Do Babies Go to Heaven?

Some people within the Reformed Faith believe unbaptized babies of unbelievers do not go to heaven, but baptized babies of believing parents do. This theological position is rooted in their understanding of Covenant Theology.

Academically, when I am asked if babies go to heaven, my first inclination is to encourage individuals to leave the matter to the Lord, rather than debate the issue. The God of the universe will do right by every soul He has created.

However, not being neutral on this topic, I do advocate babies go to heaven. I base this belief on the Divine prohibition of making children pass through the fires of Molech, a god which demanded a child sacrifice. “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD” (Lev. 18:21).

The Midrash, an ancient second century commentary on the Hebrew scriptures, elaborates on this disturbing and diabolical religious ceremony.

“How did the Molech work in the valley of Ben-Hinnom? It was built outside of Jerusalem. It was an idol with the face of a calf and open hands like someone who wants to take something from another. They would light this idol on fire until his hands were scorching. There were seven chambers before him and according to the quality of the sacrifice that is how close one could come to him. If one came with a bird, then chamber one; goat, chamber two; sheep, chamber three; calf, chamber four; cow, chamber five; and ox, chamber six.

He who brought his child, the priests would say that he is offering the greatest sacrifice. He would enter the innermost chamber and go kiss the Molech . . .

The priests would then take the child and place it near the Molech. They would then bang with drums to drown out the cries…. Come see how obsessed the nation was with idol worship that they were willing to do something so reprehensible! But in the future, says God, “I will remove your heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh” (Rabbi Levi Avtzon, Chabad.org).

In many nations of the world today, including America, men and women sacrifice their children to the Goddess of Abortion in an act of worship to themselves. The baby in the womb is either not wanted, considered to be an inconvenience, or is not the right sex. Any excuse will do to slaughter the innocent. The evil of abortion is compounded by self-justification, and self-righteousness.

The voice of God thunders against the thoughts of those who dare to justify the unjustifiable, and condones what God has condemned.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

If the story of God commanding Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice is brought up, let it be noted the Lord did not violate His own commandment. The hand of Abraham was withheld from offering his uniquely begotten son because a spiritual dynamic was on display. Abraham was too attached to Isaac. God had to take away Abraham’s idol. The sacrifice of Isaac was asked for, and given, in order to test the faith of Abraham, and his love for God.

The same is true in the life of every Christian. God will have no rivals. Every idol in the heart must be sacrificed to God, be it sex, money, fame, ambition, or power. The heart must be willing to give up its idol, like father Abraham was willing to give up Isaac.

The Reformation leader and German theologian, Martin Luther (1483 – 1546), took the position that all babies were regenerated being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Wanting to maintain sola fide and the saving/justifying nature of infant baptism, Luther eventually comes to the settled conclusion that infants receive the Holy Spirit at baptism and believe with their own faith (See Althaus, Luther, 364; John W. Riggs, Baptism in the Reformed Tradition, Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 364–69). It is a lovely idea though how a baby can believe “with their own faith” is left unclear.

Personally, I do not have it in myself to even suggest to a grieving parent their baby died and went to hell. I have held a funeral for a child, and it is heart-wrenching. I would not add to that misery.

I do believe every aborted child, every murdered baby, every sickly infant who departs life will grow up in heaven so that, as Charles H. Spurgeon said, there will be more souls in heaven than in hell so that in this area too, Jesus Christ might have the pre-eminence. Soli Deo Gloria