“Be good,” we say to little ones as the babysitter arrives.
“Be good,” we say to school-age kids before they go over to a friend’s house.
“Be good,” we say to teens before they drive off in their own car.
This familiar phrase is one kids hear all throughout their childhood, and the meaning differs in every age, stage, and context.
Many kids pick up on a “be good” message as they learn Bible stories, hear the gospel, and participate in all sorts of church activities.
The call to goodness is not wrong. However, we need to be clear about the place behavior holds in the life of a believer. Misunderstandings around “being good” for God can cripple kids with a sort of legalism that can lead to anxiety or rebellion.