Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned –

The doctrine called Original Sin has caused both confusion and arguments in the Church down through the centuries. People tend to take extreme positions on the issue on one side or another, when all of the uproar is caused by a combination of our pride and our limited understanding. Some people react violently to the idea that we are “born sinful,” so to speak. I once had a pastor friend say to me, “If anyone doesn’t believe in original sin, I’d like them to stand with me for five minutes and watch the children in our church kindergarten!” His point was that our sinful natures are evident at a very young age. However, I have also had a new father refer repeatedly to his son, less than a year old, as “you little sinner.” Of course it was done affectionately, but it still bothered me. I think the next verse is vitally important in this regard, where is says, “sin is not taken into account where there is no law.” Paul was not trying to condemn infants, he was trying to say that mankind is rebellious against God even when no specific commands are involved. I feel like I’m back to the definition of sin that I saw just recently, that sin is “anything that is at odds with God’s character.” The only problem then becomes our understanding of God’s character! We tend to focus on one facet or another at the expense of the rest, and that distorts our understanding not only of God, but of mankind and of sin. God is perfectly holy, but He is also loving and merciful and patient. We fall short in all of those areas!

This question comes up especially at the death of a child, such as in the recent terror attack. Jesus’ words in Luke 13:1-5 focus on the fact that we all need to repent. People who get tied in knots over Original Sin generally don’t want to acknowledge their own sinfulness! I don’t think Paul, or Jesus, is condemning infants, but the importance of sharing the Gospel even with small children becomes evident. My mother had a real experience of repentance at age five, and remembered it well enough to tell me about it after I was an adult. The youngest person I’ve ever baptized was likewise five, but was an exceptional child in many ways, and has been active in her faith ever since. I wish her family still lived in Omura! I am not in the business of condemning people of any age, but I am to help them understand that their own attitudes and actions condemn them, (John 3:18) so that they may repent and believe the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Father, all of this is beyond my intellect. It helps me understand that I too am a little child, in need of trusting my heavenly Father for things that are beyond my understanding. Help me express Your truth in Your words so that as many as possible may repent and believe, whatever their age, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!