Do Children go to Heaven?

I've been rather confused on this topic. On the one hand, from conception, children are sinners. On the other, do they understand? And what about aborted babies?

I want to think that children go to heaven when they die, but I'm confused.

We discussed this a bit in depth in one of the other theological discussions (I cannot recall which one) and I know there was some controversy regarding this (many said infants will go to heaven, while others said that no aborted babies will go to Heaven). I personally do not buy the argument against children spending eternity with God. I talked to Dr. Michael Farris of HSLDA about this topic during lunch a few months ago, and he felt that unborn children, for instance, would not go to Hell, for they have not actually committed an act of rebellion against God. They have a sinful nature, yes, but that does not mean that they have sinned. A lot of debates over definitions (such as "sinful nature") need to occur, I think, in order to really get anywhere with the debate.

I will try to expound a bit more on my own thoughts later, but again, I do think that young children can still go to Heaven. :)

My position on this topic is quite uncertain as well. I tend to lean more toward the side that children who die young do not automatically go to heaven just because they can't understand the gospel yet; but I am not at all dogmatic in this belief. Like Jimmy said, I'm not sure whether it is the sinful nature or actual sinful acts that send a person to hell, so we will need to discuss that before we can get much further in this discussion.

I am personally of the opinion that perhaps God elects certain children who die young to be His own, giving them a supernatural understanding of the gospel before they die. This idea may be far-fetched, but it is the only way that I can see for children to go to heaven when they die–that is, if I am holding to the notion that a sinful nature, not necessarily sinful acts, sends a person to hell. If anyone can prove that one must actually sin to be sent to hell, I will gladly accept that stillborn babies and children who die very young are taken to heaven. :)

Here is an interesting article on the "Age of Accountability" on "Grace to You" that I thought was pretty good but not super dogmatic:
http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A264

I was talking with my dad about this the other day and he made a really good point. If children who are aborted or die young go to heaven we should be glad they die. Because they won't have to live in misery in this world. And not all of the children aborted or who die young will be saved if they were to live to adulthood. So if they were to go to heaven we shouldn't be so concerned about abortion and such. We should be glad because they won't have to live in a sin filled world and will instead get to be with God for eternity.

Wow, excellent point, Carissa!

@ SBG: I agree with you, and I do not think the idea is far-fetched.

Rhetorical question: So why don't Christians just commit suicide so they won't have to live in a sin filled world and will instead get to be with God for eternity?

I wonder… if children born into Christian families that die in the womb go to Heaven. And what about those born into heathen families that die in the womb?
Of course, those who are God's elect will go to Heaven, no matter what. He chose them before time began.

I am definitely not a scholar on this subject but I will post anyway :). My Dad started writing a paper on the subject so I asked him if i could put it on here :). Here it is:

There is an Age of Accountability:

Deuteronomy 1:39, “And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.”

Isaiah 7:14-16, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.”

God Knows Us in the Womb:

Where Do Babies Go if They Die?
Since we see from Scripture that young children, babies, infants, and toddlers are not held accountable for their being born into sin, where do they go if they die at a young age? Is there any precedence from the Bible where we see an example of one so young dying and where they will be at? Yes! David and Bathsheba had a baby that was conceived in adultery. The baby dies but the baby was innocent of their parent’s sins, particularly David’s. What did David say after his and Bathsheba’s baby died? David seemed to know with certainty where the baby would go because he said in 2 Samuel 12:23 that “now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” Because the child could not return to David, he said that “I will go to him.” Since we know that David’s throne is to be established forever in the Kingdom of Heaven, David must be thinking ahead to that Kingdom and realize that he will see this child again someday. Psalm 132:11 says, “The LORD has sworn to David, A truth from which He will not turn back; ‘Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.” Furthermore, David has been prophesied to reign in the future Kingdom, “to they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (Jer 30:9). Here is an actual reference to King David being resurrected and since he will be resurrected and he will “go to him” (the deceased child) in this Kingdom, we know that this baby will live again in the Kingdom and is not doomed to an eternal torment in hell.
There appears to be a special dispensation of God’s grace and mercy for those who die young and before the age of being held responsible for their salvation (an accountability). Since God knows even the unborn, we can see that even aborted fetuses or the still born will also be in this Kingdom. Jeremiah wrote, “I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5). David understood this well as the Psalms declare, “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book” (Psalm 139:13-16). Here is evidence that God sees us as a human being before birth, that He knows us even as we are “woven together” in our mother’s womb, and that even prior to our being formed (unformed body), He considered us a viable human being. This seems to support the prohibition of abortion which is the taking of a human life. To have an abortion would be seen as murder in God’s eyes.

