Expert: Tom Smith - 2/15/2011

Question
, when the last day arrives, how will god judge our children? have they really had a chance to choose a "side" as young as they are, toddlers babies pre teens, the mentally disabled. What about those like my son, with downs,... What if anything, does god say about them?

Answer
Good question, and one often asked.

We don't have a great deal in scripture dealing with this point, however I believe we do have enough to understand the principles that God follows in dealing with this question. We can see it in what Jesus said why here in the flesh and from the character of God as revealed in scripture.

For example:

Matt 19:14-15
14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
NKJV

Matt 18:10-14
10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
NKJV

So clearly those who are children or babies are seen from a different perspective in God's eyes. Are they impacted by the effects of the original sin? Yes indeed, but are they held responsible for their actions before they can understand?

Rom 9:11
....for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls...
NKJV

So we see that the unborn are not held accountable for their works, and we see elsewhere in scripture where those unable to understand right and wrong are not held accountable, therefore there comes a time when a child reaches a point in their life where they do understand and are held accountable. God know each child and that age may vary.

What about people with Downs Syndrome? We don't find that mentioned, but I would suggest that the principle is the same. I have known people with Down's who are quite capable of understanding right and wrong and others who I would suggest do not.But one overriding factor is that God is Just and God is Loving. If He sought ways to send us to Hell, He would not have come to die on the cross for our sins. Rather, He came because of love that He desires that none should perish but that all should be saved.

In the case of your son, I think that even if he is unable to understand right and wrong, you can rest assured that God knows Him and loves Him even better than you do and you can be at peace knowing that his eternal destiny is in His hands.

Tom Smith
http://discern.ca