What Happens To The Souls Of Children Who Die?

          There are a number of different positions amongst Christians as to what happens to the souls of children who die. Some have postulated that unbaptized infants perish eternally in hell. For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church unofficially taught that the souls of deceased children go to a place called Limbo. Others believe that the destination of little children who pass away enter into the presence of God in heaven. The stance outlined last is the one that will be defended here.

          Scripture implicitly affirms the concept that we call the age of accountability (Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 7:15-16). This is relative due to the fact that everybody develops differently. Thus, there exists a period of time in childhood in which God in His mercy does not count sins against a person due to lacking reason and understanding. While babies are born with a sin nature, they still cannot actually commit acts of evil. 

          Jesus Christ stated that the kingdom of God is not only for little ones, but also for those who become like children in their faith (Mark 10:13-15; Luke 18:15-17). He implicitly affirmed that the kingdom of God does belong to children (Matthew 18:3; 19:14-15). Consider also the mourning of King David when the Lord took away his newborn child as discipline for acts of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:22-23). The text of 2 Samuel affirms that both would go to the same place at the moment of physical death. David entered into the presence of God (Hebrews 11:32-33).

          The God of the Bible is a God of love, mercy, righteousness, and truth. He would not condemn to hell somebody who never even had a chance to live. We must also keep in mind those who have severe cognitive disabilities. Though it is a teaching of Scripture that God has inscribed a moral law into the hearts of men, every person needs to have the mental capacity to act. Each man will be judged according to his own conduct (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17). Babies cannot do anything on their own. So what could God judge them for?