Ask the Pastor: Birth sin, becoming Christ-like, parental responsibilities
by the Rev. Walter Snyder
Religion Columnist
     Q: When we are born, are we born in sin?
     A: Scripture says, "all have sinned," (Rom. 3:23; 5:12) without exclusion.
"All nations" are to be discipled by baptism and teaching the Gospel (Matt. 28)---
were it not for sin, not "all" would need this. David confesses in Psalm 51 that
from conception and birth he was sinful. This doesn't mean that babies are
necessarily active, willful sinners (although many start, especially with their
selfishness, at a very early age).
     Q: To be a Christian, do you have to be Christ-like?
     A: You are "Christlike" when you are remade by God in Jesus' image. This
happens when the Holy Spirit comes in Word and water, forgiving you and leading you
to believe and trust in God, for at the same time, God is working in you and
enabling you to "put on Christ." You cannot make yourself this way; it is the work
of your loving God. To be a Christian is to be Christ-like.
     However, if your life of thought, word, and deed is contrary to the Christian
faith, then you should beware. While you won't be able to fix this crisis, you can
turn in repentance and confidence to the One who can. You can also immerse yourself
ever more in His Word, especially his forgiving Gospel Word and can cling to a
Church that teaches God's love and Jesus' works on our behalf instead of focusing
on human actions or obligations. Then you will find even more that God has made you
a "new creation" while at the same time is always making more and better of you.
     Q: Is there a passage in the bible that discusses whether or not parents are
responsible for their child's spiritual life after the age of twelve?
     A: There's no absolute age where parents are no longer accountable. God gives
children with the desire that parents will use good judgment in raising them. What
conscientious parents would "judge" that their children are, at age 12, ready to be
cast loose for their own spiritual journeys? These are the types of journeys that
too often end up in hell---and then think of the responsibility of the parents who
allowed this to happen by ceasing to be involved in their children's spiritual lives.
     Sin is not only a problem with children, but also with parents. Before
learning how to raise our children, we should be constantly reminded from Scripture
that our children are a blessing from God. All too often, parents instead think of
their offspring as burdens or even as curses. We who are given this responsibility
by God need to stay in his Word and let him guide our steps.
     To raise our children "in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord," we must
be nurtured and admonished by him. We need to know, confess, and receive forgiveness
for our own sins before we are ready to deal with our children's sinfulness. The
more we realize God's patience and care for us as we daily sin against him, the
more we are able to patiently and lovingly deal with our children.
     To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or
send email to askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
     Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and
coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."