(This post is a follow-up to “Bullycide”.)

Sorry, I disagree on a couple of points.  I've been in the line of fire, so I know from firsthand experience that some kids are sinners of the worst kind.  I believe some kids ARE aware of what they're doing, and if God let evil people like that into heaven, it wouldn't be heaven anymore.  Kids who drive other kids to their grave are guilty of MURDER in the sight of God.  You can't let the wicked off the hook.  Jesus put no age limit on repentance.  He said, unless you repent, you shall ALL likewise perish (Luke 13:3-5).  Paul says in I Cor.7:14: Else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.  Merely being a child doesn't bring holiness.  There are clean children and unholy children.

The prophet Elisha was teased (apparently, only verbally) by a gang of youths for being bald in 2 Kings 2:23-24.  Elisha pronounced judgment on those kids.  He didn't absolve them of blame just because they were young.  NO WHERE in scripture does God say you're automatically innocent if you're below the age of 18, 13, or whatever.  What's missing in modern pulpits is good, old-fashioned, fire-and-brimstone preaching.  God's love is so overemphasized to unrepentant sinners that they never suspect there might be a fiery hell awaiting them on the Day of Judgment and God's righteous wrath against sin.

Sincerely,
Done Being Bullied

Dear Done Being Bullied,

We appreciate your points and think there might be some miscommunication.  There is an age where a child reaches young adulthood - often known as the "teens", and children do begin to be responsible before God for their choices.  There is a point where a child ceases to be simply a product of their environment and transitions into being a culpable adult who has chosen a path of righteousness or wickedness.

However, children are not born in sin as you seem to be stating.  1 Cor. 7:14 is being used out of context.  In 1 Cor. 7:14, the children are 'holy' because they are purified by their believing parent's influence.  Otherwise, 1 Cor. 7 would be literally saying that a child is bound for hell or bound for heaven based off of whether or not their parents are christians.  Jesus died to save the whole world (Jhn 3:16), and every human has an opportunity to obey Him.

2 Kgs 2:23-24 is dealing with teenagers (or young adults), not small children.  Yes, many of today's youth exhibit the same hateful and rebellious attitudes that are shown by that gang of young adults that Elisha interacted with.  Children that rebel against parents and show a lack of respect for authority are clearly condemned in the Scriptures (Col 3:20, Deu 21:18-21).

We couldn't agree more that there is a need for preaching on hell and the judgment to come (if you read the answers to many of our questions, we think you will see that we don't shirk our responsibility to that topic).  Once we reach the age where we are old enough to make decisions and repent of those decisions on our own – we must prepare ourselves, so that we won't perish (Lk 13:3-5).  Children eventually become adults, and as adults, we must be prepared to meet our God.

I am struggling with the issue of the church and abortion.  I know the church is supposed to be unified, and we are supposed to love one another, but how is that possible when a number of pastors and congregations vote for candidates that support homosexual marriage, abortion, etc.  I am particularly angry at black pastors who seem to sell their principles for the color of their skin.  I can't sit in a black church or even pray with black christians because this rage over them supporting abortions consumes me.  Am I wrong, or do they need to repent?

Sincerely,
No Room In The Pew

Dear No Room In The Pew,

Abortion is a sin, and preachers that support abortion (regardless of skin color) are wrong.  Children are already alive in the womb.  John the Baptist leapt in his mother's womb (Lk 1:41).  God specifically said that John was a child dedicated to Him from before birth (Lk. 1:15).  Ps 139:13-16 makes a clear statement about life within the womb of a mother.  Unborn children are credited as living, feeling humans, and therefore deserve just as much protection as any other human life.  The abortion movement is a movement that seeks to deny rights to a silent and innocent segment of human society.  Abortion is murder (1 Pet. 4:15).  Any preacher or religious leader that promotes abortion is promoting murder.  Don’t make this a race issue; make it an issue of morals without regard to race.

There's a lot in the news about bullycide, where a school kid is driven to suicide by cruel bullies.  What if the bullied kid was driven so crazy by bullying that he couldn't control his urge to escape the abuse?  What if he never had the chance to accept Christ as Savior and might end up in hell?  Does God hold the bully responsible for the death?  How can the parents forgive their kid's killer knowing that the bully might have driven their child to hell?  Why should the bully get the chance to be saved that he denied his victim?

Sincerely,
Looking For Justice

Dear Looking For Justice,

There are several things to consider here:

1. All children go to heaven.  Read “What About The Children” for further information.
2. If someone is old enough to be considered a ‘young adult’ and responsible for their own choices before God, we can have confidence that God will not let anyone be tempted beyond what they are able (1 Cor 10:13).  There is no such thing as a sin that can’t be escaped.
3. If the bully is another child, we refer back to point #1.  But ultimately, yes, all bullies and malicious people are held accountable for their choices (Rom 14:12).
4. Nobody can deny someone else the opportunity to go to heaven.  Jesus died for the sins of all mankind (Jhn 3:16).  We all work out our own salvation (Php 2:12), and no one can take that opportunity away from us.

My question is: my son left the church because some christians hurt him; now he says he won’t have anything to do with christians, but I’ve been praying for two years.  He still doesn’t let go of the hurt.  I'm standing on God’s promises that He will save all my family; do you think my son will come to God?

Sincerely,
A Mother’s Worry

Dear A Mother’s Worry,

You can influence your son’s life, but he has the freedom to choose or refuse God.  Your example will have an effect on your son (Pr 22:6), and you should continue to pray (Pr 15:29) and be a preserving salt in his life (Matt 5:13).  We are so sorry for the heartache you are going through because of your son’s choices (Pr 10:1).  Hopefully, he will repent some day and return to the Lord, but ultimately, that choice will be up to him.

Hi.  I'm a working mom, and my husband is a stay-at-home dad.  I want our daughter to be raised with good, christian values.  He is more worldly.  I don't know what to do.  He is with her a lot, more than I am, but I feel she will have a harder time wanting to serve Christ if we don't do everything we can now to teach her.  Please help.

Sincerely,
Manager Mommy

Dear Manager Mommy,

The only thing that you can do is be a light in your family.  The Scriptures teach that your greatest tool as a woman married to an unbeliever – is your example (1 Cor 7:13-14).  Your example sanctifies your child and husband because your behavior will be a constant voice in their head.  Your choices and actions become a reminder to them that there is another option.  You cannot force your husband to instill morals in your child, just like you cannot force your husband to have the same morals as you – all you can do is provide alternative.  So let your light shine (Matt 5:14-16), pray for wisdom (Jas 1:5), and stand firm by your convictions.  The most valuable thing you have to offer your family is your unwavering moral standard.