So When is Malala Yousafzai going to hell? 'Age of Accountability' Question

[HighwayMan]

This question is for all hell-affirming conservatives, and it relates to the "age of accountability" theory -that all non-Christians are indeed going to hell, with the exception of babies or those too young to know better.

1. I realize that most believe that God himself decides when someone is mature enough to have failed the test and have earned themselves a spot in hell, but I am curious at least to see people's opinions in general where the "cut off" age is. Where people are old enough to be deemed sinful enough for hell.

I did a similar poll before, and most people who believe in hell seemed to reject the idea that non-Christian babies and children are going to burn in hell. We can call that the 0-11 year olds.

But let's look at a real person, like 16-year old human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who has been in the news quite a lot recently: Malala Yousafzai meets with the Obamas in the Oval Office

Her story: She opposed the Taliban in Pakistan and spoke out for women's education at the age of 15, and was shot in the back of the head because of that. She survived, and continues speaking out, inspiring millions.

She practices Sunni Islam, however, and according to conservative Christianity, she is going to be tortured in the eternal fires of hell because of that.

So, my question to those who believe in hell, is at what age is she going there? Would young Muslim Malala have gone to hell if she had died as a child?

What about if she had died from the bullet, at 15? (We can call that 12-15 year olds)

What about now a year later, at 16? She is still a Muslim, is she going to eternally burn? (16-18 year olds).

Or is she still mostly exempt from hell, but maybe once she reaches 19, 20, 21, time's up, and if she still has not rejected all other religions and philosophies but Conservative Christianity, she is going to be eternally tortured in hell?

NOTE: If you don't believe in hell, or have different beliefs about the whole subject that don't apply to this question, then no need to vote, obviously. This really is more about the evangelical view of hell.

Curious to see the answers. Thanks.

 

[RDKirk]

So, my question to those who believe in hell, is at what age is she going there? Would young Muslim Malala have gone to hell if she had died as a child?

Those are two different questions. The answers may or may not overlap.

My reading of scripture across both Testaments is that God does not destroy the ignorant, but tempers His judgment depending on the knowledge of the individual.

At the very least, God expects a relatively mature person (and Malada is mature enough) to recognize from creation that He exists, to acknowledge that He is a God of virtue, and to seek after Him.

He does not expect anything more from someone who has never heard the Gospel, and it's not clear to me that Malada has heard the gospel.

 

[HighwayMan]

Those are two different questions. The answers may or may not overlap.

My reading of scripture across both Testaments is that God does not destroy the ignorant, but tempers His judgment depending on the knowledge of the individual.

At the very least, God expects a relatively mature person (and Malada is mature enough) to recognize from creation that He exists, to acknowledge that He is a God of virtue, and to seek after Him.

He does not expect anything more from someone who has never heard the Gospel, and it's not clear to me that Malada has heard the gospel.

I am also not sure if she has ever heard a full Christian sermon, but considering how involved she has been in international world issues, including her speech at the UN, book, US appearances etc, i would be shocked if she isn't aware at least of the basic principles of the Christian faith. It's kind of hard not to. Especially compared to the billions of others non-Christians in Asia, I would expect her to be more educated on the matter.

 

[RDKirk]

I am also not sure if she has ever heard a full Christian sermon, but considering how involved she has been in international world issues, including her speech at the UN, book, US appearances etc, i would be shocked if she isn't aware at least of the basic principles of the Christian faith. It's kind of hard not to. Especially compared to the billions of others non-Christians in Asia, I would expect her to be more educated on the matter.

I would be utterly surprised if she has heard the gospel. Where do you think there was ever a time that someone sat with her and discussed John to her? Which of her "handlers" would have allowed it?

There are many enough Americans who have not heard it. Jane Fonda was in her 60s before she actually heard it...and I'm chagrined to say I would not have given it to her even if I'd had the chance.

 

[HighwayMan]

I would be utterly surprised if she has heard the gospel. Where do you think there was ever a time that someone sat with her and discussed John to her? Which of her "handlers" would have allowed it?

There are many enough Americans who have not heard it. Jane Fonda was in her 60s before she actually heard it...and I'm chagrined to say I would not have given it to her even if I'd had the chance.

If she hasn't heard it, what can be said about the billions of other people in Asia who are non-Christians?

Again, this is more about the evangelical conservative view of hell - the view in which the only way not to burn in hell and go to heaven is if you personally declare that Christ is your savior and reject everything else. It is hard to find exclusions or exceptions in that perspective. I realize that many Catholics and people of other Christians have views that are not so straight-forward.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

This question is for all hell-affirming conservatives, and it relates to the "age of accountability" theory -that all non-Christians are indeed going to hell, with the exception of babies or those too young to know better.

NOTE: If you don't believe in hell, or have different beliefs about the whole subject that don't apply to this question, then no need to vote, obviously.
This really is more about the evangelical view of hell....

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Since I don't believe in either mainstream evangelical Christianity's or Islam's version of Hell, I am just subscribing for now.....



