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Raising Foolproof Kids
By Christina Quick | April 1, 2008
It’s April Fool’s Day, that dubious “holiday” when pranksters demonstrate just how gullible people can be.
On the morning of April 1, 1976, British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC Radio 2 that a rare astronomical event was about to occur.
Moore explained that Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, momentarily weakening gravity on earth. He said people could experience this effect by leaping in the air at precisely 9:47 that morning. Listeners were promised they would feel a peculiar floating sensation if they followed Moore’s instructions.
BBC2 later received hundreds of phone calls from listeners who claimed to have experienced the sensation. One woman even said she and 11 of her friends had floated out of their chairs and around the room. Imagine her embarrassment when she learned the joke was on her.
As funny as such stories may be, they also highlight the danger of believing everything we’re told. Paul warned Timothy to be careful of false teachers who try to gain control over simple-minded and gullible people by appearing to represent Christ.
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14).
This passage is a powerful reminder of the importance of teaching our kids God’s Word at the earliest possible age. If they know the truth, they aren’t as likely to be fooled by influences that would lead them into spiritual error.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
To read about some other April Fool’s hoaxes, click here.
