Why am I held accountable for my sin when I didn’t ask to be born?

Answer

Many parents have heard some variation of “I didn’t ask to be born!” from their children. This phrase often arises when the child resists responsibility or an unpleasant task. Interestingly, this reasoning does not typically extend to the child politely declining a gift, refusing assistance, or asserting their preferences. Essentially, there is an inherent contradiction in the argument that “no one consulted me before bringing me into this world.” Moreover, this notion is inconsequential. By the same standards applied to other aspects of life, God is completely justified in holding His creations accountable. As His creations, we should acknowledge both the advantages and challenges of existence.

Firstly, the idea of “requesting existence” is paradoxical. If someone or something “requests,” it already exists. If it does not exist, it cannot consent to or contest its creation. Therefore, stating, “I never asked to be born,” is either illogical or evident, but ultimately meaningless. At the moment of conception, we come into existence as living beings—there is no entity to “ask” prior to that.

This is the fundamental reality of existence itself. Regardless of one’s feelings about existing, the fact remains that one exists. The crucial aspect is how an individual chooses to navigate their existence. Both Christian and non-Christian philosophies have wrestled with this dilemma and arrived at a similar consensus. Essentially, we exist, so we must confront the reality of existence. Even if we would have preferred non-existence, the fact remains that we exist, and this reality is immutable.

The book of Romans indirectly addresses the protest “I didn’t ask to be born.” In response to those who challenge God’s authority, Paul articulates:

But who are you, a mere human, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

Take out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:20-21).

When we create something, we presume—correctly—the right to decide its purpose. No one “asks” a pot, a computer, or a painting for permission to be created. Nor do we assume the created thing has more authority than we do. As fallible people, we often struggle to remember that we are created beings, and God is our Creator. There is nothing contradictory or unfair about God holding us accountable for sin, “even if” we were not involved in beginning our own existence.

It’s important to recognize that not all complaints about life are petty. Nor are they always childish or shallow. Some who wish they’d never been born are responding to intense personal tragedy and pain (see Job 3:1-3). And yet, the same basic concepts apply. Further, even those grappling with horrific life circumstances were created by God for a purpose—and that purpose includes not only choice, but the potential for eternal happiness.

The other side of the “I never asked God to create me” argument is the benefits involved. Those who claim they did not want to be created always do so in the context of rejecting God’s morality, exclusive salvation, or an eternal hell. Yet being created also provides us the opportunity for eternal bliss (Deuteronomy 30:15;Acts 16:31). All sin is a choice «Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. », (1 Corinthians 10:31), and those who choose to reject Christ’s offer of salvation «He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; b

But the wrath of God abideth on him.”, (John 3:36) are very much “choosing.” Responding to God’s judgment with, “I never asked for this choice,” is really to say, “I want to do things my own way and still get the results I want.”

There is no meaningful way for someone to “ask to be created.” That God alone decides when we start to exist does not remove our culpability when it comes to sin or salvation. The only way it could be better for us to not have been created is if we choose to reject the One who created us. Rather than complain that we have a choice between eternal misery and eternal joy, we should rejoice that we have the opportunity for an unending existence with God.