Age of Accountability

[jeffnevins]

Sorry if this keeps coming up.

I don't believe it is mentioned in the Bible.

But it seems to be an official doctrine of Christianty (I think).

I believe it fits in with God being just and fair so that children don't go to hell, but does anyone know when this doctrine appeared?

Thanks-

[Hunterpoet]

Ezekiel 28:15 you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

[OneLight]

Ezekiel 28:15 is speaking of Satan, not a child.

I have to work tonight and do not have time to search the scripture, but I have marked this thread and will try to get to it in the morning. For what I can remember, there is nothing in scripture that talks about an age of accountability.

[traveller]

You beat me to it, Gator

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

JESUS said that we must become as little children in order to enter heaven.Was HE talking about the innocents of a child or the trusting faith of a child?

[Hunterpoet]

Ezekiel 28:15 is speaking of Satan, not a child.

I have to work tonight and do not have time to search the scripture, but I have marked this thread and will try to get to it in the morning. For what I can remember, there is nothing in scripture that talks about an age of accountability.

I pulled that scripture from among a few where the author was presenting his best case scenario concerning the post topic.

My personal belief is that you are covered by Grace until you can distinguish right from wrong.

I'm not held accountable for any sins my father or mother committed, so why would a baby be held accountable for any sin Adam and Eve committed.

I may suffer for sins committed by my parents, as I suffer in this sinful world because of Adam and Eve's sin, but it is not until I choose a wrong over a right that I'm held accountable.

[JCISGD]

Only agreement with what i see so far.

I would add but cannot prove it without research, but this one reason God was acting in mercy when He commanded that whole nations be wiped out.

The children before the age of reason were taken to be with the Lord, but had they stayed in that enviroment of demon worship, orgies and child sacrifices the would have been lost or killed any way.

It is a question of contention among those who believe we are born sinners, based on Davids poetical words of being shaped in iniquity and born in it.

If this be true then we cannot help but sin and are counted either sick or robots, and cannot be accountable or dammable.

My guess is, when it can be ascertained that the child knows right from wrong, but this i believe tricky to decide and not age dependent so much as their moral development.

[Guest]

.... I believe it fits in with God being just and fair so that children don't go to hell....

It Speaks To The Very Nature Of God

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

And To The Nature Of Faith

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

And We Know Him

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

And Trust Him

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Our Daddy

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15

And Our LORD

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Praise His Holy Name!

[OneLight]

Well, just got back from work and it seem like a lot of what I was going to say has been said!

Good Job Saints!!

[ParanoidAndroid]

I would suggest the concept is sound. However, I have found myself cringing quite often at the doctrines of some church denominations to specify an age - some have said a child is not accountable until they are 9 years old. I believe I recall someone else I know saying 7. The issue is nowhere as clear cut!

We all mature at different rates, and all have different understandings of our world - eg, a mentally handicapped person would find issues of Sin and Grace harder to comprehend than most people would.

Certainly there is NOTHING in the Bible that gives a specific age that we can put to this. The tradition that suggests we are "stained" with the sin of Adam and Eve (the so-called "Original Sin") is not accurate though - we are responsible for only our own sins, though we have enough of those alone to worry about (thank God for the Grace through Jesus Christ).

I personally believe a number was given to the Age of Accountability (eg, 7-years or 9-years) to bring comfort to parents who have children nearing that age. Unfortunately, such a view is unbiblical, and for this reason I reject the Age of Accountability - not because it is unbiblical, but because when I discuss such terms, these concepts come to the minds of most believers, which really muddy the waters of what it actually is.

All the best,

~ PA