Understanding Morality in Children: Are They Capable of Sin?

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Today's podcast question is a fascinating one: “I’m hearing that children only begin to develop a sense of morality at a certain age. Is this true? And if so, are they capable of sinning before that? How does the answer to this question affect how we approach evangelism and discipleship with kids?”

This is such an interesting topic, and it’s exactly what we’re going to dive into today on the Foundation Worldview Podcast. Here, we seek to answer your questions so that you can equip the children God has placed in your care to carefully evaluate every idea they encounter and understand the truth of the biblical worldview. I’m your host, Elizabeth Urbanowicz, and I’m so glad you’ve joined me for this episode!

Understanding Morality in Children

Let’s start with the first part of this question: Do children only begin to develop a sense of morality at a certain age? I’m assuming the questioner is referring to Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development. This theory is based on observations of how people make moral decisions at different stages of life—how, for example, the motivations of a 2-year-old differ from those of a 6-year-old, a 16-year-old, or a 40-year-old.

Whenever we encounter a secular theory like this, it’s important to ask:

1. Where does this theory align with Scripture?
2. Where does it contradict Scripture?

A theory might fully align with biblical truth, it might contradict it entirely, or, as is often the case, it’s a mixture of both. By God’s common grace, humanity has learned much about the world through observation, trial and error, and experimentation. Not every truth is explicitly outlined in Scripture (for example, gravity isn’t explained in the Bible), but all truth should align with Scripture.

With that in mind, let’s look at what the Bible reveals about morality—specifically in children.

What Scripture Says About Morality

From Scripture, there are a few truths we can clearly establish about morality:

1. We Have All Inherited Adam’s Sin
   Romans 5:18-19 says:
   “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
   This passage highlights that Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all humanity—including our children. We are all born with a sin nature.
2. Humans Instinctively Know Right From Wrong
   Romans 2:14-15 tells us:
   “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”
   As image-bearers of God, we have an internal moral compass—a conscience—that points us to right and wrong.
3. Sin Suppresses the Truth
   Romans 1:18 says:
   “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
   Our sin actively suppresses the truth that God has revealed to us, making it harder for us to follow His moral law.

From these passages, we see that all humans—including children—are morally responsible before God. We instinctively know right from wrong because we are made in God’s image, but our sin nature suppresses that truth.

Our Responsibility as Parents and Caregivers

So, what is our role in light of these truths? How do we disciple children who are both morally responsible and yet battling their sin nature? I believe there are three key responsibilities we have as parents and caregivers:

1. Teach Them the Gospel
   Daily, we need to talk with our children about the gospel. Remind them that they are made in God’s image, that they have inherited Adam’s sin, and that God graciously sent Jesus to reconcile us to Himself.

   Discipline moments are an opportunity to point our kids to their need for Jesus. For example, when they disobey or lash out, we can lovingly explain how sin separates us from God, but Jesus offers forgiveness and the power to change through the Holy Spirit.

   If you’re already incorporating gospel reminders into your daily routines, great! If not, even starting with a simple daily prayer of thanksgiving for Jesus can make a big difference.
   

2. Teach Them to Live Rightly
   We don’t teach our children to live rightly so that they can earn God’s favor. Instead, we teach them how to love God and others because this is what God calls us to as His people.

   This involves consistency in discipline and expectations. For example, if you set a rule that your child cannot have snacks right before dinner, you must enforce it consistently. Similarly, when they disobey, there should be consistent discipline that lovingly points them to the gospel.

   It’s also important to reward right behavior. Now, this is not about bribing! Bribing is promising a reward to avoid bad behavior (e.g., “If you don’t throw a tantrum, I’ll buy you candy”). Rewarding, on the other hand, recognizes when a child has already made the right choice and affirms it.

   For example, if your child behaves well during a grocery store trip, you might let them pick out a small treat as a reward. This teaches them that right living brings blessings—a concept that Scripture affirms about eternity.
   

3. Teach Them How to Apply Right and Wrong
   Our children won’t naturally know how to apply moral principles in everyday situations. For instance, going to a restaurant might seem straightforward to us, but kids need to be taught what loving others looks like in that context.

   Before heading to a restaurant, you might explain:

   • “We’ll use our inside voices.”
   • “When the server brings our food, we’ll say, ‘Thank you.’”
   • “You’ll stay seated unless you ask to get up.”

   By walking them through these expectations beforehand, you’re equipping them to apply God’s command to love others in specific, real-life situations.

Conclusion

To summarize, our responsibility with children involves three main things:

1. Teach them the gospel.
2. Teach them how to live rightly.
3. Teach them how to apply right and wrong in real-life situations.

Remember, God has placed these little ones in your care for a reason. You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to be faithful in pointing them to Jesus daily.

If you have additional strategies for discipling your children or practical ways you teach right and wrong, I’d love for you to share them in the comments on YouTube or wherever you’re listening.

Well, that’s a wrap for this episode! If you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future Foundation Worldview Podcast, you can submit it at FoundationWorldview.com/podcast.