Newborns & Children go to hell?! What does the Bib

[Timmy]

Maybe this will help you feel better about children (or anyone) in hell:

"Can the believing husband in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving wife in Hell? Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell? Can the loving wife in Heaven be happy with her unbelieving husband in Hell? I tell you, yea! Such will be their sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish their bliss."

-- Jonathan Edwards

Well, at least you can look forward to feeling happy about it, after you die.

[Michael The Disciple]

Maybe its the doctrine that says people will burn in Hell for TRILLIONS UPON TRILLIONS of years that is problematic? They teach they will never cease to exist. Trillions upon trillions of years from now the punishment will just really be getting started.

Yet people recoil angrily most of the time when its pointed out to them that the wages of sin IS DEATH. Romans 6:23

[Dichotomy Girl]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Maybe this will help you feel better about children (or anyone) in hell:

"Can the believing husband in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving wife in Hell? Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell? Can the loving wife in Heaven be happy with her unbelieving husband in Hell? I tell you, yea! Such will be their sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish their bliss."

-- Jonathan Edwards

Well, at least you can look forward to feeling happy about it, after you die.

Whoa, Harsh!

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

Whoa, Harsh!

Well, you have to admit, it's a nifty way to make heaven a happy place.

[KeptByTheWord]

Luk_12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I've always understood this verse to mean that those who understand and know more will have more to account for, which would mean that children under the age of understanding would not have to account for what they never had a chance to know.

And considering how Jesus loved and tenderly reached out to the small children, I believe that children have a special place in the heart of the Lord, and we must rest in the faith that they are in the care of a merciful and loving God.

[Nitehawk013]

Isn't that kind of just proof texting? The context of that verse explains what it was referring to. I'm pretty sure Luke wasn't writing it to refer to children dying and whether they go to hell or not due to some age of accountability.

To be clear, I want there to be said age and for children to get the free pass to heaven. I'd just like to see scriptural proof rather than emotional/philosophical arguments.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

Isn't that kind of just proof texting? The context of that verse explains what it was referring to. I'm pretty sure Luke wasn't writing it to refer to children dying and whether they go to hell or not due to some age of accountability.

To be clear, I want there to be said age and for children to get the free pass to heaven. I'd just like to see scriptural proof rather than emotional/philosophical arguments.

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


Above you can see the entire text of the verses I am speaking of. The Lord is speaking in parable of those who are stewards of the gospel.

vs. 43: Blessed is the servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.


So we understand that if we continue doing the faithful work of a servant of the gospel, we will be blessed when the Lord returns to find us so doing.

vs. 45-46: But and if that servant say in his heart, my Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and at an hour when he is not aware and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

We understand from this verse that a servant can lose his standing in the kingdom, and be given a portion with the unbelievers, or hell, because of unbelief.

vs. 47-48 states that the servant who knew not his Lord's will, and prepared not himself shall be beaten with many stripes, but he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.

So, this passage is definitely speaking of those who have heard the gospel, and what they have done with it. If they acted with unbelief, they will be held accountable for their actions.

If, they knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes, they shall be "beaten with few stripes" and then the comment, unto whom much is given, much shall be required.

So, from this passage we understand that those who have known the gospel and the commands of the Lord will have more to answer for, than those who have not.

It is my humble opinion that from this we could understand that children, who have not had a chance to completely understand and know the gospel would not have to answer for what they did not have a chance to know.

How is this proof-texting?

[Esaias]

Jesus said to allow little children to come unto him, 'for of such is the Kingdom of God'.

If infants and children were ALREADY on the way to the lake of fire, then it could not be said 'of such is the Kingdom of Heaven', nor would Jesus have said EXCEPT ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall NOT enter the kingdom of God.'

Jesus used little children as an archetype of the child of God, not the child of hell.

NOW...

There may be some merit to the idea that children of the lost are outside the scope of the Covenant. Jesus was after all referring to Israelite children and not heathen children.

But that gets into another area that involves prophecy and the nature of God's covenant.

Too often we read the bible with our individualist glasses on, and fail to see God deals with FAMILIES and NATIONS as much as, if not more than, mere individuals.

'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, AND THY HOUSEHOLD.'

[Truthseeker]

My first pastor would preached this.

[Esaias]

If the 'else were your children unclean' verse means the children of a Christian are 'saved', then it also means the unbelieving spouse is saved...