I sat down on my couch around 8:30 pm exhausted from teaching 7th and 8th graders how to live and breathe and have their being in the fundamentals of math, science, history, etc. I had just dropped off my oldest two children at a school function. A few of the teachers thought it would be fun to have a Christmas pajama party for K-5th graders; making cookies and crafts and watching Polar Express. I did not give it a second thought. That is, until I opened my lap-top and read the headline, "20 children Massacred in School Shooting."I read the article and found that in Newton, Connecticut a twenty year old man shot his mother multiple times and then went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and slaughtered twenty kindergartners and six adults. Then, in real heroic fashion, he turned the gun on himself, leaving a wake of terror, grief, and calamity across the nation.
This hit close to home. I am an educator. I interact with children like these everyday. I have four children of my own, all who are around the same age. At this point in our lives most of our friends have children this age. This could have easily been us. We could be wrestling with everything that comes when evil burst forth in creation attacking God's image in man (Genesis 1:27); which is what murder does in any case. It just seems more heinous when it happens to children.
I resisted the urge to leave immediately and get my children. Instead, I opted to talk to Stacy about it. Eventually, I had to pick them up and eventually they would hear about what happened. As their father, it is my responsibility to give them direction and a framework to deal with their feelings and to help foster their faith in Christ when they encounter evil and tragedy.
Innocence Gives Way To Brokenness
It was providential that we somewhat dealt with this a few weeks ago when we miscarried our child. I gave them six truths from Psalm 139 about God in times of trials and tribulation (Monkeys and Miscarriages: Daddy, why is mommy not having a baby any more?). I decided to revisit these truths again and discuss them with the children over the weekend.
By the following night, my children had learned most of the details on the school shooting via the radio. As usual we read our bible and said our bedtime prayers. I was intentional in praying for the Sandy Hook families. After I was done, my oldest daughter asked a revealing question...one I was not fully prepared to answer; "Daddy, do kindergartners go to heaven?"It was a totally appropriate question for her because she is only three grades removed from kindergarten. She has a common connection with these children. She has siblings the same age as some of those who were slain. She passes children like that in the hallway all the time. In some ways, she can put a face to the victims, maybe she even pictured herself as one. Maybe, what she was really asking was, "Would I go to heaven if I died right now?"
Talk about heart breaking. I was struck back for a moment. My daughter is contemplating her own death. A part of her innocence has given way to the reality of our brokenness and mortality (Genesis 3:14-17). She is moving away from her youthful naivety, into a more mature understanding of the consequence of sin, the certainty of death, and the hope we have in Christ. The sting of the death of those children in Connecticut was radiating in the heart of my daughter, and she was looking for something to take it away. After sixty seconds of contemplation, I gave her an answer. But before I get to that, I want to share a few positions on the matter. I briefly thought of these three perspectives as I was trying to put together a response to Naomi's question.
Baptism and Saving Grace: A Catholic Perspective
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Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose Lime Catholic Church of Newton, CT offered comfort to his community by saying, "There are twenty brighter stars in the heavens." He is of course insinuating that the children are in heaven looking down on us. The Roman Catholic Church holds that children need to be baptized by a priest because it is a means of God's grace for salvation. The act of baptism causes regeneration. The church bestows saving grace on people and it needs to be administered to all. Ludwig Ott says quite pointedly, "Baptism by water...is, since the promulgation of the gospel, necessary for all men without exception for salvation (pg 356 "Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma"). According to this perspective, since the child received regeneration via the church through baptism, he or she would be safe in the arms of Christ if he/she died. Moreover, if a child is not baptized, traditionally speaking, the child is in limbo and is dependent on the mercy of God. (To see more on this you can read The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized) The "bright stars" comment is vague enough to capture the essence of the doctrine.In contrast to this view, scripture clearly says that salvation is by faith alone. "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not of your own doing, it is a free gift of God- not because of your works, unless any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8). Paul explains that the free gift is eternal life in Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Moreover, baptism is taught as an act after one receives the word of God in faith. Acts 2:41, says that "those who received his word were baptized." The implication here is that they trusted in Christ and then were baptized. When Phillip preached the gospel in Samaria, "they believed the good news about the kingdom of God and in the name of the Lord Jesus they were baptized" (Acts 8:12). Also consider Acts 10:44-46; 47-48; Acts 16:14-15; 16:32-33; 1 Corinthians 1:16. In regards to limbo, the bible does not speak of such a place.
