Ask the Pastor

By Pastor Scott Denham of Harvest Fellowship, Shambaugh, IA

Clarinda Herald Journal Publication Date : 02/21/2007

 

Do All Children Go To Heaven?

 

            “Does 1 Corinthians 7:14 mean that all children who die, go to heaven?”

            1 Cor 7:14 reads, "For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy."

            First, a look at the verse: The fact that the unbelieving spouse is "sanctified" by the believing spouse does not, and cannot, mean that God confers salvation on them. No one can be saved by the merits of another, save by those of Christ. The context here points to the social, legal, and God-honored legitimacy conferred on spouse and children, through marriage--even if common faith is not shared.

            The words "sanctified" (referring to the unbelieving spouse), and "holy" (referring to the children), share the same Greek root meaning.  Therefore, the text implies that the children are no more "saved" than the spouse but rather, this sanctity of marriage keeps the children from illegitimacy and conveys Gods blessing upon the family.

            However, I believe that the “age of accountability" provides a better footing for the subject of children and heaven. This view argues that one is accountable to the degree that he or she understands God and what He requires. If one is unable to understand these things--whether by age, mental incapacity, or environment--then one cannot be held accountable, at least to the same degree as others.

            Unfortunately, the Scriptures do not directly address this topic, but the following considerations may be helpful. When King David's infant son died, David said, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Sam. 12:23). David had a firm hope that God receives the child that dies and that he would see his son again, in heaven. When Israel rebelled against the Lord, God held those twenty years old and older more responsible for refusing to trust the Lord and enter the promise land (Numbers 14:29). Within Jewish tradition, the bar-mitzvahs and bat-mitzvahs are a right of passage for children, ages twelve to thirteen, to enter adulthood and to accept the responsibility of following God.

            Column length will not permit me to cite the numerous verses that teach that all people are held accountable for only the "light" they posses, that is, their perception of God's truth. (For further study see Acts 17:30, James 4:17, John 9:41, 15:22,24, Luke 12:47-48, and Matthew 11:20-24.)

            These examples do not tells us exactly "when" a person becomes accountable, nor the limited specifics on which God pardons or judges. What we do know is that Gods judgment is unequivocally wise and good.

            Therefore, I am convinced that there is a place in the Father's arms for these little ones. They shall not return to us, but we shall go to them.

--Pastor Scott (www.askpastorscott.com)