Why seeing our children as sinners is wrong: Guest post by Stephanie Cox

I was recently asked why gentle Christian parents and advocates don't talk about sin when it comes to children much. The answer is because what most Christians believe is sin in children usually isn't. 

A toddler saying, "no!" when asked to do something isn't sin, it's the child exploring independence and boundaries. A preschooler crying over not having something they really wanted is the child just having a hard time. 

Even biting, hitting, kicking, and cussing in young children is NOT sin. Young children needing food, love, comfort, room to play is not sin. 

Sin is when we truly understand something is wrong and goes against God and we have total control over ourselves and can tap into God's strength to resist, yet choose wholeheartedly to go against God. THAT is sin!! 

Every child is different. Every child will sin like us. But, before 12-years-old, I don't believe children truly sin. We slowly teach children about sin by discipline without punishment. By providing them with appropriate behaviors. And, by teaching them about God. 

Also, when we look for sin in children, it makes us hypersensitive to all "inappropriate behavior." It makes us want to punish for perceived sinfulness. We look at children as "little sinners" rather than blessings as the Bible says they are. Jesus loves children and told us to be like them. 

When sin is the focus, we become proud. We become judges. We think more highly of ourselves than we should so we can "beat that sin right out of that child."

In reality, we are WORSE sinners than older children. Jesus said to get the plank out of our own eyes before removing the speck out of our brother's eye. This applies to children too! 

Sin is sooooooooo much more than a child having a meltdown. Childish behavior is NOT sin. Rejecting God is! Hurting children is! 

Let's focus on teaching and guiding children instead of worrying what childish behavior is sin. Give children the tools to choose good over bad so when real sin comes their way, they can tap into God and make more righteous decisions over sinful ones.

~ Stephanie Cox
author of Gentle Firmness