Back Story

        Recently, heard  of an expectant couple that had decided even before their child was born to not teach their child about God. They wanted their child to learn about spiritual things naturally. I would warn such a couple to realize that God says that foolishness is bound in the heart of a child. So it would foolish to think that he could decide for himself. The Bible warns against false science, philosophy, tradition, human thoughts, imagination, and the natural man. The only reliable spiritual guide is God Himself and His revelation to man which is found solely in the Bible.

 

Questions

At what age does God say we should start to teach our children about God?

What is the best way to learn about God?

 

Memory Verse

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Lk. 18:16

This verse makes it very clear that we, as Christians, are expected by God to teach our little children and: “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” Ephesians 6:4.

 

Example

         For hundreds of years the Roman Catholic Church has accurately said: “Give us a child for his first five years, and we will have him for life.”

 

Application

         That is exactly what God is talking about when, in His first instruction to mankind, He commanded Adam and Eve to “Be fruitful and multiply.” Of course, that meant to bear children, but it included the command to “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

 

Failure

         I have heard parents, who claimed they were Christians, who chose to live a lifestyle that was clearly against Scriptural teachings. More than once, when confronted with the effect the example their decisions would have on their children, I have heard them say, “Children are resilient.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that God commands us to “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Now, some of those children have lost interest in the Lord, morality, and lost respect for their parents.

 

Answers

         So at what age does the example of the parents begin to start affecting the attitudes and actions of the children?

According to our memory verse, God tells us to  “Suffer LITTLE children to come unto Me.” The previous verse gives us a strong hint as to how little:

“And they brought unto him also infants,” V15.

 

Inevitable Results

         It is easy for a little child to trust godly authority, but it is hard for them to trust ANY authority (including God) when their parental authority has an immoral ungodly life.