At what age do you believe children understand their own accountability to God?

Question

Nah Zappie, I worry more about the naughty kitty kat who chews up all the satin ribbons off of the well packaged gifts under the tree. AND that cat also drinks from the tree well! Aaaack! Where's the sedating catnip when I need it?! LOL

Answer 1

Oh dear, did them young whipper snappers of yours go open their presents too early under that smartly presented tree of the family G?


The desire for trucks and dolls was too much, you must forgive them, sobs, bless their little cotton socks, sniff!

Mean Mummy, cries.

Look at their faces I tell ya, look

Answer 2

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. if they learn the first proverb they'll bypass the second one. if they get neither then they end up counting salvation from hell as a fool's thought... when in actuality it is the greatest truth you could ever give a person. i've been all over and i've never seen God, UFO's, bigfoot, or any of that either. but i have definitely seen the works of God and the works of UFO's and bigfoot and the works of people who subscribe. Jesus said the Spirit of God is like the wind, you can't see it, where it comes from or where it goes, but you can see it against the trees and the waters... and that is how you know it is there, by it's works.

Answer 3

Of course, each individual becomes accountable at a different rate, depending on their personal maturity and religious education. If you train up a child in the way s/he ought to be raised, they will always have been tender to God, as it's just a child's nature to want to please and do rightly. My oldest child is five and he wants to please God, and doesn't want to let him down, he also knows that those who do wrong against God and are bad go to hell. Of course, he doesn't get the full scope of things at this age, but it's a start.

Typically around the age of 8 or 9, sometimes as late as 10, children start claiming to be saved (in a church-going atmosphere), but still possibly might not comprehend the full consequence of sin. Usually at the ages of between 11-13 (and sometimes as late as 14-15 for immature children), a child will come to the full knowledge of Christ, and understand His sacrifice and God's requirements, as well as feel a guilty conscience for being out of God's grace.

Like I said, the age varies, but this is the average that I've observed in my church. Now, of course, we are judged to the extent of our knowledge, so a 16 year old might have been taught more than a 20 year old, so the younger one would have more standards to hold. And also, this applies to those that are in the mental capacity to process this, as some people will never come to the full age of accountability due to the mental handicaps and disabilities

Our God is a fair God, He will not hold someone accountable for what they don't know or have full comprehension of.

Answer 4

Dear Sister in Christ what an interesting question! :-)

Faith and love for Jesus our Savior is what saves us from our sins. Accountability comes from the Law--it causes a feeling of guilt in us. Faith is a free gift given by the Holy Spirit that when we decide to accept it--gives Life Eternal. (1 John 4:19)

That being said, the darling two year old that the Lord blessed us with prays his own blessings on his loved ones as we are praying (something completely different) out loud. It is amazing to hear. We have not coached him, but he already says, "I love You, Jesus," while he is praying. (We have not taken him to Sunday School yet either.)

Maybe I was a bit unusual (reading all the other answers made me realize this! ;-) but while growing up, I never remember *not* knowing what was right and wrong--or *not* loving Jesus. (Although, I did wonder from Him when I was in college for about 3 years--but that solidified my faith in a way nothing else could have.) Admittedly, this accountability was due to the blessings of Christian parents who read and discussed children's Bible stories with us every night. In later years we read and discussed the Bible instead.

John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb when Mary (with Jesus in her womb) came to visit. I've always believed that was a sign of John's faith.

There are things that the Holy Spirit "tells" us--how else would Elizabeth know that Mary was the "Mother of our Lord"--instead of just "Cousin Mary"? (Luke 1:41-45) Is there an age requirement for the Holy Spirit to speak to us? What about Samuel? The Lord talked to him in an audible voice (at a very young age too). Thus, we know that he already had a relationship with the Lord.

We have proof now that some people who "seem" to be in comas actually hear and understand every word. What about people who are born "vegetables"? If the Word is preached, the Bible promises it will not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) Could it be that they too can have faith--and be saved--even though they cannot tell us about it?

I don't know the answer to your question for sure and no one really does because, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks upon the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) Finally, the Lord is the one who knows the complete answer to your question--whether it be the same--or different for each of us. :-)
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Answer 5

We can't really know, that is between God and the child. Understanding what sin is and what the commitment to God means is too complex for must small children. I did not realize what it meant until I was about 13 years old and felt the tug of God wanting me to make the commitment. Remember that this is a personal decision and not one that can be forced. A forced commitment is no commitment at all.

Answer 6

Thats hard to say sister. The concept of God really only sinks in when they are a little older.
Their conscience is pretty much developed in its ability to cause children to tell right from wrong by at least 7 years of age.. I remember being aware if i lied to someone or if i took something that did not belong to me while i was yet 5 and being bothered by it.

Because our God is in the unseen realm, children need to be given the time and patience to learn Who He is.
I have two daugthers ages 11 and 9 and they both touch something related to the Lord each day. Simply thanking Him for the meal before them or for taking them through another day safely are small ways to have contact with the Lord.

As parents its crucial that we never try to super spiritualize our children. We want their discovery of the Lord to be genuine and meaningful. Trying to make them little "mini-me's" will not do.

This week I was faced with a situation with my 11 year old. She had a dance at her school today and I did nto know about the details of it. On Wednesday she looked at me and said' So mummy.. will you pick me up early from school on Friday?"
I asked her why. She said that they were having this dance at her school and that she would not be attending.
I realized there and then that this was something altogether between her and the Lord. Each day this little girl reads the word before going to school. She has a relationship with the Lord that is real and if He can speak to her about being in an environement that is worldly that she feels uncomfortable in then I just thank theLord that she decided to obey His speaking in her heart. I am not sure how the rest wil go, but God is her heavenly Father and because she received Him about two years ago she has taken care of her relationship with Him that it can reach to this point.

Sister.. may we just love the Lord and be faithful to Him as parents in our raising of these ones. The best thing we can do for our kids is not preach at them, but be a pattern to them in our life and living. Showing that we are those who overcome not on our own steam but by the Blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and not loving our own soul lives.


Great thought provoking question.
Your sister
sandy

Answer 7

The age varies depending on the child. Each child matures and develop's understanding of know ing right from wrong faster than other children.... I believe the parents instilling Godly values into their children may also be put into consideration of their child's maturity. Then some children may just be faster learners.

Answer 8

It differs from child to child. I've known 14-year-olds who seemed to understand it. I've known 50-year-olds who didn't have a clue. I wouldn't be comfortable assuming it for anyone under about 13, although I had a pastor once who mentioned one girl about the age of 8.

Answer 9

It depends on the child. Some children are capable of understanding at the age of 5, some never understand.

Answer 10

thirteen is the most common number given for the age of accountability based on the jewish custom that a child becomes an adult at the age of 13. however, the bible gives no direct support to the age of 13 always being the age of accountability. it likely varies from child to child. a child has passed the age of accountability once he or she is capable of making a faith decision for or against Christ.

Answer 11

Well - children seem to understand threats and guilt at about 6 years old. So, since many denominations use scare tactics to indoctrinate - I'd say about age six they understand the idea that if they don't do what God wants - they're busted and are going to be in big trouble (if that's what you teach them).

Now if we're talking having the emotional and mental maturity to actually process abstract concepts presented by religious beliefs - I'd say early to mid teens. That's when someone has enough rationalization skills decide if religion works for them or not.