In 2 Samuel 12, King David’s newborn son fell terminally ill. After seven days, the child died. In verses 22 and 23, the Bible records that David said: “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” It is clear that David’s dead infant son would never return to this Earth, but David also said that one day, he would go to be with his son. Through inspiration, David documented that his own eternal destination was going to be “in the house of the Lord” (Psalm 23:6). Therefore, we can conclude that “the house of the Lord” would be the eternal destination of his infant son to whom David would one day go. King David was looking forward to the day when he would be able to meet his son in heaven.

Second Samuel 12:23 is one of the passages often quoted to imply that babies go to heaven. Though the verse doesn't explicitly say that, David clearly does expect to one day be reunited with his departed child. Since we know David is a believer whose destiny was heaven, we can infer that his hope of reunion means he expected his child to be in heaven. Thus, 2 Samuel 12:23 suggests strong evidence for a heavenly destiny of the unborn and children who die young.

If this were all we had to support our position, it would be admittedly less than stalwart. However, there are other evidences that point us to the same conclusion. First, the Bible clearly teaches that God cares deeply for children. Passages like Matthew 18:1-6 and 19:13-15 affirm the Lord's love for them. Those verses don't state that children go to heaven, but they do show God's heart toward children. He created and cares for children, and beyond that, He always accomplishes His perfect will in every circumstance.

However, another point may be helpful in answering this question. While infants and children have neither sensed their personal sin and need for salvation nor placed their faith in Christ, Scripture teaches that condemnation is based on the clear rejection of God's revelation–whether general or specific–not simple ignorance of it (Luke 10:16; John 12:48; 1 Thess. 4:8).

Can we definitely say that the unborn and young children have comprehended the truth displayed by God's general revelation that renders them "without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20)? They will be judged according to the light they received. Scripture is clear that children and the unborn have original sin–including both the propensity to sin as well as the inherent guilt of original sin. But could it be that somehow Christ's atonement did pay for the guilt for these helpless ones throughout all time? Yes, and therefore it is a credible assumption that a child who dies at an age too young to have made a conscious, willful rejection of Jesus Christ will be taken to be with the Lord.

God knowing us from the womb:

Psalm 22:10
On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. [1]

Isaiah 49:5
And now the Lord says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him;
and that Israel might be gathered to him—
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength— [2]

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.[3]

The age in which a person can clearly understand that they are a sinner in need of a Savior and can see themselves as unworthy to enter into eternal life.

@Hannah- Are you saying that babies born (or were going to be born) into christian families will go to heaven while those into un-christian families will not go to heaven?

Does this really make sense to any of you? That our loving, merciful Father in heaven would send a baby/small child to hell because they have a sin nature? It is not their direct choice. They are not yet old enough to understand that we have to trust Jesus for our salvation yet.

I think, personally, that when a child gets old enough to understand and make their own choice; to trust Jesus to save them, or not: that is when they become accountable for their own salvation. This point might be different for different people, and God in His all-knowing wisdom will choose the right time for each child.

@Hannah W. - great points! You really said it well.

Also, I just thought of this. What about what Jesus said - "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Mt. 19:14

Not if I have anything to say about it!

God's ways don't always make sense to us. And it is totally just for God to send babies/children to hell.

I believe that if the parents of the child are trusting Jesus, the child will go to heaven.
However, I think that God, who is all knowing, knows whether or not that child would have accepted Him in it’s life time. He only could judge.

So the children get punished for the sins of the parents? I don't think that's right.

@Carissa, that's true. We can't understand God anyways.

And God is outside of time, so you're right, Sarah. Time was created for our finite minds, so we could understand.

But what about that verse I mentioned?

Also, I just thought of this. What about what Jesus said - "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Mt. 19:14

I was going to mention that verse as well. And Hannah Waters, thank you for that article - you brought out some good points there.

