My question is at what age do we start telling our kids they are going to burn in hell unless they repent. Since we are all born into sinful nature should we start as soon as they are born, or should we wait a year or two? Also, should we describe hell in vivid detail at first like you will continually be burned and gnaw on your tongue from the pain, worms will eat your flesh and they will never die, or should we tone it down to make it more age appropriate, although I am not sure how you would do that?
Last edited by Ultima4257; 11th October 2012 at 11:42 PM.
Reason: Grammer
Well, I would say you could tell your kids about hell at any age, but I don't think we can explain Hell to them in exact detail, as there is a lot we don't objectively know. All we know is it is eternal torment and it is separation from God.
__________________ "This is our lifestyle. No its not a religion!"
-Lecrae
Ephesians 5 my generation!
In a child dinamic, perhaps it is best to use analogies. Using Mommy and Daddy as examples. A child from an early age learns what Mommy and Daddy dont like and good children want to do what pleases the parents. Corrections are used to change the heart and minds of children, so they know how to do what is right and in doing so they please Mommy and Daddy. When a child is told to go to their room and be seperate from Mommy and Daddy for a time, this has simularities to hell.
God gave us the family to come to a better understanding of Himself.
So children are actually learning about God from the moment they are born. Our job is to be an example to our children. That they might see God thru us.
I wouldnt teach concepts they wouldnt understand. Or things that might scare them away from God. If we teach children everything God is to us, it only makes sense that to be apart from God is the opposite.
And we are never too young to learn who God is and what that means to us.
Punishment is a concept we all know too well. And we learn it early. But how many children have the luxury of knowing God. I know I am only taking a part of scripture here but I think it applies: put first the Kingdom of God. When we do this, the worries of the world dont effect us because Jesus said He would take care of that.
My question is at what age do we start telling our kids they are going to burn in hell unless they repent. Since we are all born into sinful nature should we start as soon as they are born, or should we wait a year or two? Also, should we describe hell in vivid detail at first like you will continually be burned and gnaw on your tongue from the pain, worms will eat your flesh and they will never die, or should we tone it down to make it more age appropriate, although I am not sure how you would do that?
I know you're being facetious, mocking Christianity, but,yes, Hell is a reality and we should explain God's wrath against sin to our children in an age appropriate manner as soon as they're able to understand.
I know you're being facetious, mocking Christianity, but,yes, Hell is a reality and we should explain God's wrath against sin to our children in an age appropriate manner as soon as they're able to understand.
Why would you think that exactly? In any case what age do you think they would understand, or is this dependant on the child?
__________________ “THE EDGE, there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
My question is at what age do we start telling our kids they are going to burn in hell unless they repent. Since we are all born into sinful nature should we start as soon as they are born, or should we wait a year or two? Also, should we describe hell in vivid detail at first like you will continually be burned and gnaw on your tongue from the pain, worms will eat your flesh and they will never die, or should we tone it down to make it more age appropriate, although I am not sure how you would do that?
Each child is different and it is dependent upon the age and the mental state
of each child.
Some folks go overboard and tell their child some horror story about
hell-- don't do that.
My mom demonstrated biblical matters to us at a young age-- she didn't
just gush out with : "You're a sinner and you're going to hell."
We were taken to church while still in the womb (lol!)-- we heard about God, Jesus,
the Holy Spirit, heaven, getting saved, the devil and hell.
Like most children, we would ask questions about the aforementioned subjects and the Sunday school teacher, the preacher and our parents would explain the matter to us in simple terms. They also used those little Sunday school picture booklets for children etc.
These matters weren't something kept under wraps, they were discussed
at church and in our home.
We listened to preachers on the radio when we were
toddlers on up.
I find it a bit difficult to grasp that children who are regularly taken to church, involved in children's church and read bible stories wouldn't have heard about hell already?
That is foreign to me.
We have 10 grandchildren and they are taught about hell, heaven etc... while in
their toddler years-- our oldest grandchild is 11 and the youngest is 1 year old.
So the ones who know the basics of right and wrong are aware of heaven and hell, getting saved, etc. Most of them, the ones who know right from wrong have accepted Jesus as Savior.
Do you have children?
__________________ We don't change the message, the message changes us.
My question is at what age do we start telling our kids they are going to burn in hell unless they repent. Since we are all born into sinful nature should we start as soon as they are born, or should we wait a year or two? Also, should we describe hell in vivid detail at first like you will continually be burned and gnaw on your tongue from the pain, worms will eat your flesh and they will never die, or should we tone it down to make it more age appropriate, although I am not sure how you would do that?
My question is at what age do we start telling our kids they are going to burn in hell unless they repent. Since we are all born into sinful nature should we start as soon as they are born, or should we wait a year or two? Also, should we describe hell in vivid detail at first like you will continually be burned and gnaw on your tongue from the pain, worms will eat your flesh and they will never die, or should we tone it down to make it more age appropriate, although I am not sure how you would do that?
When they ask, I will answer them.
__________________ "Truth cannot be spoken without love, for without love there IS no Truth, regardless of how accurate the words may be."
"Why all the fighting? Why though, seriously? We may disagree on minor things, but we believe one fundamental truth, that Jesus Christ is Lord! There is a way to correct that will lead to better understanding, and nastiness is NOT THAT WAY!"
I would tell my child that hell means death. When you die you cease to live. Heaven is life. After you die you keep living. That is essentially what it boils down to, without all the horror.
__________________ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” -- Revelations 21:3-4
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