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[Albion]

This question is for all hell-affirming conservatives

Not "hell-affirming" liberals or moderates, also?

and it relates to the "age of accountability" theory -that all non-Christians are indeed going to hell

The age of accountability theory does not teach that all non-Christians are indeed going to hell.

But let's look at a real person, like 16-year old human rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who has been in the news quite a lot recently: Malala Yousafzai meets with the Obamas in the Oval Office

Her story: She opposed the Taliban in Pakistan and spoke out for women's education at the age of 15, and was shot in the back of the head because of that. She survived, and continues speaking out, inspiring millions.

She practices Sunni Islam, however, and according to conservative Christianity, she is going to be tortured in the eternal fires of hell because of that.

According to Scripture, salvation is dependent upon faith in Christ. We cannot determine for God what his eternal plans call for in the case of those who do not know the Son, can't have known the Gospel, died too soon to know, etc.

So, my question to those who believe in hell, is at what age is she going there?

Do you know the date of her death?

Would young Muslim Malala have gone to hell if she had died as a child?

What about if she had died from the bullet, at 15? (We can call that 12-15 year olds)

What about now a year later, at 16? She is still a Muslim, is she going to eternally burn? (16-18 year olds).

Or is she still mostly exempt from hell, but maybe once she reaches 19, 20, 21, time's up, and if she still has not rejected all other religions and philosophies but Conservative Christianity, she is going to be eternally tortured in hell?

Historically, the age of accountability has been thought to be about age 6.

 

[HighwayMan]

Since I don't believe in either mainstream evangelical Christianity's or Islam's version of Hell, I am just subscribing for now.....



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Me neither. And when you apply real people to the equation or bring up the logistical consequences of such a belief, I don't think it holds up. But I still want to see what people go with.

 

[Albion]

Maybe someone should define "hell-affirming conservative mainstream Evangelical Christian" before we go much further. Sounds like a pretty small denomination.

 

[RDKirk]

If she hasn't heard it, what can be said about the billions of other people in Asia who are non-Christians?

That's in the answer I've already given.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by RDKirk

I would be utterly surprised if she has heard the gospel. Where do you think there was ever a time that someone sat with her and discussed John to her? Which of her "handlers" would have allowed it?

There are many enough Americans who have not heard it. Jane Fonda was in her 60s before she actually heard it...and I'm chagrined to say I would not have given it to her even if I'd had the chance.
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Originally Posted by HighwayMan

If she hasn't heard it, what can be said about the billions of other people in Asia who are non-Christians?
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Excellent point!

Kindgdom Bible Studies Savior of The World Part 3

On this earth there are more than four and a half billion people! The most populous lands are China, India, and other parts of Asia, and in spite of missionaries from the West, actually more than half of all people on the earth have never so much as heard the ONLY NAME BY WHICH MEN MAY BE SAVED - the name of JESUS CHRIST! For your Bible says.......

"there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

This means that billions of people here on this earth have lived, and died, without having known anything about God's provision of salvation - without saving knowledge - neither having heard the only name by which men may be saved! Now think what that means.
If all unsaved are eternally lost, then more than HALF the people who have ever lived on this earth have been consigned to eternal hell without ever having been given so much as a chance to escape it!

What about the millions of people living now in Communist Russia and Red China where the Gospel is suppressed? Those people did not choose to be born into these godless nations. Are they lost forever because they never heard the true message of God's love in Christ? Is this their only day of salvation? Are they eternally doomed when they die? Will a just God and Saviour condemn to eternal damnation those people who died before the true Gospel was ever brought to them? Is God about to "shut the door" of mercy in their face?

We hear much today about evangelizing and saving the world in one generation.............


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[RDKirk]

This means that billions of people here on this earth have lived, and died, without having known anything about God's provision of salvation - without saving knowledge - neither having heard the only name by which men may be saved! Now think what that means.

If all unsaved are eternally lost, then more than HALF the people who have ever lived on this earth have been consigned to eternal hell without ever having been given so much as a chance to escape it!

That would make God pretty stupid.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.


For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all of mankind to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So He made up a game with rules that make Him a loser?

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The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything.

Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

This clearly states that God is not far from any man anywhere, and that He can be found by any man anywhere.

So what...is God merely playing "Stump the Dummy" with Man? Is God just a big tease...displaying Himself where He can be found, dangling Himself not far from them, and then denying Himself to them?

 

[football5680]

It varies from person to person but if I had to set an age for the large majority of people then I would say that it is between 16-18.

If she hears the gospel and rejects it then she will go to hell. Everybody who rejects Jesus goes to hell. If she never has the opportunity to hear the gospel then it depends on what God decides and nobody knows what will happen.

Paul speculates on this in his letters when he talks about the gentiles who never heard the word of God but still live by it naturally. Paul said God will judge the secrets of man.

Muslims are in a tough situation because Satan constructed their religion to send them to hell. They commit blasphemy against Jesus by denying that he is the son of God and he was never crucified, along with the punishment of death for apostasy. Islam is a death trap. The only positive aspect is that if they did convert they would die as a martyr and would enter heaven.

