Should you try to raise a liar? For the Colson Center, I’m John Stonestreet with The Point.

Recently, the New York Times ran the headline, “Is Your Child Lying to You? That’s Good.” Parents, the author says, shouldn’t be upset about their young fibbers because studies show that kids who lie are more intelligent and “socially adept” than those who don’t.

And for children who aren’t quite so good at lying, parents can “speed up the process” through training exercises. Lying is good for your brain, claims the author, so the sooner kids start lying, the better.

I wish I were making that up, but I’m not. The author’s argument is fully consistent with a worldview that sees cognitive ability as the highest quality we should value and cultivate in children.

But cognitive intelligence isn’t the only kind. There’s also moral intelligence—knowing the right thing to do in a morally charged universe. And there’s relational intelligence—knowing how best to live in relationship with others, for their good, not just our own.

You see, “studies” and “research,” they also reflect worldview. Always keep that in mind.