Age of Accountability: A Southern Comfort
Dr. Lemke at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, in an article in the SBC Today "Distinctive Baptist Beliefs Nine Marks that Separate Baptist From Presbyterians", said that the age of accountability is a distinctive Baptist belief. He goes on to explain that the age of accountability reflects the child's ability to make moral decisions. At this age, or "state of being" as Lemke notes, the child becomes aware of his/her sinfulness and the consequences of remaining in an unregenerative state. There is no specific age. Southern Baptist recognize that each child matures at a different age and therefore it is left for the church and parents to discern if the child understands.
There is some biblical justification for God regenerating infants. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). In a similar example, David says, "Since my mother bore me you have been my God" (Psalm 22:10). Though this is not the usual way for God to save people, it does seem to imply that He can bring regeneration to an infant.
John Piper has argued that Romans 1:19-20 offers hope to parents who have lost a baby. Romans 1:19-20 says that God and His attributes have been made known to mankind through creation, and those who can perceive creation are without excuse. Since a child, particularly a baby, cannot perceive nature, sin, grace, holiness, and the such, they have an excuse. Any person who does not have the mental ability to comprehend God's attributes in creation would fall into this category as well.
I am sympathetic to this perspective. However, I see several hurdles to overcome. First, the bible is clear about the inherited universal sinfulness of mankind and God's judgement on sinners (Psalm 14:3; Psalm 143:2; 1 Kings 8:46; Proverbs 20:9 Romans 3:9-10; Romans 3:23; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8-10). We are all born in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1) and in need of redemption (Ephesians 2:3-8). Second, The bible does teach that babies are sinners in need of regeneration. David said he was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin his mother conceived him (Psalm 51:5). In Psalm 58:3, it says that the wicked go astray from the womb, they error from their birth. Though the two examples mentioned above do show God regenerating an infant, the bible clearly shows that this is the exception not the rule. Finally, the age of accountability is subjective. The bible does not give any clear direction or indication of when a child reaches an age of understanding. And frankly, in America, it seems that the age of accountability does not really apply to any Evangelical's child. They kind of get there by default.
It Is By Grace You Are Saved...Not Your Perceived Innocence
Finally, I think it is worth mentioning that hell is not a popular subject in America these days. We live in a culture that holds onto a veneer of Christianity; nice and shiny on the outside, but hard as wood on the inside. Or better yet, American Christianity is like a buffet, we pick and choose the things we like about Christ and reject the rest. Hell is definitely a dish that is rarely, if ever, served. The reason for this is because we have rejected the notion of sin, especially personal sin against a righteous God. In our culture hell is not a reality because sin is not a reality. It might be well to note a correlation of our current societal morality and how our society struggles to call what happened at Sandy Hook an act of evil.
It would seem hard for anyone in America, maybe including myself, to fathom God sending a child to hell. This would be and indictment against our understanding of God's justice and righteousness. For Him to do so would affirm that all are sinners regardless of age, or race, or citizenship, or perceived innocence, and that salvation is by His saving grace alone.
Sovereign Hands of God
After about sixty seconds I gave Naomi an answer. I reminded her that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and rich in faithful love and truth to a thousand generations; forgiving wrong doing, rebellion, and sin...(Exodus 34:7). I also explained that God is sovereign over every life that has existed and ever will exist (Psalm 139:10-17), and there is no place that I would want you or any child than in the faithful, all-knowing, omnipotent hands of our sovereign God. Though I do not know what happens to a child when they die, I do know that God does and I trust that He knows they have perished and will do what is right and perfect.
After I was done, Naomi simply said, "Yes sir." Her eyes gazed at the floor for a moment before she rolled onto her back. I stood there for a second contemplating if my answer was sufficient for her. I wanted to add more to what I said, but at that point I would have just rambled. I have to trust the Lord that the answer will do for now.
I have to admit, when I look up at the night sky I am reminded of Monsignor Weiss's words. And I can see where a parent would find comfort in believing that their child is looking down on them while sitting in the lap of God. On the other hand, when I look at the stars in the sky I am reminded of the God spoke every star into existence. He is not left wondering where they are...He put them exactly in their place and knows them all by name.
