Telling A Child About Salvation
A child born in a Christian family does not mean that the child is saved. Like going to MacDonald’s doesn’t turn you into a burger. A child needs to know what God means to him, to know Him in an intimate way, and therefore salvation must be make known to the child. Knowing the Easter story or the Christmas story doesn’t mean that the child is saved either. It just mean that the child has intellectually know the events, and able to give “spiritually correct” answers when questioned.
In order for your child to be saved, he must understand the consequence of sin, what it took Jesus for him to be saved, and the Lord’s promises for him. He must be willing to accept the Lord as Saviour and Lord of his life, young he may be. It cannot be forced, it must be done so willingly.
Some says salvation is free. Salvation is never free – it has been paid by the Lord Jesus Christ, with His very own life. Some cartoons or Sunday Schools talked about the suffering of Christ in a very brief way and ended with Jesus going back to heaven, and full-stop. I am not saying that we should all let children see the horrific scene of crucifixion (some mums would kill me for that) but we should not watered down the facts on the basis that “it’s too violent”. The fact is Christ died a violent death for you and for me – if he just die like anyone else, we would paint a better colour for sin, then Christ’s coming again and His victory over sin and death would not been seen as it trully is.
How old should my kid be when I talk to him about salvation? Four is a good age, for some kids who mature faster, you may find that they are ready at the age of three. Some people says they are too young. I think not. What an irony it is, that we acknowledge that our children are intellectually more advance in their age compared to us in our times, and yet declared that they are spiritually less mature? Kids who have experienced death of a loved one or a pet in the family may even have a lot more questions to ask. It’s a mattter of parents taking the opportunity.
I watched the crucifixion when I was three. My mum was a young convert and we were at this evangelistic movie done by my uncle’s church. Mum explained the show to me and guided me through with her little bit of Bible knowledge. I remember well the scene of crucifixion. I remember that I cried, not because of fear, but because of what He has done for me. I may not know the doctrines and the Bible in full, but I know it was how He had suffered and how He had ressurrected to victory – for me! It was for me!!!
It was a scene that stay with me all the days through even until now, and it is through it that the foundation of my faith was built. And the Lord has a good way of reminding me when I was a teen – it was my essay question for Religious Study for Cambridge’s GCE’O’ Level: “Give an account of Jesus’ cruxifiction and ressurrection from the time He was sent to Pilate. Give your comment.” It was worth 20 marks. On the night before I went for this paper, the Lord actually showed me the movie that I watched when I was three – the crucificion part until Jesus went to heaven, every detail was clear, this time in a dream. Boy, was I shocked when I saw the question in the exam hall the next morning! Well, of course I scored for that paper… By the way, I didn’t finished studying for the paper because I was too tired. I was even a long way from the crucifixion chapter in my study of Luke. Talk about the power and grace of God… 20 marks all from none of my effort!
I taught in Sunday School for quite a few years before I stepped down from ministry 7 years ago. On Easter, I would not use the materials given to me as I felt it was too shallow. I had much more solid food when I was a little child compared to what the kids are getting these days. Every Easter, I would bring little nails to the class. If I forgot, I’ll tell the kids to use their imagination. “How would you feel if I poke your hand with this nail? What would happen if your hands are pierced with it? Jesus’s died on Good Friday, nailed to the cross. His nails were much bigger…” I would tell the kids of His suffering, why He must suffer, and His ressurrection to victory, conquering sin and death, giving us His wonderful promises and glorious return! Parents whose children received Christ then will be informed to do follow-up. I use this illustration 2 years ago with my eldest son, who was then 4.
Parents however, must remember that the child need to be reminded of this fact, and that they may find the child going through the sinner’s prayer every year, coming to parents with their loads of questions, and maturing in faith, so much so that one day, the child knows that he is saved once and for all by Jesus Christ if only he believes, and the sinner’s prayer is not a chant or a magic word, but transformed into a prayer of repentence, assurance of salvation and rededication. Do not force the child to receive the Lord if he says he is not ready. Continue to pray for them daily, for satan fights in every way to win their soul.
A child with a firm foundation of faith and a strong relationship with God will not err far and will eventually return to the Lord. Our children are not our own, they are the Lord’s children.
Tools to help you to share the salvation message to a child:
1) Ressurrection egg. Go to www.dayspring.com to order.
2) The Wordless Book. DIY. Check out my sidebar on Crafts.
You can also join BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) that is available in many parts of the world. BSF has strong Bible study program for adults and children. The children go through the same lesson as the adults concurrently, only that the lessons are taught at their level. Parents are to collect the daily training sheets besides their own homework before they leave with the kids. My children and I benefited a lot from BSF. BSF in Shanghai is opened for foreign passport holders only, due to the government’s regulations.
Introductory Classes are made available to newcomers every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Please bring your passport for verifications when you come for Introductory Class.DO NOT bring your children yet, until the administrator calls you. BSF in Shanghai is opened for Women’s Class (Tuesday Mornings and Evenings) and Men’s Class (Monday Evenings).
If you need more details, please contact me.