Scripture:

God holds parents and children responsible for their own sins.

• “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin” Deuteronomy 24:16

 

• “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” Ezekiel 18:20

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen taught that parents would be condemned if they could not control their naughty children. She also claimed God would withhold his presence from worshipers if naughty children were present. 

• "Parents, I saw, stood in the place of God to their children, and they will have to render an awful account whether they have been faithful to the little few that have been committed to their trust. I saw that you were rearing children to be cut down by the destroying angel unless you speedily turn square about and be faithful to your children. Think you that God can cover or hide iniquity in children and preserve them whom He hates? No, never. God hates unruly children who manifest passion and evil tempers, etc. He can not save them in the time of trouble. They will be eternally lost through parents’ neglect. Their blood will be upon their parents. How can parents be saved with the blood of their children upon them, when they might have saved their children? God says, “I know Abraham, that he will command his household after him.” [Genesis 18:19.] Parents, it is your duty to have your children under perfect subjection, having all their passions and evil tempers perfectly subdued. I saw that if they were carried to the house of God, they should be made to know where they were, that they were not at home, but where God met with His people, and they should be kept quiet from all play and running about, and then God will deign to meet with His people." Letters and Manuscripts, Manuscript 1 (1854)