Telling children they're going to Hell

[Jazzy]

What is your opinion on telling children they're going to Hell?

 

[Lamb]

Telling them they ARE going to hell or telling them that they COULD be hellbound?

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Children? What age range are we talking about?

 

[Andrew]

The Bible never states that children go to hell, the only age group recognized is adults.

 

[Lamb]

The Bible never states that children go to hell, the only age group recognized is adults.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

That doesn't say for adults only. We're all saved the same way...by grace through faith.

 

[hedrick]

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

That doesn't say for adults only. We're all saved the same way...by grace through faith.

That's almost certainly not in the original text of Mark. I suspect you can find something similar elsewhere.

 

[Josiah]

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

That doesn't say for adults only. We're all saved the same way...by grace through faith.

Correct.

Now, that noted, personally, I'd never tell ANYONE they are going to hell... that's GOD'S "call" not mine. On the other hand, I'd never tell an unbeliever that they are going to Heaven, that too is God's call, not mine. BUT we all can announce GOOD NEWS that the believer IS heaven bound (John 3:16). Can children be given the divine gift of faith? Yup. So the Bible proclaims, so John the Baptist proves.


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[Andrew]

Correct.

Now, that noted, personally, I'd never tell ANYONE they are going to hell... that's GOD'S "call" not mine. On the other hand, I'd never tell an unbeliever that they are going to Heaven, that too is God's call, not mine. BUT we all can announce GOOD NEWS that the believer IS heaven bound (John 3:16). Can children be given the divine gift of faith? Yup. So the Bible proclaims, so John the Baptist proves.


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I like this, well put

 

[Andrew]

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

That doesn't say for adults only. We're all saved the same way...by grace through faith.

"And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done"
Genesis 8:21

Since "youth" is plural of "young" it is by definition early life or juvenile, I guess it depends on when we start calling babies "child" lol

Indeed you are right. However, Jesus brings to the center a 12 year old boy and says that we should be as him, IMO he is declaring the boy innocent because if it meant solely that he was babtpised then what makes him stand out more than all the others who are baptised?

The United Nations consensus is that ones "youth" begins at 15 years old.

Hebrew uses olel, or something like that, for infant or suckling

 

[Lamb]

"And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done"
Genesis 8:21

Since "youth" is plural of "young" it is by definition early life or juvenile, I guess it depends on when we start calling babies "child" lol

Indeed you are right. However, Jesus brings to the center a 12 year old boy and says that we should be as him, IMO he is declaring the boy innocent because if it meant solely that he was babtpised then what makes him stand out more than all the others who are baptised?

The United Nations consensus is that ones "youth" begins at 15 years old.

Hebrew uses olel, or something like that, for infant or suckling

Is this the part you're referring to?:

Matthew 18:1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.


If so, nowhere does it say that the child has no sin.

Children hear their father's voice and listen though. I recall when I was a substitute teacher for a kindergarten class and the children all thought I was some wonderful queen or something. If I told them they would get ice cream, you bet they'd believe it. That's what children do when they hear things from someone they trust, they believe. That's what Jesus wants us to do, hear the Gospel and trust in it. That's salvation, by grace through faith. It's how we're all saved. There aren't two gospels, one for babies/young children and one for adults. There is one gospel, one faith and one baptism.

 

[Angelina1239]

What is your opinion on telling children they're going to Hell?

It is not a good idea. Unless you want to turn them away from God. Of course it has happened too often.

 

[NathanH83]

Children need to know what the Bible says, that they need Jesus or else they’re going to Hell

 

[Jazzy]

It's of my opinion that parents shouldn't be lying to their children just to get them to behave how they want them to by inciting an irrational fear in them towards the afterlife and should instead take responsibility for teaching their kids how to live a morally positive lifestyle by leading through example themselves.

 

[Lamb]

It's of my opinion that parents shouldn't be lying to their children just to get them to behave how they want them to by inciting an irrational fear in them towards the afterlife and should instead take responsibility for teaching their kids how to live a morally positive lifestyle by leading through example themselves.

Living a morally positive lifestyle isn't what gets us to heaven. So as Christians we point our children to Christ who is the Savior. It's not that we don't want our children to live morally positive lives, but we cannot tell them a false gospel.

 

[Castle Church]

It's of my opinion that parents shouldn't be lying to their children just to get them to behave how they want them to by inciting an irrational fear in them towards the afterlife and should instead take responsibility for teaching their kids how to live a morally positive lifestyle by leading through example themselves.

Living a morally positive lifestyle isn't what gets us to heaven. So as Christians we point our children to Christ who is the Savior. It's not that we don't want our children to live morally positive lives, but we cannot tell them a false gospel.

I think you are both right. Too many parents use the "If you don't stop xyz, you are going to go to hell!" statements far to frequently and far too flippantly. The statement should never be made in anger or as a punishment. Kids, youth, children, need to be told the truth about what a life of sin will lead to, and explained to Gospel. But the conversation for a "life of sin" is for a bit older kids, perhaps once they are 5 and up they can understand that better.

