A lot of people won’t talk to children, especially young children, about hell and the very real possibility of going there. I, on the other hand, have always made it a point to talk about hell as much as I do Heaven. I want my daughter to know there are very real consequences to not following Jesus. I want her to know that the path to heaven is narrow and few will find it, so that she will dedicate her life to God.
We must tell our children what is really at stake. If we don’t, who will? The world revels in sin and believes it is without consequence. If we don’t tell our children that hell is real, what will keep them on the straight and narrow? Being a Christian is about more than just being what the world would call a good person. It takes guts. Courage to have unpopular beliefs. Sacrifice. Giving up our sins. Children need to know these things aren’t optional. We get one life to live for Jesus. If we blow it, an eternity of suffering awaits us.
To not tell your children about hell and what hell is and who goes there is to do them a terrible disservice. The watered-down version of Christianity popularized by mega church preachers omits hell. People want to believe that no one among them, least of all they themselves, are going to suffer. But if you’re a Christian rooted in the Word, you know that’s not true. Suffering here on Earth pales in comparison to the never-ending suffering of those who reject Christ.
God’s goodness is great, and I hope I never neglect telling my daughter about His love and mercy. But she needs to know the other side of the equation too, both to know what’s at stake and to fully appreciate her salvation. That’s why, scary or not (and it should be), I have never turned away from discussing hell with my child.
Life at Home 