The age of accountability refers to an age, possibly varying from child to child, up to which that child cannot be helpd resposible for his/her actions and, if killed before then, will go to heaven regardless. That's a general idea because the specifics might vary. The question is whether or not this age exists. This post puts forth arguments from both sides.
As I am writing this blog now, I actually don't know where I stand because I've just heard some arguments for both sides and I haven't completely researched this yet (but I will as I write).
Contentts:
1) My original idea
2) Infants are sinful from birth
3) John Piper: not guilty if incapable
4) Objection
1) My original idea.
My original conception was that there was no age of accountability. It doesn't make sense for God to arbitrarily set numbers regarding the damnation of people, especially in the NT. However, God can do what he likes. However, I thought that children killed at a young age could still enter heaven if they saw Gods glory through creation (Rom 1:19-20) and believed it, it could count. (Rom 2:14, 26-29 is pretty vauge on this but could help) I've kind of thrown this idea away though, because it doens't have too much basis.
2) No, there is no age of accountability.
Psalm 51:5 "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."
Psalm 58:3 "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies."
children are sinful from birth, that is indisputable. Some might be convinced at that, however, this fact does not prove that all children killed young go to hell, or anything else.
3) An argument from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota and the pastor John Piper:
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/what-happens-to-infants-who-die
I suggest your read the article but I'll try to summarize it for you.
a) Children are sinful from birth (Psalm 51:5, 58:3)
b) Some chilren are saved very young, before any reasonable age (Psalm 22:9-10, Luke 1:15)
c) God does not hold people accountable if they are incapable of meeting requirements. For instance, if they cannot understand or have not seen evidence of Gods glory. (John 9:41, Romans 1:20)
d) Infants are incapable and therefore guiltless. They probably grow up in Gods kingdom and come to trust him there. (No basis for either statement)
4) Objection:
Some might consider me crazy for this (Bethlehem is my home church), but I'll do it.
I agree with a) and b). However, c) doesn't hold much water for me and I'll bet Piper doens't even stake much certainty on d).
a) God condemning incapable people.
i) Some hold that we are incapable of being saved except by the nudge of the holy spirit. In fact, I think this is the Total Depravity pillar of Calivinism. Even in this incapable state, God still blames us and condemns us. Take a look at Romans 9, especially verses 19-20.
ii) An illustration might be helpful: You're picking out people for a basketball team. Some are tall, and some are short. Now, do you pick both short and tall people just because the short guys have no control over their height? No! Same with being right with God. So being incapable is no excuse, and it is no excuse for a baby either.
iii) It sounds very sadistic, if God can condemn people who are incapable of accepting grace without the nudge of the Holy Spirit, God can then condemn babies who are incapable of understanding at a young age. This does not mean he WILL, for all we know he could chose to include every unborn child in the elect, but he could chose not to as well.
[The case that God condemns incapable people can also be questioned, I think I'm going to work on that next]
iv) All of creation was condemned in the fall. Some animals became carnivorous, most became smaller, etc. The ground was specifically cursed in Gen 3:17-19. Creation is incapable of understanding or believing, yet it was subjected to punishment.
b) Other considerations:
i) John 9:51 is referring to claims to knowledge. "Since you say 'We see', your sin remains." So the question is not whether an unborn child can understand anything, it is whether he/she claims to know the truth or not (which I suppose is pretty abstract for a baby, but hey, some are saved that young, why not?)
ii) If all babies are saved at infancy, how do they become unsaved once they reach the age of accountability?
iii) If the age was 20, like Piper says, I might be tempted to kill my children before that age to make sure they go to heaven, avoiding the risk that they don't become Christians. That would be really stupid. Onward abortion! 1/3 of all American children are going to heaven! Kind of like Norse warriors who get killed in battle go straight to Vallahalah.
5) Conclusions
I really don't know what to make of it all.
a) We are all born sinful
b) Some children are saved extremely young
My best guess is that God saves some and not others.
