What is the age of accountability as far as eternity goes?

Lik3

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I believe that babies and little children go to Heaven. They are innocent, young, and impressionable. I also want to know if what is the age of accountability? Say the child is 12 or 13 years old, would that be the age of accountability? Also, say the child of 12 or 13 bullies and picks on other kids, kills people with no remorse, curses, and disobeys parents where as far as eternity will they end up? What does the Bible say about this? Seriously, I have no kids of my own, but this is a scary topic to me. I cannot imagine someone that young will later take part in the Lake of Fire. I can imagine someone 30, because they are obviously an accountable adult, but someone under 14? That seems scary to me.
 

HTacianas

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There is no clear answer to your question, but different traditions assume different ages. Judaism generally holds it to be 13, which is the age of bar mitzvah for boys. I think the Roman Church has it at age seven or eight.
 
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Not David

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There is no clear answer to your question, but different traditions assume different ages. Judaism generally holds it to be 13, which is the age of bar mitzvah for boys. I think the Roman Church has it at age seven or eight.
Is there something like that in Orthodoxy?
 
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HTacianas

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Is there something like that in Orthodoxy?

I honestly don't know. I think chrismation is performed at baptism in all cases, even for infants. It would be a good question to post for cradle Orthodox. I am an adult convert so I wasn't baptized that early.
 
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Darkhorse

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If someone is intentionally (not accidently) able to do evil to others, then it seems to me that they are capable of accepting Jesus as their savior and being born again. Whatever age they may be.
 
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GodHelpMePlease

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I asked the same question on stackexchange but was immediately put on hold and the question was deleted because they have some illogical denomination policy.

We get a perfect body that can't sin while in Heaven, so why not let everyone go to Heaven at any age since they can't disobey God anymore? No one asked to be born and no one asked to be at risk of Heaven or Hell so why condemn people for making a mistake to eternal damnation?
 
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Martyr's Crown

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I have also been asking this question and wondering about this many times, though it is difficult to give it any clear answer. I have seen children being 3 years old doing evil things on purpose, which shows that children can start with doing what is bad from a very early age.

When I talked about this with my husband we came to the conclusion that God will judge everyone in the end, and also children who knew what they did. He knows every person's heart whether they are young or old, and once they start becoming aware of what is wrong and right, that must be the age of accountability for every person.

How He does this, and who will be seen as innocent or guilty is all up to God. He knows how everyone should be judged right.
 
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Martyr's Crown

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I asked the same question on stackexchange but was immediately put on hold and the question was deleted because they have some illogical denomination policy.

We get a perfect body that can't sin while in Heaven, so why not let everyone go to Heaven at any age since they can't disobey God anymore? No one asked to be born and no one asked to be at risk of Heaven or Hell so why condemn people for making a mistake to eternal damnation?

Because we were given a free will, and we are given now on earth the choice of if we want to receive God's salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, repent and beleive in Him. Or if we refuse this choosing our own way of life.

If God would just let everyone go to heaven, we wouldn't have had a own will. He would be forcing us, and He doesn't want to force us to love Him! He wants us to love Him by our own choice.

Also keep in mind; From the moment we are born we have sin within us, without Christ's salvation we are seen as dirty and unholy before God. He can't let anyone without holiness and tainted with sin enter heaven, it is when we are washed by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ that we become clean and holy before God's sight.
 
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Greg J.

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I believe that babies and little children go to Heaven. They are innocent, young, and impressionable. I also want to know if what is the age of accountability? Say the child is 12 or 13 years old, would that be the age of accountability? Also, say the child of 12 or 13 bullies and picks on other kids, kills people with no remorse, curses, and disobeys parents where as far as eternity will they end up? What does the Bible say about this? Seriously, I have no kids of my own, but this is a scary topic to me. I cannot imagine someone that young will later take part in the Lake of Fire. I can imagine someone 30, because they are obviously an accountable adult, but someone under 14? That seems scary to me.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. (Isaiah 7:14-16, 1984 NIV)

When this is depends on who you ask. I've heard around 4-5 years old. The age of accountability is not an age which indicates readiness for responsibilities, but when God holds you accountable for your choices. Remember we all are born with a sinful nature. How parents raise their children has a huge impact on them.

Side note: The "spare not the rod" verse makes more sense in this context. Raising children to associate disobedience/sin with pain is very beneficial for them in the long-term. It also gives them more self-discipline which makes it easier for them to do things they don't feel like doing (like homework, being on time to work, etc.). However, starting this too late in their childhood might be a bad idea.
 
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Mountainmanbob

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If someone is intentionally (not accidently) able to do evil to others

There have been some very, very young ones known occasionally to do some very evil things.

Age of accountability?
Only God knows.

For he said, that while they were in the womb
Jacob I loved and Esau I hated.

M-Bob
 
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Mountainmanbob

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Some kids know at an early age right from wrong - I was told when they reach five or six they are accountable

It would be hard to give the average one the Gospel at that age although I saw it done pretty well by our pastor this last Sunday.
M-Bob
 
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