The Age of Accountability is sometimes mentioned when someone loses a child. To possibly comfort grieving parents, to give them hope that their child is safe in the arms of God. Nothing written here should lend any reason to assume that the author believes that the pre-born or babies go to hell if they die. (He does not believe that.) Rather, it is to examine if an Age of Accountability is why.
A couple of defenses for an Age of Accountability come to mind, but there may be others:
Jesus was twelve years old when his family went up to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover and was left. They found him “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:41-52) Some have used this text to conclude that children are (or can be) under the Age of Accountability until they are twelve. However, to conclude that children up to twelve do not know right or wrong (unless hindered by special needs) would be hard to prove. Children up to twelve very much obey and disobey as they desire.
The children of Israel were wondering in the wilderness and rebelled against God by fearing and refusing to enter the Promised Land. Therefore, God said none of them would go into the land. Only Caleb, Joshua, and: “Moreover 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.” (Deuteronomy 1) Using the Promised Land as a picture of heaven, one might conclude this proves children (with no knowledge between good and evil) are granted entrance into heaven. However, we must remember Moses also disobeyed God and was denied entry into the land. How do we balance taking the text to prove children go to heaven, yet ignore the text about Moses being denied heaven? That someone can lose their salvation? Normally, we accept what we like and reject what we dislike.
With the idea of an Age of Accountability comes the notion that the pre-born and children are somehow innocent or at least not accountable for their sin until they reach an (often unspecified) age of understanding. Many have rejoiced in children getting saved at a young age, some as young as four years old. However, none (or very few) seem to believe any child can reject the truth at four years old and go to hell. Why? Because it is distasteful, a most horrible thought. But no more than the teen, young adult, or elderly who reject Jesus Christ and endure the wrath of God for all eternity.
The idea of an Age of Accountability looks for an innocence or ignorance found in the child to somehow justify that God can see but choose to overlook sin (no matter how grievous)—But why not the adult who has never heard the gospel?— However, Jesus Christ had to die for the pre-born, the baby, the teen, the adult, lest we should all perish in judgment. It is not in an Age of Accountability that we must put our trust, but in the grace and goodness of God—who is just and righteous—and in the finished work of Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sin nature. May we share the gospel with the children and trust them in the hands of God.
The Orthodox Creed 1679 | General Baptists
WE do believe, that all little Children dying in their Infancy, (viz.) before they are capable to chuse either Good or Evil, whether born of Believing Parents, or Unbelieving Parents, shall be saved by the Grace of God, and Merit of Christ their Redeemer, and Work of the Holy Ghost, and so being made Members of the Invisible Church, shall in joy Life everlasting; for our Lord Jesus saith, of such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven. Ergo, We conclude, that that opinion is false, which saith, That those little Infants dying before Baptism, are damned.
CnC.Today 