Preface

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Outline

Is there an age of accountability?

Throughout the years, many people have proposed differing theories on whether infants and young children go to heaven and which of these children inherit grace. Since the Bible does not explicitly state if young children inherit salvation or explain to whom this special grace is offered to, there is much room to debate. Upon examining the various views, one can be confident that the Bible does support salvation for children unable to discern right from wrong.

While belief that infants are saved through baptism has been popular though history, especially in the Catholic Church, the Bible teaches salvation is through faith in Jesus and not baptism. Also, due to the fact that infant Baptism is not taught in the Bible, this view will be considered unscriptural and will not be considered henceforth in this paper.

Another view is that God's salvation is extended to the children of the elect. This view has been primarily held by John Calvin. Calvin rejected the Catholic view of Baptism saving a person but instead viewed that God elects children to heaven; however, not all children are elected, "On the contrary, he intimates very clearly that there are reprobate or non-elect children as well as reprobate adults."12 Adam cited Romans 5:17 as support for this belief, "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

Some people believe God does not exercise grace upon children at all. This belief could be the logical conclusion from a cursory examination of salvation. While all the arguments presented here are valid, it is the author's belief that they still lack acknowledgement of scripture as a whole in dealing with children. One of the major proponents of this view is St. Augustine.

The first important consideration is to acknowledge that infants are wicked and condemned along with the rest of humanity. It is important to note that children are not innocent but sin from birth. In Psalm 51:5 David declares, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Furthermore, Psalm 58:3 states, "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." Arthur Pink stated, "The corruption of human nature discovers itself in little children…. Long before they are old enough to understand their own wicked tempers, they manifest self-will, greediness, deceitfulness, anger, spite, and revenge."11 Because infants are born into sin, they are naturally condemned with the rest of mankind due to Romans 3:23, John 3:18, and other passages.

Because of the obvious fact that infants and young children are incapable of understanding salvation and exercising saving faith, this group believes that infants must be condemned for their sin because the Bible teaches that all mankind is responsible for their sin. People who believe this view justify it in many different ways.

The author once viewed this belief as a possibility for the following reasons. The Bible teaches that man is born with sin (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5) and no person is righteous (Romans 3:10; Isaiah 64:6); therefore, even infants and young children must be condemned for their sin. This would not violate God's nature because no person deserves to go to heaven: God is not wrong in letting infants go to hell; rather, He is merciful for letting those He has chosen go to heaven.

Another argument is presented by William Hendricks who declares, "Ultimately the fate of all men is in the hand of God, whose wisdom and justice is greater than that of men (cf. Isa. 40; Job 38-41; Rom. 14:12; John 5:22; 1 Cor. 1:18)."4 He argues that a man is not fully responsible and fully condemned unless he is "confronted by Christ in the proclamation of the gospel."4 He argues that children receive this confrontation with Christ when they are nurtured with Christ-like actions and witness Christ-like attitudes; however, this would only apply to those Children in Christian environments. While Hendricks does not specifically state that infants go to hell or otherwise, he concludes:

The idea "age of accountability" has no definitive, biblical answer because it is not specifically a biblical question…. The time of accountability is the moment of grace when one is brought to a decision for or against Christ by the Spirit…. Until this moment is possible, one may leave children in the hands of God. Evidences are that we are holding very young children accountable for too much….4

The final view, that God extends salvation to those who do not understand right from wrong, is the most accurate when examining the whole counsel of God. This view believes that those who are too young or mentally impaired to understand right from wrong receive God's grace of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. While this view did not become popular until recent times, it is not a new view but has been held by people of Baptist faith since the time of Jesus. In addition to the Anabaptists, this view was also held by Ulrich Zwingli during the reformation.

The term "age of accountability" is commonly used to refer to the point when a child finally understands right from wrong; thus, God can hold them accountable for their sins from that point forth. While this concept is not mentioned in the Bible, it can be inferred from several different passages. Because Romans 14:12 states that a person must give an account of himself to God, it is evident that the age of accountability in not an actual age that a child reaches but rather a relative point where God begins to hold a particular person accountable for his or her deeds. Also, Isaiah 7:16 seems to acknowledge this period when Isaiah prophesies concerning Jesus: "For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings."

