Last November I posted and asked if there is anything that you would like to see addressed in our weekly Theology Thursday posts (see here). Anthony Karam took me up on the offer and asked about the age of accountability.
History
Locating information on the historical origins of this concept is difficult to say the least. There are several councils and other writings that make mention of it, often without any elaboration; however, it seems to have been formed within the theological stream of Arminianism as a means to address the origins of personal guilt.
Evaluation
From Scripture it is clear that we have not only inherited Adam’s sinful nature (Psalm 51:5) but his guilt as well (Romans 5:18-19). With that in mind the age of accountability is quite similar to the man on an island argument. Both of them are positing situations whereby God is unable to hold man accountable for what he is; we are no longer liable for what we are. Because of this both of these arguments are theologically problematic. Furthermore, an age of accountability is not clearly delineated in Scripture and finding it as an incipient concept requires much speculation.
Conclusion
What then happens to babies and children who die? There are numerous passages which could be examined; however, I think two will suffice. In Jeremiah 19 the Lord pronounces judgment because of their worship of false gods and child sacrifice. Pertinent to the topic at hand is the description of these children as innocent. In II Samuel 12 David’s son with Bathsheba dies and David indicates his hope explaining, “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (v.23).
What these passages and others seem to be indicating is not that infants are not liable for their guilt but rather that God is gracious and glorious. Salvation is not found in our inability to hear (the man on the island) nor in our inability to understand (the age of accountability) but salvation is found at the cross of Christ. David’s hope and the innocence of those sacrificed to Baal are not rooted in their inability to understand but the sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
February 9, 2012 at 10:19 pm
K-Ram,
Hope that was helpful. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.
February 10, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Thanks, Keith! Good points. That is helpful to think about the question as compared with the man-on-an-island argument. Bottom line is no one, child or adult, is ultimately in control of his salvation. The humbling doctrine of monergism reminds us that God is in control and His grace is the only hope for anyone.
February 11, 2012 at 12:31 am
Thanks Anthony. It is a tough question because there is a lot of gray area here where you just cannot speak definitively. With the man on the island Romans 10 gives us a clear no-nonsense answer. With this issue there seem to be some precedents set for young children in Scripture but we are not given much beyond that so it is really tough to answer.