that's the best policy..
2006-12-05 04:52:54 · answer #7 · answered by ^ross^ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