Sin is not hereditary, but mischief…

Written by

Christopher Mentzer

November 19, 2002

Most parents of children under five years old know that no matter how you teach them about right and wrong, bad and good, and other things that they always find a way to get themselves into trouble. Some things could be classified as basic human instinct; curiosity mostly. But there are traits a child shows that can stem back to the parent themselves. How do we know? Why grandparents of course! Too many times I talk to my mother about the way my daughters act and she always comments that I use to act the exact same way. It’s like revenge for them to see their children struggle with being parents themselves.

Sometimes it can be a good thing to know that your children are like you, for if you know the things you did, you might anticipate the things they do.

One thing your children can’t inherit from you is sin. In Ezekiel 18: 20 the prophet writes, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” That eliminates the concept of original sin and the need for children to be baptized at such an early age.

Children who don’t know how to read cannot begin to understand the meaning of sin nor the reason Jesus died on the cross. As a former member of a denominational church, I recall the passage the “pastor” used to validate infant baptism. “15. And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16. But Jesus called them unto him, saying, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. 17. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein’”(Luke 18: 15-17).

Sounds fairly convincing doesn’t it? However Matthew 18:3 tell us what Jesus meant, “Verily I say unto you, ‘Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.’” Turn means repent. Again children cannot sin therefore they have an innocence, which God is looking for in His children. We know that Adam and Eve introduced sin into this world but we don’t bear their sins. We bear our own sins and are forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ (1John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; Eph.1: 7). Here’s further proof, “21. For since by man `came' death, by man `came' also the resurrection of the dead. 22. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive”(1 Cor. 15: 21-22).

Earlier this year I prepared a lesson on baptism and in the interest of fairness, to infant baptism, I spoke with both of my daughters and asked them three questions: 1) Do you believe Jesus Christ is Lord? 2) Do you believe Jesus died for your sins? 3) Do you admit you are a sinner? My youngest daughter, Erika (1 ½ years), had more interest in finding her stuffed animal than wanting to listen to what I had to say. With my oldest daughter, Sara (3 years) I only got to the first question. She answered “No” about Jesus being Lord and proceeded to tell me something about God and a bandage. I’m still looking for that parable.

This is what Jesus meant, “become as little children”. I observe my children and their only interests are when is snack time and what time does their favorite television program come on. There are many a day when I think life would be so much better if all I had to concern myself with is snack time and the T.V.

In Mark 16:16 Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” If children cannot read this and understand it to believe then how can they be baptized? In Acts 2:38 Peter said, “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” If children are free from sin then how can they repent and be baptized?

Our children inherit a lot of things from their parents but sin is not one of them.