Also, I just thought of this. What about what Jesus said - "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Mt. 19:14

Maybe little children does not mean little children. We are to become as children. And the ones who become like children are the ones who inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Suicide is a sin. And yes, murdering babies is a sin and we should be concerned about that. But if the babies go to heaven we shpuld be happy for them. And I don't think that those who commit suicide are saved.

I'll respond sooon to this.

Suicide is a sin. And yes, murdering babies is a sin and we should be concerned about that. But if the babies go to heaven we shpuld be happy for them. And I don't think that those who commit suicide are saved.

I don't think those who commit suicide are saved either. How could they be? They are deliberately murdering themselves, and they won't be able to repent that sin…since, well, they'll be dead.

Also, I just thought of this. What about what Jesus said - "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Mt. 19:14

Maybe little children does not mean little children. We are to become as children. And the ones who become like children are the ones who inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Okay, that is possible, but it seems to me that Jesus is definitely speaking about little children. The mothers were bringing their children to Him to be blessed. We are to have faith like a little child. Was He speaking of that one child? It sounds like a general term to me.

Also, I just thought of this. What about what Jesus said - "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Mt. 19:14

Maybe little children does not mean little children. We are to become as children. And the ones who become like children are the ones who inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Okay, that is possible, but it seems to me that Jesus is definitely speaking about little children. The mothers were bringing their children to Him to be blessed. We are to have faith like a little child. Was He speaking of that one child? It sounds like a general term to me.

Murdering babies is most assuredly a sin, but if they go to Heaven, I agree that we should rejoice that they are in the presence of the Father. I personally think that, as you said, Carissa, the passage in which Jesus is talking about the little children does not necessarily mean that they are saved, but as the article says, it shows God's loving heart toward children.

Sidenote: This might be best left to another discussion, but I personally feel that those who commit suicide do not necessarily go to Hell or are not saved (The idea that suicides are always condemned as worthy of Hell is, by the way, the Catholic and, I think, the Lutheran position on suicide. I am not saying that anyone of this position is a Catholic or a Lutheran, but I only bring it up for historical purposes of helping us understand :) ). I personally think that, while it is a grievous sin, suicide is never referred to as a sin from which salvation is impossible. People go through many periods of falling away (not losing their salvation, but times at which they are estranged from God), and after, say, the loss of a spouse, people can do horrible things in their grief. Just because they cannot confess and repent of a sin does not mean they are denied salvation. If, in the act of disobeying my parents, I die, does that mean I will go to Hell? Of course, disobedience and self-murder are different, but I think that they are the same with regards to salvation. This is, of course, a question to which I would like to give a lot more thought, but what do you and Courtney think of this reasoning?

So are you saying that anyone who dies without repenting of a sin will go to hell? Wouldn't that be 'works righteousness'?
If I can be unrepentant for a time after sinning, and I die before I repent, how can the blood of Christ have been nullified by my sin?

Suicide is a sin. And yes, murdering babies is a sin and we should be concerned about that. But if the babies go to heaven we shpuld be happy for them. And I don't think that those who commit suicide are saved.

I don't think those who commit suicide are saved either. How could they be? They are deliberately murdering themselves, and they won't be able to repent that sin...since, well, they'll be dead.

I disagree with how you came to the conclusion that suicide is sinful.

Also, I just thought of this. What about what Jesus said - "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Mt. 19:14

Maybe little children does not mean little children. We are to become as children. And the ones who become like children are the ones who inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Okay, that is possible, but it seems to me that Jesus is definitely speaking about little children. The mothers were bringing their children to Him to be blessed. We are to have faith like a little child. Was He speaking of that one child? It sounds like a general term to me.

Yes, Jesus is talking about little children…but not in the last phrase.

I'll respond sometime this evening…when I have more time.

Don't worry about it! :)

I think the issue of suicide and Christians committing it goes back to whether one believes in the doctrines of grace…or not. I do not think that one goes to hell if they do not confess and repent of every single sin they ever commit.

So are you saying that anyone who dies without repenting of a sin will go to hell? Wouldn't that be 'works righteousness'? If I can be unrepentant for a time after sinning, and I die before I repent, how can the blood of Christ have been nullified by my sin?

I might be wrong, and you are probably right. I am just opening my line of thought for everyone else to show me where my thinking is invalid! xP This is just what I have always been taught. And no, I don't think that if someone dies without repenting of a sin that they will necessarily go to hell. God trieth the hearts…surely He will know that person's motive.

