Born Holy

I was born holy on Crystal Court in Oregon City. “Born holy” because my parents had been “saved” through the full submersion water baptism they received by the preacher Walter White. White’s baptism held the key to salvation, the Followers believed. White or a man like him – called by God through visions, confirmation, and outwards signs such as speaking in tongues.

The children of those White baptized were said to be “born holy.” I didn’t understand where that phrase came from and eventually I came to believe the Oregon City group had adopted the phrase to convince the generations who came after White’s time that they had hope through their lineage.

Oregon City, I later discovered, was not alone in their belief about the offspring of the “saved.” The Idaho FOC believes that when a parent is “saved” through baptism, their children – those born and those who will be born – become holy.

Setting aside the notion that baptism is what saves a person, I was interested to know where this idea came from. As it turns out, it’s biblical.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now they are holy.

1 Corinthians 7:14

According to this verse, a believing spouse offers spiritual protection to their unbelieving husband/wife, and their children are “holy” through the belief of one or both parents. I had always thought that all children, regardless of their parents’ beliefs or spiritual standing, were considered innocent until the age of reason – somewhere around age eight or nine.

My interpretation of this verse is that these “holy” children are actually children by age. We cannot stay children forever. Each of us must become accountable for our own lives and our own children.