What is the age of accountability?

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Question: What is the age of accountability?


ATP: The age of accountability is the term used by some to describe the age at which a person becomes accountable to God for the sins they have committed.

Although never referred to in the Bible either directly or indirectly, those who believe in the existence of an age of accountability believe that people younger than this age are too young to be held eternally responsible by God for the wrongs they have done. Therefore, if such a young person dies before reaching the age of accountability, the teaching goes, they will automatically go to heaven.

If such an age exists, what is the magic age? Some say that it is about twelve years old. Others suggest that it is individual with each person, based upon their ability to understand.

While the idea of an age of accountability is an attractive concept because of its seeming logic and compassion toward the young, the theology underlying such an idea has severe weaknesses.

The first and most glaring is, that the concept of an age of accountability can't be found in the Scriptures. The Bible teaches that no one comes to the Father except through Christ. Jesus said a person "must be born again." Does "must" mean "must", or does Jesus contradict himself and allow for exceptions?

I think he means "must."

Second, not being old enough to understand is logically similar to never having the opportunity to understand.

There are many who have never heard of Christ, or at least have never had God's plan of salvation through Christ explained to them. Do they also go to heaven because of never having a chance to hear? If so, the greatest evangelistic tool in the world would be silence, never telling anyone about Christ!

In such a scenario, it would be important never to be told about Jesus, because the moment they hear of him, they become accountable to make a choice. Why put people in such a situation if it is better that they never hear?

Yet Jesus commands us to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.

Is there an age of accountability? In any sense of a fixed age, it seems unlikely.

But that leaves us with a thorny question: What happens then to children who die before having a chance to receive Christ?

In truth, the Bible isn’t crystal clear.

1 Corinthians 7 gives us a hint when it describes how the children of those who are believers in Christ are holy. On the surface it would appear from this passage that children of believers are protected until becoming accountable themselves. But the passage is too fuzzy on this point to come to any strong conclusions.

One thing that isn't fuzzy however is that God loves children! All children! And all people of any age for that matter. We can trust their eternity to him.

Even though we may not be able to come to a clear conclusion about how God decides the eternal destiny of children too young to understand the Gospel, we do know for sure that God will always do what is right.

He is a gracious and compassionate God and is incapable of sin. He is a merciful and loving God. He will always, always, always do what is right, no matter what.

We can be confident that his judgement will be rich in mercy and grace, and will be perfect.

There is no need therefore to invent some system of thought or theology to make ourselves feel better. The thought and theology is already in place: Trust God with the destiny of children too young to understand the Gospel. God is faithful and trustworthy. And as much as we love our children, he loves them more.