Question:
Are parents held accountable for their children's sins?
Answer:
James writes, “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy” (James 4:12). Thus, the ultimate judgment in these matters is in God’s hands. However, the “Lawgiver” did give us a “law” by which we may determine our responsibilities as Christians. As we break that law we commit “sin” which is “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). So, consider some of the principles and laws God gives to parents.
First, it is a parent’s duty to teach his children about the Lord (Ephesians 6:1). This includes bringing them up “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Thus, it is sinful for a parent to not warn their children. A child will be impaired to overcome sin if they are not informed. In this sense, the parent is like the “watchman of the house of Israel” in Ezekiel 3:17 except parents are watchmen for their own homes and families. In Ezekiel 3:17-21 the Lord did hold the “watchman” accountable if he failed to warn others of the danger of their wickedness. Yet, Ezekiel also teaches our sin is our responsibility and others cannot take the blame for our sins (18:20).
Second, if we want to honestly consider what God thinks about the parent’s duties we might consider Old Testament examples. Romans 15:4 says, “...whatever things were written before were written for our learning…”
There are three Old Testament examples to briefly consider. The first is found in 1 Samuel 2-3 where the Lord uses young Samuel to rebuke his teacher saying, “I will judge his house forever... because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them” (3:13). Apparently, Eli should have done more to stop his son’s wickedness. In this instance, God clearly holds him accountable for his son’s sins.
In 1 Kings 1, as David’s sons were fighting for the throne, Adonijah, “exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king’; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, ‘Why have you done so?’…” (1:5-6). David should have done more to rebuke his quarrelling children at the end of his life.
A final example is that of the first man and woman. In Genesis 4:1-2, Adam and Eve are seen “knowing” each other and giving birth to Cain and Abel. At the end of the chapter, Adam “knew his wife again” and Seth is born (4:25). In between those encounters, Cain is killing Abel and Adam and Eve are nowhere to be found. One must wonder, “Where was Adam?”
Parents, do you have standards so you might restrain your children from evil?
November 2007