Does the Wrath of God Rest on Infants and Little Children? Final Part

It says in scripture that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). So when a person does not believe God's wrath rests on him (Romans 1:18) for they suppress the truth which speaks of man's lost-ness, his moral inability. Similarly in a human marriage where one or the other has been faith-less the Bible speaks of violence covering him like a garment. They are the same. If we are faith-less to God because of our disobedience and disbelieve, his wrath rests on us. If we are faith-less to our wife violence covers us like a garment. The Malachi passage refers to God's intention for believing parents to raise godly seed with God's power. but when we are faith-less, our children suffer. They become a shame to us. they are a shame because we refused to rely on the power of God's Spirit whom He has given to us in order to produce godly offspring. We cannot produce godly offspring without His Spirit. So violence or wrath is upon us one way or the other when we fail to remain diligent in training our children or when we fail to rely on God's Spirit in teaching our children. Failing to remain diligent is also setting aside the Spirit God has given us to raise them faithfully. The wrath or violence is the loss of security and protection assured by godly offspring. We destroy our own goals and dreams by not seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness by raising up godly seed for the Kingdom. As we read in Malachi, it is God's primary intention in bringing a man and woman together in holy matrimony to produce godly seed for Him. This is why marriage is ordained and blessed by God. But our culture does not view children in the same way that the Bible does. It views children as inconvenient and bothersome for the attainment of temporal goals that bring no lasting satisfaction. But children are a heritage of the Lord, able to bring us lasting satisfaction and deep joy as they impact the world and the culture for the Truth found in the person of Jesus Christ.

So my answer from the question at the outset (Part 1) is that I believe infants and children are not innocent for they are born with a sin nature inherited from Adam's violation of God's covenant with him. The covenant remains but its breaking resulted in his seed being permanently affected by it. As a result they, as well as adults are equally guilty of breaking God's covenant and deserving of death. However, what we are left with is intentional sin - the fruit of our disobedience that an infant or young child is incapable of committing. This, I believe, is where passages I read previously (Romans 1 and 8) cannot apply to the little ones. Irregardless, it still all depends on God's mercy for even infants are accused because of the nature they inherited even though they are incapable of acting on it. But are they then considered children of wrath? No, I believe not, simply because of God's injunction to train them up in the way they should go. but this command is given to the people of God which implies, to me, that since believers are under God's security and protection (for they remain faithful to rely on God's Spirit) because of His covenant, those in the process of being trained to fear God are also included under that same covenant. Children of unbelieving parents are not under the blessings of God's covenant and so are subject to God's wrath as their disobedient parents are. But the hope still lies in that, "God knows who are his". There seems to be little doubt in my mind that He takes first from the children of believing parents before he does of the children of parents that remain in rebellion against His sovereign rule. In conclusion a scripture just came to mind that seems to help here. Jesus is talking to his disciples and he says, "If anyone causes one of these little ones, who believe in me, to stumble it would be better if a large millstone was tied around his neck and he was thrown into the sea..." We must not misunderstand the passage by reading into it that these "little ones" were already converted. That would not do at all. Little ones can also mean infants. And we know that mothers were bringing the "little ones" to Christ to have him bless them. Little ones could very well mean infants and we know infants cannot "accept" Christ - yet he blessed them and said that they, "believe in me". This point brings up the tremendous responsibility and charge to "raise them up in the fear of the Lord"; why, because they will follow your example readily. They will model your behavior and copy what you do. They will believe readily if brought up by parents who fully trust in God as their total provider. They cannot help but to know God.


-Joe