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Is there such a thing as the Age of Accountability?
The idea behind the age of accountability is that before a certain age a child is not responsible for their actions. If they die before reaching the age of accountability, they are saved. After that, they are responsible for their own salvation. What do you think?
http://gospel.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/23/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-age-of-account...
Topics:
Children, Salvation, Age Of Accountability
All Topics
I think that this is an idea that is born out of a desire to feel better about the death of children. The bad thing is that this encourages the idea that we are born saved and at sometime lose our salvation. The truth is however that we are sinners due to our ancestry, not due to our actions. I don’t know what this means for those who are put in a position to minister to others who are dealing with the loss of a child, but there doesn’t seem to be a Biblical priciple.
Yes there is the age of accountability. It is true that we are shapen in iniquity and in sin our mother conceived us. In other words we are seperated from God due to the original sin. But in 2corinthians 5., the bible says we will be judged for sin committed in the body.This means we will be judged for actual sins. again the bible says if our heart condemns us God is greater than our heart. This means a person has to get to the age where he is conscious of sinfulness of sin that is the age of accountability.
Thanks.
Gabriel Odum
The bible assures us that there are miracle workers, preachers and missionaries, let alone mere professing “Christians” who don’t make it to heaven. Even though saving faith always has fruits to show, who is discerning enough to tell what motivated the fruit we see? With some, their faith is so obvious, with others their unbelief or hypocrisy. But with the rest, it’s hard to tell. While men look on the outside, God looks on the inside. With most people, we are quite content to leave that definitive judgment in God’s hand, where it rightfully belongs. With our children, that is not so, because faith is a matter of life and death and we care deeply. So when our children die prematurely, we are in anguish. This is where quoting verses are not very helpful. Systematic theology and sound doctrines answer the tough questions.
It’s hard to argue that the doctrine of election is not biblical for it is taught both in the OT & the NT. So this is the way I would answer with regard to the souls of dead babies or young children. The elect goes to be with God, the rest does not. Whether my dead child is of the elect or not, that’s a much tougher question. I don’t believe it’s our prerogative as parents to know with any definitive certainty. May I have Job’s mindset and intercede regularly on their behalf.
The age of accountability is a neat idea and very convenient, especially when we have the modern technology to track dates and make record accurately and store them with reasonable permanence. It also allows us to make definitive declaration and handle civil and court cases. But there are very few references to “age thresholds” in the bible, with perhaps the exception of 20 for men to be counted for military service and census purposes. Beyond that, the age of accountability is a doctrinal formulation which must be defended with theological arguments. Scripture does not appear to make allowances for ignorance or age when it comes to sin. If a baby can praise God and leap for joy while in his mother’s womb as did John the Baptist, surely he too can curse God while yet unborn?
I’m unsure, but the following verses seem to indicate that one might exist:
2 Sam. 12:23
Isaiah 7:16
Mark 10:14
I don’t think it is so much an age of accountability as it is of God’s plan for humanity. The aborted babies were murdered did God send them to hell? I don’t think the the mentally challenged are any different than the aborted children. I believe that God has a special plan for these. Maybe I am just wanting to believe that God is a merciful God? King David said he would see his son because he would go to him? Only God knows for sure but we should be in the business of winning lost souls not debating about something that is not completely clear in God’s Word.
If a seven year old child said it was saved and wanted to be baptized would you let them?
I think God didn’t need to put it in his scripture clearly, because he is talking to adults, God allows for ignorance up to a certain point and He is the one to open the heart of any person who is willing to seek Him with all his/her heart. God tells us to teach a child the way of the Lord and when he is older he will return to it. The Lord knows that children rebel and he knows their heart too. Jesus said the Kingdom of heaven belongs to children, He didn’t say elect! Children are a gift from God, however God knows many will not be treated as a gift and even hear the word, but He did say he wouldn’t come back until all the world had heard the good news. God puts Himself on all hearts and you will be surprised to see how many children have a belief in God. If my child at 7 wanted to be baptisted and said she was saved I would let her. It is between her and the Lord who can see her heart.