 

[Tangible]

All men since Adam are born in the sinful image of Adam. They are conceived in sin and accountable for that sinfulness to God. They are by nature children of wrath. Being naturally in a fallen state, they can neither please God nor believe that the Gospel is anything but foolishness.

There is no scripture that states that God saves anyone other than through faith in Jesus Christ. God grants faith in Christ through means of his Word, either the proclamation of the Gospel or through the Word with water in Holy Baptism. The Word of God is living and active, it accomplishes what it says. It brings to life and puts to death. It creates the universe, brings the dead back to life and gives the gracious gifts of forgiveness of sins, eternal life, salvation, and the Holy Spirit.

Scripture does not stipulate age or mental capacity of the one being saved, since salvation is a gift from God and we cannot do anything to earn that gift, deserve it, or take it for ourselves.

Therefore, age and mental capacity are irrelevant to one's salvation.

'Age of Accountability' is a false doctrine.

 

[HighwayMan]

All men since Adam are born in the sinful image of Adam. They are conceived in sin and accountable for that sinfulness to God. They are by nature children of wrath. Being naturally in a fallen state, they can neither please God nor believe that the Gospel is anything but foolishness.

There is no scripture that states that God saves anyone other than through faith in Jesus Christ. God grants faith in Christ through means of his Word, either the proclamation of the Gospel or through the Word with water in Holy Baptism. The Word of God is living and active, it accomplishes what it says. It brings to life and puts to death. It creates the universe, brings the dead back to life and gives the gracious gifts of forgiveness of sins, eternal life, salvation, and the Holy Spirit.

Scripture does not stipulate age or mental capacity of the one being saved, since salvation is a gift from God and we cannot do anything to earn that gift, deserve it, or take it for ourselves.

Therefore, age and mental capacity are irrelevant to one's salvation.

'Age of Accountability' is a false doctrine.

I was thinking of including this as a seperate option, but thought maybe the 0-12 category would do - since 0 pretty much means there is no age to be accounted for you, either you are saved from hell or you're not.

 

[HighwayMan]

Maybe someone should define "hell-affirming conservative mainstream Evangelical Christian" before we go much further. Sounds like a pretty small denomination.

I really am not sure how small it is. Yes, in most of culture, if you say for example that Malala, who is being hailed as a champion for young girls and standing up to the Taliban, is going to burn in hell for all eternity because she is not a Christian, you will be seen as a total insane crackpot.

Yet, I do believe this view dominates many churches in America, especially the south, and is certainly well represented here on CP too.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

NOTE: If you don't believe in hell, or have different beliefs about the whole subject that don't apply to this question, then no need to vote, obviously. This really is more about the evangelical view of hell.

Off topic, but what (in your view) is the "Evangelical view of hell"? Since you are not evangelical, how do you know what the view is, besides the biased second-hand information you receive?

Btw, my answer (on topic) to the poll is that, even though Ms. Malala is a wonderful and courageous person, there is no entry to heaven, save Christ. The "age of accountability" question, though, I cannot comment on as my personal views have been changing as of late.

 

[HighwayMan]

Off topic, but what (in your view) is the "Evangelical view of hell"? Since you are not evangelical, how do you know what the view is, besides the biased second-hand information you receive?

For work-related reasons I have been at several southern baptist churches and schools and listened to lectures/sermons from dozens of evangelical pastors and some of the top apologist professors in the field. I would not be starting such a topic with "second-hand" information.

 

[RDKirk]

I really am not sure how small it is. Yes, in most of culture, if you say for example that Malala, who is being hailed as a champion for young girls and standing up to the Taliban, is going to burn in hell for all eternity because she is not a Christian, you will be seen as a total insane crackpot.

I'm not sure what you mean by "most of culture." Strict Muslim theology would not consider the concept of her going to hell "crackpot." I think strict Catholic theology would say she was bound for hell as well. And she's not a Jew, so she's out of luck there, too.

Nobody else believes in hell, so to everyone else you'd be a crackpot anyway for believing in a weird religion--even if you though she was going to heaven.

Yet, I do believe this view dominates many churches in America, especially the south, and is certainly well represented here on CP too.

You're correct with that assertion, and I've had plenty of experience with a number of different denominations.

I'd note, though, that "dominates many churches" is a highly qualified statement, not necessarily denoting "all" or even "most."

 

[RDKirk]

Btw, my answer (on topic) to the poll is that, even though Ms. Malala is a wonderful and courageous person, there is no entry to heaven, save Christ.

What is the actual delimiter, though?

For sure, Christ paid the judicial price of blood for sin, without which nobody could be saved. That was a universal condition, and by that alone, everyone who is saved is saved by the blood of Christ. That is an indisputable matter (see Romans 14:1 regarding "disputable matters") in orthodox Christian theology.

How God handles people who have never had an opportunity to hear the Gospel is a disputable matter, and it appears that God deliberately made it disputable, which is to say, made a continued mystery to us who have heard the gospel.

I've got a couple of theories why God would leave that question a disputable matter, but those are based on how Christians have answered that question for themselves and then handled evangelism as a result, rather than specific statements from scripture.