If you read the post on teaching kids about absolute truth, you probably realize how important it is. Other than constantly discussing it, what are some things you can do with your kids to help them understand that not everything in life is a gray area? How can you help them understand God’s truth is absolute and for any time and any place?
Absolute truth is an abstract concept and young children will have a hard time understanding it. You can do things with even the youngest of children though to start making them think and discuss the idea that there is a truth that is not up to a person’s opinion. There are probably a lot of things you can do, but here are a few to get you started:
- Share stories from the Bible. There are tons of examples of people who thought they could get by with tweaking God’s commands and principles a bit and God wouldn’t mind. Unfortunately for them, they were wrong and often had to endure some serious consequences. From Ananias and Sapphira to King David to today, people have always wanted to believe God’s laws don’t really apply to them. Often they even gave God or his prophet a long list of reasons why they didn’t obey God. I am sure they had convinced themselves even back then that God didn’t really mean what He said. I can’t think of even one example though when God said the person was justified to disobey Him. Usually, God just punished the person in some dramatic way.
- Use math and money. This is a great activity for younger children who are beginning to start thinking abstractly soon. Show them a nickel and a dime for example. Tell them you think the nickel should be worth ten cents and the dime five cents because a nickel is bigger than a dime. Tell your kids you can’t understand why the clerk wanted more money when your bill was five dollars and ten cents and you gave her a five dollar bill and a nickel. Or tell them you have decided you really don’t like the number four and have decided to use the number three instead for the answer to math problems like 2 + 2 =. Hopefully, your kids will begin to point out the error of your ways. Keep insisting for awhile longer that you have a right to your opinion and since it is true for you everyone else should accept it. Then share a few things they will hear in the world about the lack of absolute truth – that some lies are acceptable and even a good idea for example.
- Discuss stories in the news. This is better to do with older children and teens. What excuses did the people in the story give for their criminal behaviors? How many of those excuses were actually an attempt to convince others their “truth” was valid? How did the judge react? Be aware, these stories don’t always end with justice being served. For teens, that is not a bad discussion to have either. Talk about the consequences people experience when they reject God’s truth and substitute their own “truth”?
- Talk about God’s commands and principles. Look at some of the things God commands us to do. Ask your kids why they think God gave those commands. Can they think of consequences people would possibly experience if they disobeyed them? Why do people want to substitute their own truths for God’s absolute truth? Why are commands like “Do not lie”, absolute truth from God for any time and any place? With teens, you may want to particularly discuss some of God’s commands that are rejected by society as “old fashioned”. Would God agree? Why or why not?
- Help your child design a fictional world. Some kids love the idea of creating fictitious worlds. Have your child create a world where everyone obeys God’s commands and principles and accepts them as absolute truth. What would that world be like? How would it be different from the world today? How important will it be for your child to accept God’s absolute truth and share it with others in hopes of making the world a better place and helping others get to Heaven?
Society and even many Christians are against you teaching your kids about God’s absolute truth. It will be an uphill battle with most of the world trying to undermine what you are teaching your kids. You must keep trying though, because unless your children believe in God’s absolute truth, they will never be able to reach their God given potential.