A toddler or pre-schooler has a difficult time learning just what "sin" is and what is the kind that will lead to the police - it is not uncommon for them to think that the police will be called simply because they are fighting with another kid.

Rather than telling them they will be going to Hell, we would do better to teach them the Gospel and saving grace. Hellfire should never be used as a tool to try and get a child to be good.

 

[Lamb]

I think you are both right. Too many parents use the "If you don't stop xyz, you are going to go to hell!" statements far to frequently and far too flippantly. The statement should never be made in anger or as a punishment. Kids, youth, children, need to be told the truth about what a life of sin will lead to, and explained to Gospel. But the conversation for a "life of sin" is for a bit older kids, perhaps once they are 5 and up they can understand that better.

A toddler or pre-schooler has a difficult time learning just what "sin" is and what is the kind that will lead to the police - it is not uncommon for them to think that the police will be called simply because they are fighting with another kid.

Rather than telling them they will be going to Hell, we would do better to teach them the Gospel and saving grace. Hellfire should never be used as a tool to try and get a child to be good.

Have you been around parents who told their children they were going to hell? I mean, they personally used "you" in their statement? I guess I never have heard any parents directly tell their children personally.

 

[Castle Church]

Have you been around parents who told their children they were going to hell? I mean, they personally used "you" in their statement? I guess I never have heard any parents directly tell their children personally.

Yes, and not just parents. Teachers (private school) do it as well. I have heard them say things like "If you don't stop hitting you will go to Hell!". Nearly 100% of the time it is a statement made in a moment of anger.

Kids will also make a false equivalency that teachers and parents need to be aware of. Making statements like "bad people go to Hell" and then later "you are being SO BAD right now" (usually said in anger) will often be taken as they are going to go to Hell. We (as parents) get frustrated and can get angry, but we also have to be aware of our statements and how kids will take them, we have to take the time to explain what we mean.

This example is from my own experience with my son. I tried to simplify the "bad people go to Hell" for him, but it backfired later that week when I had told him he was being bad - he thought he was going to go to the "lake of fire" (a teacher had taught him about that.....). I had to explain the difference of doing something bad and being a bad person.....but it is a tough concept for a 4 year old to grasp. I have since tried to not use those types of words or needlessly simplify it.

 

[Lamb]

Yes, and not just parents. Teachers (private school) do it as well. I have heard them say things like "If you don't stop hitting you will go to Hell!". Nearly 100% of the time it is a statement made in a moment of anger.

Kids will also make a false equivalency that teachers and parents need to be aware of. Making statements like "bad people go to Hell" and then later "you are being SO BAD right now" (usually said in anger) will often be taken as they are going to go to Hell. We (as parents) get frustrated and can get angry, but we also have to be aware of our statements and how kids will take them, we have to take the time to explain what we mean.

This example is from my own experience with my son. I tried to simplify the "bad people go to Hell" for him, but it backfired later that week when I had told him he was being bad - he thought he was going to go to the "lake of fire" (a teacher had taught him about that.....). I had to explain the difference of doing something bad and being a bad person.....but it is a tough concept for a 4 year old to grasp. I have since tried to not use those types of words or needlessly simplify it.

I suppose if people try to say that "bad" people go to hell that it won't make sense for kids. That's why we point them to Jesus and those who believe in Jesus get to heaven. Not if they're good or bad.

 

[Castle Church]

I suppose if people try to say that "bad" people go to hell that it won't make sense for kids. That's why we point them to Jesus and those who believe in Jesus get to heaven. Not if they're good or bad.

That's right, which is why we have to explain the Gospel to them. That was my failing in the moment, since rectified, but it is just an example of what kids think.

So, what I am getting at is that it does happen in both the straight forward statement of "you're going to Hell" and misunderstandings. But, as parents we can restrain from making the first statement and then also need to share the Good News part to combat any misunderstandings.

 

[Lamb]

That's right, which is why we have to explain the Gospel to them. That was my failing in the moment, since rectified, but it is just an example of what kids think.

So, what I am getting at is that it does happen in both the straight forward statement of "you're going to Hell" and misunderstandings. But, as parents we can restrain from making the first statement and then also need to share the Good News part to combat any misunderstandings.

I think the problem is that people don't know how to properly distinguish between Law and Gospel and when to use the two. I've been using Law/Gospel with my daughter since she was little. When she was defiant, she got Law, but it wasn't ever me saying she was going to hell for bad behavior. It's not our bad behavior that actually sends us to hell. It's rejection of Jesus. Bad behavior CAN be rejection of Him but it's not an automatic You're going to hell because you brought mud into the house. When my daughter felt bad for dragging mud into the house then I showed her forgiveness which is based on God's forgiveness of us. God uses repentance to turn us from sin and to Him in faith.