Need help talking to child about God

[MissJoJo]

Hello. I am a mother of a 9 month old and I am terrified. This world is so anti-Christian and I am scared to be raising a child in it. I don't have anyone to go to for advice. My mother is dead. My father, the only relative who could possibly give me advice, is MIA in my life right now. Even if he was around to ask for help, I'm pretty sure I'd get some sarcastic answer because he's just that way. I'm turning to this forum to ask for advice to help me secure a foundation for his faith. I am already telling him God loves him, that Jesus loves him so much he died for his sins, and that God made everything. But hes getting older and soon I'll be telling him more. And I think that worrying and wondering what and how to explain to him that I'm putting myself at a loss for words. I am so terrified that what I teach him won't be enough, that it will be inadequate, and that he might one day turn from his faith. I probably cry every day because I'm so worried. If anyone could help me with these questions, I would he so grateful.
1. How do I explain exactly what sins are?
2. When and how do I tell him about hell? I don't want to use it as a scare tactic. I want him to understand how much God loves us and doesn't want us to go there.
3. How do I explain why bad things happen? (Ex: people starving in third world countries, good people getting sick and dying, etc)
Thank you in advance. I love him so much. I want to set him up with faith that lasts his whole life and leads him to God's kingdom. I don't want to screw up and him end up suffering for eternity. I feel so incapable. I ask the Lord about a million times a day for help and guidance.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hi there; good to see you on the forums; God bless His Word to you.

For the believer in the Lord Jesus, prayer and the Scriptures are spheres to be lived in daily. As well deepen these interests and convictions, we will want to seek out the company of others who have similar interests. John's First Epistle speaks about the fellowship which those, who trust the Lord Jesus for the cleansing of their sins, enjoy with one another as they walk in the light together. The fact is that there will always be spiritual conflict between the light and darkness and between those walk in either. What the believer seeks to do is to shine for God.
Wonderful to know you are a fairly new mom! God bless you and your family. Daily prayer and the Scriptures - something simple about the love of the Lord Jesus, even - are a great foundation for a young Christian family.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

Hello. I am a mother of a 9 month old and I am terrified. This world is so anti-Christian and I am scared to be raising a child in it. I don't have anyone to go to for advice. My mother is dead. My father, the only relative who could possibly give me advice, is MIA in my life right now. Even if he was around to ask for help, I'm pretty sure I'd get some sarcastic answer because he's just that way. I'm turning to this forum to ask for advice to help me secure a foundation for his faith. I am already telling him God loves him, that Jesus loves him so much he died for his sins, and that God made everything. But hes getting older and soon I'll be telling him more. And I think that worrying and wondering what and how to explain to him that I'm putting myself at a loss for words. I am so terrified that what I teach him won't be enough, that it will be inadequate, and that he might one day turn from his faith. I probably cry every day because I'm so worried. If anyone could help me with these questions, I would he so grateful.
1. How do I explain exactly what sins are?
2. When and how do I tell him about hell? I don't want to use it as a scare tactic. I want him to understand how much God loves us and doesn't want us to go there.
3. How do I explain why bad things happen? (Ex: people starving in third world countries, good people getting sick and dying, etc)
Thank you in advance. I love him so much. I want to set him up with faith that lasts his whole life and leads him to God's kingdom. I don't want to screw up and him end up suffering for eternity. I feel so incapable. I ask the Lord about a million times a day for help and guidance.

1. the Bible defines sin in two ways: unbelief and wrong heart-intent and actions

Rom 14:22-23 KJV
(22) Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
(23) And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

faith is believing what God has said in His word above every other report, so whatsoever is not of believing God is sin. this is the 'conception' of sinful intent and actions.

1Jn 3:4 KJV
(4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

transgression of the law is the 'birth' of sin conceived by unbelief.

no one in a flesh body today can be knowledgeable and apply the multitude of God's laws correctly in any given situation - we have to be led by God in order to avoid transgressing His laws. but if this is the intent of our heart, and we miss God's leading anyway due to our own error (rather than defying God by refusing to believe His word), the action of transgressing God's laws is paid for by Jesus. refusing to believe that, whether due to self-condemnation or pride that ignores unbelief, is what leads to rejecting God.

2. there's no need to tell anyone about hell; if they refuse to believe God they will miss His protection and get to experience a form of hell in this life. focus on the Good News; the reality of the bad news will come to every person as they rebel against God. God is love, and love casts out fear, so where God chooses to not manifest Himself out of respect for the choice of someone who has decided not to believe Him, there is no love manifestation to cast out fear, and so fear reigns - this is hell; whether temporal in this life or eternal in the next.

1Jn 4:16-19 KJV
(16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(19) We love him, because he first loved us.

3. the reason why bad things happen is that God has delegated people in flesh bodies complete dominion over this earth
and the free will to choose whether to yield to His leading or not - God gave people authoprity, and people can and do use that authority for evil at times, even though God dis not intende for us to use His delegated authroity in the earth in this way.

Gen 1:26 KJV
(26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi I have a son and I know how difficult it can be to talk about God. I generally keep it simple. And teach the things that you have mentioned above (in your post). I am just wondering whether the following points may help.

1. How do I explain exactly what sins are?

For my son I speak to him about sin in terms of social justice. i.e. loving others, being kind, not starting fights, or wars. As Jesus said "love your neighbour".

2. When and how do I tell him about hell? I don't want to use it as a scare tactic. I want him to understand how much God loves us and doesn't want us to go there.

I speak about hell in terms of those who are not kind, loving, and good will end up there. ie. those who don't love their neighbour. i.e. those who are evil

3. How do I explain why bad things happen? (Ex: people starving in third world countries, good people getting sick and dying, etc)

My son is too young to talk about all that yet. I am not sure what I would say. However I would mention that God wants to heal this world, through us giving to the needy, praying for the sick and oppressed, and generally doing all we can to preserve the world.

 

[tturt]

They will bring up topics and would use those times as opportunities. But wouldn't go into a lot of detail until they're older. Also, sometimes the looks on their faces will let you know that they know what they're doing is wrong.