Answers
By Billy Graham • May 6, 2017 • Topics: Church, Parenting
Q:
How old does a child have to be before he or she can learn about God? Neither my husband nor I come from a church background, but we have two small children now, and we'd like to give them a different religious experience than we had.
A:
You and your husband probably realize that you missed something by not learning about God when you were younger, and I’m thankful you want something different for your children. We live in a world that is growing more and more confused and chaotic, and your children will need strong moral and spiritual foundations.
Young children may not understand everything about God—but they can understand something, even at a young age. For example, even when children are very young, they know their parents love them—and they can begin to understand that God loves them also. They are beginning to learn right from wrong—and can begin to understand that we sin against God also. And even as they begin to talk with their parents, they can begin to understand that they also can talk with God.
One of the most important things you can do to teach them about God, however, is to help them discover the Bible. Your local Christian bookstore or pastor can help you find a Bible storybook designed for children, including pictures and interesting stories from the Bible.
Yes, your children need to learn about God—but what about you? God loves you, and He wants each of you to be His children. Ask Christ to come into your lives, and then ask Him to help you point your children to Him also. The Bible says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