The Israelites who died in the wilderness serve as another example that seems to support an age of accountability. Because of the Israelites lack of faith in the God after receiving the report from the twelve spies of Canaan, God condemned all of Israel except Joshua, Caleb, and the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 1:35-39 states:

Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, Save Caleb… [and] Joshua… [and] your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

The Bible further tells us in Numbers 14:29 that those who perished in the wilderness were those twenty years old and older. Teenagers nineteen years old and younger were all permitted to enter the promised land. In this instance, God used twenty as His age of accountability. While this example does not necessarily make God's age of accountability twenty years old, J. Vernon McGee suggests that it may be older than most people believe it to be.

Another example of God demonstrating His love for those who do not have "…the ability to distinguish morality"2 comes from the end of Jonah. Jonah 4:11 proclaims, "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" This passage clearly shows that God expresses pity due to a lack of understanding; however, it is unclear as to whether this identifies children as MacArthur asserts or if it refers to another group of non-understanding people.

Even Jesus Himself serves as an example supporting an age of accountability. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Also in Matthew 18:3 he states, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." He clearly expresses that children are the type of people who make up the kingdom of heaven. Luke 18:15, a parallel passage to Matthew 19:14, clearly identifies these little children as infants, far too young to be able to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ. According to John MacArthur, "Jesus' words here suggest that God's mercy is graciously extended to infants so that those who die are sovereignty regenerated and granted entrance into the kingdom-not because they are deserving of heaven, but because God in His grace chooses to redeem them."8

A final Biblical example is that of King David, a man after God's own heart. After David's sin with Bathsheba, God punished David with the death of his son. Afterwards, David comments, "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." Because David expressed that he would go to heaven upon his death in Psalm 23:6, it is clear that he believed his son went to heaven. This is a clear example of a Biblical character believing in an age of accountability.

In addition to these arguments, it is also evident by God's own nature that He would not punish those who were incapable of understanding their sin. Roger Howell comments on this:

God is infinitely good. His benevolence forbids the infliction of unnecessary suffering upon any of his creatures. Misery is never permitted, but when demanded by justice, as either the consequence, or the penalty of sin. The government of God is designed, not only to benefit his creatures, but also to manifest his glory. Through this medium, as well as through his works, and his word, he reveals his true character to all intelligent beings. Infants have no personal, or individual accountability.5

Elmer Towns comments, "…God would not send a person to hell without that person having an opportunity to choose eternal life."14

In examining God's character, several verses are prominent in demonstrating why it would be against God's character to allow infants to go to hell. God had made it clear that He does not want anyone to go to hell, including infants. 2 Peter 3:9 states, "The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Since God truly does not want anyone to perish, how can he hold infants and young children responsible for their sin when they do not understand? Matthew 18:14 further explains this when Jesus says, "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." If God truly does not desire that a little child perish, He cannot condemn a child who does not understand.

One argument against this view would come from Romans 1:18-20. This explains why those who had not heard the Gospel before are still without excuse. This passage explains how nature shows God's attributes enough to condemn mankind. While this passage does explain how those who had not heard the Gospel are still worthy of hell, this fails to apply to infants because they are still unable to understand such a concept or even make a moral decision.

Upon examining the many different views of salvation, one can conclude that children who do not yet understand right from wrong do receive a special grace from God. In addition to God's nature not allowing Him to send young children to hell for things they cannot understand, it can be seen from the example of the Israelites, Jonah, Jesus, and King David that God does exercise mercy on those who do not understand right from wrong. While it is true that they are still born in sin, God imputes His grace upon these little children through the death of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

Bibliography

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2 Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd Ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002.

3 Hayes, Edward L. "Evangelism of Children." Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 132 No. 527 (July 1975): 251-265. Libronix Digital Library.

4 Hendricks, William. "The Age of Accountability." In Children and Conversion, 84-97. Edited by Clifford Ingle. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970.

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16 Woychuk, N. A. "Who Are the Inhabitants of Heaven?: Part 6." Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 109 No. 434 (April 1952): 176-181. Libronix Digital Library.