Isn't it kind of funny how we argue about these things, seeing we don't even have to decide them? :P xD

I think the issue of suicide and Christians committing it goes back to whether one believes in the doctrines of grace...or not. I do not think that one goes to hell if they do not confess and repent of _every single sin they ever commit_.

That would be impossible.

Murdering babies is most assuredly a sin, but if they go to Heaven, I agree that we should rejoice that they are in the presence of the Father. I personally think that, as you said, Carissa, the passage in which Jesus is talking about the little children does not necessarily mean that they are saved, but as the article says, it shows God's loving heart toward children. Sidenote: This might be best left to another discussion, but I personally feel that those who commit suicide do not necessarily go to Hell or are not saved (The idea that suicides are always condemned as worthy of Hell is, by the way, the Catholic and, I think, the Lutheran position on suicide. I am not saying that anyone of this position is a Catholic or a Lutheran, but I only bring it up for historical purposes of helping us understand :) ). I personally think that, while it is a grievous sin, suicide is never referred to as a sin from which salvation is impossible. People go through many periods of falling away (not losing their salvation, but times at which they are estranged from God), and after, say, the loss of a spouse, people can do horrible things in their grief. Just because they cannot confess and repent of a sin does not mean they are denied salvation. If, in the act of disobeying my parents, I die, does that mean I will go to Hell? Of course, disobedience and self-murder are different, but I think that they are the same with regards to salvation. This is, of course, a question to which I would like to give a lot more thought, but what do you and Courtney think of this reasoning?

Well, the verse does say that of such is the kingdom of heaven. He just seems to be implying that little children do go to heaven.

And I agree with you that a person who commits suicide does not necessarily go to hell or is not saved. God alone knows the hearts. I think that as long as a person is really trusting Jesus for his salvation, he is saved. BUT - I think that this case is pretty rare, where a saved person actually commits suicide. Do you agree?

I agree with you about the verse, Courtney! I just did not want to put all my eggs in one basket because that specific passage doesn't directly say that children go to Heaven. I still think they do, but I did not want to make a hasty argument. :)

As for the question of suicides, I would agree with what you said. I was pretty sure you and Carissa were not saying that you had to repent for every sin to be saved. I just wanted to clarify what was meant. I agree with you completely that suicides of those who are saved would be very, very rare (we have such consolation in Christ!), but I think it is possible. Again, though, I hold the same general opinion as you. :)

Okay, yes, I agree. I don't want to make hasty arguments that I'll regret later either. Also, there is always the possibility of mistranslation. Even a tiny word mistranslated can make a big difference. :) That's why I love the way BB focuses on Greek words to get the exact meaning. :)

One thing I've been wondering: you know, in Jonah 4, when Jonah is angry at God for not destroying Ninevah, God reproves him? God says something like there were many people in that city which "did not know their right hand from their left". Do you think God is talking about spiritual things? Is He speaking of intellectual ignorance? Or is He talking about children, who are not yet old enough to decide for themselves which path of life to follow?

I agree. :) Besides, as I said to Carissa, it would be pretty much impossible to pinpoint and repent of every single sin, no matter how sincere the person. We are all hopeless sinner in ourselves. That's why we need Jesus! :D

As far as an "age of accountability," or whatever it's called, I remember taking a sticker off our dehumidifier when I was maybe three and lying to get away with it. I knew it was wrong, even though I was that little. I saw a video of a little boy who claimed he hadn't eaten anything, even though he had sprinkles all over his face. I know a set of five month old twins who would fight with each other. Just saying.

Most who would advocate an age of accountability would not say that the age is uniform for all. I believe the Mormons says that the age of accountability is the 8th birthday, but most find that rather silly. The age of accountability is a time when a child (or possibly an infant!) understands that what he is doing is wrong, and violates God's laws by following the desires of his sinful nature. This is different for all people, I think, but I think that most very little children are not at an age where they comprehend their sin and commit sinful acts against the Lord.

Here is a brief example: If a one-day-old baby is told by his Mother not to cry, yet he does, does that mean he sinned? I would argue that, because he could not understand, he does not rebel against God. He is just incapable of comprehending. Would you agree?

I agree with you, Jimmy.

Oh, yeah, I totally agree. I was just pointing out that in my case, I knew what I was doing was wrong. But I'd agree with everything you just said.