What happens to babies when they die? (Pt 2)

So again, back to the baby question. What happens to babies when they die? It’s a question that on the surface seems like an easy one, but rest assured it’s not. The most obvious answer is babies automatically go to heaven when they die. But that’s just a surface level answer. It doesn’t take into account one very important fact. Jesus says “I am the way. No one gets to heaven except through Jesus.” As Christians, we have decided that this means, that only through Jesus Christ can we get to heaven. We have to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and then we’ll be saved (aka going to heaven.) But babies aren’t able to call upon Jesus (or are they?). Therefore, when they die, they shouldn’t be able to go to heaven.

You may ask why would babies even need to call on Jesus. They’re babies, they haven’t done anything wrong! All they do is poop, sleep and cry. Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast, my compadres. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Note the word, all, which I have oh so conveniently highlighted for you. It didn’t say all, except for babies. Or except for the mentally handicapped who’s IQ is 10. No, every person born after Adam, was born in sin. It is our curse, and what makes this world the way it is. David knew this when he wrote in Psalms 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” So even for David, “A Man after God’s own heart”, he admits that he was born in sin.

The problem is if we start excluding babies, we enter the dangerous ground of legalism. At what point does a baby stop being a baby? As soon as it learns to walk, then it’s no longer a baby? How about when it enters school? Do you know that kids learn to lie as soon as they learn to talk? And lying is a sin, which leads to death. Yes it’s true. For example, all 2 year-old toddlers love to say the word “No.” Are you hungry? “No.” Do you want to eat? “No.” Do you not want to eat? “No.” See? Liars!

I often wonder why do people so wish for babies to get a free pass into heaven? Is it because the notion of a God condemning babies to hell does such great violence to the image of a just God? Well, what if that baby grew up to be the next Hitler? Then would it be ok for the baby to be condemned to hell? And you can’t say it’s not fair for God to judge a baby for future actions, because God can see the past, present, and future. He knows exactly how you will turn out, how babies 20 years from now will turn out. So, he truly is the most perfect Judge. Did you know that God has destined some people for great evil acts? Even before they were conceived, God has willed certain people to commit heinous acts, so that it may further his will. This shows that God doesn’t view babies the same way we do, that all are innocent. He sees them all as people, born under Adam, slaves to sin. I know, it sounds counter to probably what you've grown up hearing. Here's some verses to chew on. As always, you should not take the verses for granted. Please read the entire chapter to get the context for yourself. However, as I have limited space, here's some choice verses:

"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." (Ro 9:17-18)

What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Ro 11:7-8)

I would like to say, that these verses in no way condemn babies or children. I'm just saying that God has already decided which people to harden and which will be saved, even before they were born. That's it.

As I’ve said before, when it comes to controversial topics, I always turn to the Catholic Church. They believe that babies go to purgatory when they die. And in purgatory, they grow and mature normally as on earth. Then after they grew up, God can judge their purgatory lives just as if it were on earth. Other denominations have ventured forth other theories. If a baby cannot distinguish right from wrong, then they get a free pass. Other people I’ve asked, replied, “Who cares?” Who cares, indeed. How about Christian parents, who’ve seen their babies tragically taken away. I’m sure it would be a comfort for them to know that they will see their kid once again in heaven. Unfortunately, this is another answer that we will never know, until we see God. Then we can ask him (if we can remember) ourselves, and at that time, finally, He can reveal the answer to the question. “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?”