Unfortunately, churches don't really show the real character of God and tend to be legalistic instead of loving. Too often they focus on the rights and wrongs of the actions instead on loving one another unconditionally. I would tend to ask "Why did the teen lie?" Was he\she affraid and wanted to cover up their fear of being caught or punished? If so, then why was there a need to be fearful...When we feel unconditionally loved and accepted, we are able to admit our wrong doings because we know we won't be rejected. God never wants us to fear Him when we do something wrong. Instead He says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."(Is 1:18) In other words,He just wants us to talk to Him, let Him in our heart so that He can reveal the root cause of the need to lie. That way, He can show us just how much He really loves us. His love will fill that need and take away the fear that causes us to lie. I think that the teen in question needs to be shown unconditional love for it is the love of God that brings us to repentance or to change, not His wrath.