As a kid, can I keep secrets from my parents?
"Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).
"...He [God] knows the secrets of our hearts" (Psalm 44:21).
The Bible tells us to honor our parents. If keeping a secret dishonors them, then it is sin.Keeping secrets can sometimes be okay. For example, it is okay to not tell your mom about her surprise birthday party or the gift you bought for her. Keeping a secret like this is not dishonoring her in any way. Instead, it is a fun birthday surprise!
However, keeping secrets is wrong if it means you or someone else could get hurt or get into trouble. For example, if a girl in your neighborhood talks about hurting herself or if a friend at school says he is going to steal from the corner store, then those are secrets you should tell your parents. You should never agree with your friends to keep secrets from your parents. Those kinds of secrets are usually about things you should not be doing in the first place.
If someone is hurting you or making you do things that feel uncomfortable, whether it`s an adult or another child, and they tell you to keep it a secret from your parents, you should not keep it a secret. Tell your parents so they can help you!
God wants us to be honest and open with our parents, so they can help us and teach us. If it`s a hard secret to tell, pray and ask God to help you.
