When is a good age to start telling your children about hell?

[Ultima4257]

Hello,

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?

 

[Girder of Loins]

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.

 

[Treasurer]

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.

Just some of my thoughts.

 

[Publius]

Hello,

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.

 

[Ultima4257]

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?

 

[seeingeyes]

Hello,

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?

40.

 

[BFine]

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?

 

[back2thebible]

Hello,

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?

today

 

[motherprayer]

Hello,

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.

 

[Life2Christ]

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.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

Hello,

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 would not approach your young children using some of the language and metaphors you have listed above ; I would take into account their innocense, sensitivity, lack of maturity thus far, and non ability to fully grasp extremely sensitive and eternal changing matters . When the time is appropriate...that being ,after they have had 'some' years of Childrens Church learning about the fundamentals of God, Jesus, Sin, Heaven, etc.... from a mature sensitive adult Teacher (in addition to Parental christian education such as reading Bible Stories, answering basic spiritual questions that they bring up, etc...) , would i approach the child with the reality of eternal punishment and then to do it in a very tactful, careful, manner after much prayer and waiting for the H.S. to lead you into it at a good appropriate time without interruptions . And also praying that you will present the Gospel invitation with special clarity on sins against God ....in a clear, childlike understanding way so they can make an informed decision at this point in their lives as to recieving Christ as their Lord and King . A book or phamplet outlining the Gospel with easy to understand pictures and verbage , would be a plus..and then to talk about it calmly and lovingly.

We should not stay away from such vitally important teachings that are true, but we need to be wise as serpants and gentle as doves when it comes to spiritual teaching of our most precious commodity - our childen. There is a time for everything in life.

 

[Armistead14]

The old proverb

"Give me the child until he is seven and I care not who has him thereafter."

If you believe in eternal hell, then it's best to get an early start. A childs mindset is basically set before he reaches puberty, simply strong indoctrination by parents and culture has such an effect, seldom does a childs beliefs change in adulthood. The result of this is easily seen, born in Iran, 95% you'll follow Islam for life regardless of what you hear.

When we were kids, the hell teaching was more a part of culture, most of us thought God was up there watching ready to bring the hammer down, in some ways it may have kept us more in line.

Let's face it, the terror of eternal torment is why most seek God.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

The old proverb

"Give me the child until he is seven and I care not who has him thereafter."

If you believe in eternal hell, then it's best to get an early start. A childs mindset is basically set before he reaches puberty, simply strong indoctrination by parents and culture has such an effect, seldom does a childs beliefs change in adulthood. The result of this is easily seen, born in Iran, 95% you'll follow Islam for life regardless of what you hear.

When we were kids, the hell teaching was more a part of culture, most of us thought God was up there watching ready to bring the hammer down, in some ways it may have kept us more in line.

Let's face it, the terror of eternal torment is why most seek God.

Another way of looking at it is, the LOVE of God thru sending his Son to stop us from going to hell. Its amazing grace...a totally undeserved favor from God that drew me to Christ.

 

[motherprayer]

Let's face it, the terror of eternal torment is why most seek God.

Hell wasn't even part of my theology for the first three years I was a Christian. I understood it, but never feared it, and didn't worry about it before I became a Christian.

The reason one becomes a Christian, IMO, should not be "to get out of hell." It should be "because God is awesome and He loves me."

 

[CounselorForChrist]

My parents told me early on, when I was in my single digits I think, like maybe 5? Honestly it scarred me for years to come. I had nightmares of going to hell or thinking I was a terrible person even though others said I was not. It made me even start to question God and if hell/heaven was real.

I think teaching it to early might mess up a child thinking if they aren't ready for it.

 

[Armistead14]

Hell wasn't even part of my theology for the first three years I was a Christian. I understood it, but never feared it, and didn't worry about it before I became a Christian.

The reason one becomes a Christian, IMO, should not be "to get out of hell." It should be "because God is awesome and He loves me."

I grew up around most strong fundy Ind. Baptist churches here in the south. I would say since I stepped in church in the 70's around 10, hell was the message. Being in those churches through the 90's, it still is the common theme, most pastors hit it hard before alter call. I would say most I know got saved out of fear of hell. Heck, when I taught SS there in the late 80's, seemed most the youth got resaved twice a year during revivals and hell was always the issue. I'm actually still a member there, as most my family goes, but I seldom attend anymore, except for more functions.

I still believe, admit it or not, the majority of people get saved to escaped being eternally totured, but who could blame them.

 

[Ark100]

Hello,

My question is at what age do we start telling our kids they are going to burn in hell unless they repent.

I am not sure how you would do that?

Your post is more than meets the eye. So you have a problem with hell still.Who tells kids they are going to BURN in hell anyway? Even adults. No one goes around telling others they will burn in hell.

God doesnt want that. I do not recall at all at anytime when I was a kid (even though i came from a strict family with religious anglican upbringing where church is compulsory every sunday) that my parents told me or any of us that we were going to burn in hell unless we repent.

No normal person talks like that with their kids (or with anyone), with the unwanted vivid description you posted (Which i refuse to quote).

You don't have to put focus on hell for hell is not designed for us. It is designed for the enemy. You dont have to scare your kids or anyone of hell. There is a way to tell people the consequences of rejecting God and being unrepentant THAN your gory description.

Asserting God's love and kindness to others including your kids is all God wants. Going God's ways without having any regrets is far better than going the other way.

God did not create hell so that people will go there and burn. He did not create hell to satisfy any desire of seeing humans burn there. He did not create hell so that those who reject him will go there and burn.

He created it for the devil and his minions. He created it as a final judgement to them. Now the devil does influence a lot of people to go his way. When those people choose to go his way, they wilfully reject God.

It is not God will that they do, but their free will made them.

The love found in JESUS is enough for anyone to follow Him. No one needs to put any focus or extra strength thinking about hell. Just LOVE GOD and obey Him, is all He asks for. Its not too much to do.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

My parents told me early on, when I was in my single digits I think, like maybe 5? Honestly it scarred me for years to come. I had nightmares of going to hell or thinking I was a terrible person even though others said I was not. It made me even start to question God and if hell/heaven was real.

I think teaching it to early might mess up a child thinking if they aren't ready for it.

Well, its not good to scare the HELL out of kids too early !

 

[Steve Petersen]

Hello,

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?

There is never a good age to lie to children.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

One could also say whats a good age to talk to your child about the birds and the bess. Or death...or anything really of such nature. It really depends on your childs situation and what you think they can handle and at what age.