Psalm 58:3 (NIV)
Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
One of the most common theological questions people ask is whether babies and/or little children go the heaven when they die. It is a powerful question, to say the least. Some Christian denominations—chiefly the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church—believe in infant baptism for this very reason, for if the child dies without having its original sin absolved, surely it is damned to hell. Is that what David was saying in Psalm 58:3?
There is no doubt that it doesn’t take long for a child’s sin nature to rear its ugly head. Whether its lying or selfishness or manipulation, they (we) seem to come by it “naturally.” But at what point, or age does a toddler understand morality? At what point does she know what is right, but chooses what is wrong? The Apostle James said, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (Jas. 4:17). Does a baby understand such things? How about a toddler? A child in his “terrible two’s?” Surely a 7-year old understands the difference between right and wrong because they are fearful when caught and can experience a guilty conscience when not (Rom. 2:14-15)? I’m sure you can see the dilemma.
A proper study of the bible must include an understanding of not only the context of any given passage, but the type of language used (literary device). One of the most significant sources of inaccurate views about the Bible is the failure to discern the difference between the literal and the figurative expressions of Scripture. And that is precisely the problem in reading this text and concluding that it provides substance for the doctrine of “original sin” with respect to what happens to the soul in the case of an early death.
Today’s devotional will stick to this particular verse, but one of the best explanations for the belief that all babies and children who die go to heaven was co-authored by a friend of mine, Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In fact, one day I asked him, “Will there be more people in heaven or hell when the end comes?” His reply, via text, was short and to the point: “That’s easy. Heaven. Infant mortality and little children.” It was a comforting answer, but only so much as the biblical case was strong, rather than just emotional and heartfelt. And it is. You can read it for yourself in this article written by my friend along with Dr. Albert Mohler of Southern Seminary.
With respect to Psalm 58:3, the Bible teaches, quite clearly, that moral responsibility for sin comes in the “youth” of one’s life, and not at the point of one’s conception, or birth (Gen. 8:21; Isa. 7:16). Additionally, the passage states that the sinner is said to “go astray” rather than being “born astray.” This points to every person’s moral culpability, rather than laying their sinful choices at the feet of Adam. Consider Isaiah’s declaration: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isa. 53:6). No one is considered “sinful” on account of the sins of someone else (Ezek. 18:20).
Finally, a literal interpretation of this passage would have a little baby “spreading lies.” Little babies can make some cute and funny sounds – gurgles and coo’s and even laughter – but how could any of that be considered a lie? Most (but not all) toddlers can say about 20 words by 18 months and 50 or more words by the time they turn 2. By age 2, kids are starting to combine two words to make simple sentences, such as “Baby crying” or “Daddy big.” They most likely are not saying, “Me innocent” or “Brother guilty.” I’m sure you see the point.
There are numerous other avenues one could take via Scripture to discover that babies and children who die go right into the arms of their Creator (see the link above), and that is the position I have landed on quite soundly and without reservation. Not because it makes me feel better, but because it is a right application of Scripture. So if you have lost a baby or a young child to an early death, then I believe they are in Heaven right now. The bigger question, as Charles Spurgeon once noted, is this: Will you be there to see them yourself one day?
