“Did my child go to heaven?” That is a question many people, both Christian and non-Christian, have asked about the eternal destination of their dearly departed child.

It is a theological question debated heavily among Christians. Debates have arisen over this topic, including whether a child’s soul goes after death, contention over whether preborn babies have souls, the age of accountability, what to tell a grieving parent about the child’s destiny, or arguments over whether a loving God would send children to hell. This matter is further complicated by the Bible containing many passages that seem to support both sides of the argument when taken out of their proper context. When considering this question, the nature of humanity, the origin of life, and the concept of salvation must be studied thoroughly to arrive at a genuine answer. The Bible contains numerous passages that, when put in the greater context of scripture, suggest children may go to heaven, even when not explicitly stated in some cases, such as in the story of David and Bathsheba and God’s declaration of exile in the wilderness. Careful analysis of God’s Word on topics of God’s love, accountability, the moral nature of children, and ultimately what it says about their eternal destiny is needed to reach a well-informed answer. All of this, when learned, will help comfort grieving parents and teach them of God’s salvation and hope for the future. The Bible teaches that children and infants instantly enter heaven after death and are not condemned to hell upon death.

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