The other day I was at a local chicken restaurant that has a cow mascot that can’t spell. While enjoying my sandwich and waffle fries, I could hear the parents of a family sitting behind me talk about their neighbors. Evidently, their neighbors had been having a few parties over the summer that included some loud music late at night. While this gave these parents a reason to complain in front of their children, what they said next surprised me. The dad said that when he saw that a tree in their neighbors’ yard had fallen onto their neighbors’ garage, one thing came to his mind: What goes around comes around. I cringed as I knew his children were being taught this attitude towards others.
While the phrase is a popular one, the premise opposes a biblical view of grace and teaches children some dangerous thought habits.
Teach Love, Not Revenge
First, it encourages retaliation and revenge. If someone does something bad to you, it’s okay to want to do something bad back at them or hope something bad happens to them. Luke 6:27-28 says,“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Not only should we not wish ill will on those who hurt us, we need to love them.
Teach Grace, Not Karma
Second, our children learn the philosophy of karma: the idea that people get what they deserve. This goes against the gospel! When Christ died for us, we did not deserve his grace. But he still loved us as sinners and took our punishment so that we may have a way back to God and eternal life with him. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“What goes around comes around” may seem like a harmless saying, but it can have a lasting impact on children. Instead, use a situation to show how God wants us to love and forgive others.
