RE: Age of Accountability for a child

Dear Brother Paul,

    Thank you for writing.  Your question probably means a lot to a whole lot of God's people.  If I understand the question right, you are just basically asking about "the age of accountability for a child."  Brother, I have been in the Lord's ministry 54 years this month.  This has given me much time to observe both adults and children, and time for the Lord to teach me a few simple truths about my observations.

    Brother, there is no set age of accountability for a child.  Here is what makes the difference in children.  In homes where the Lord and His Word are honored by the parents and the children are taught to love God and to seek Him from infancy, those children come to accountability far earlier than other children.  I have seen children from such homes saved at the ages of four and five years old, and had no reason whatsoever to doubt their salvation experience. 

   On the other hand, I have personally talked to children 11 and even 12 years of age about being saved, and became convinced that they didn't understand a thing I was trying to point out to them in the Scriptures about right and wrong and their personal accountability to God.  Instead of trying to "box" them up with the Scriptures and wring a "confession" out of such children, as I have seen some ministers do, I just sent them back to their seats with a prayer that the Lord would bring understanding to their young hearts so that they could be saved.  Invaribly such children come from homes where the parents either keep them so "sheltered" that they aren't really exposed to the reality of life, or they come from homes where the parents never or very seldom attend church, never or seldom take the children to church, never study or discuss God's Word in the home, and where the Lord is never really honored (or not even wanted) in the home.  Children raised in such homes are always "late bloomers" when it comes to the age of accountability.  The inspired Apostle tells us that where there is "no law, there is no sin."  Read Romans 7 over again.  Children from such homes are slow to realize that the mischief and lusts and anger and hate and selfishness that young children express is SIN, and that they need to be saved.  Therefore their "age of accountability" usually comes later than children raised in a truly Christian home.  But don't take this for a "cop-out."  These children DO COME to realize the difference between right and wrong, and whatever day that truth dawns on them, they instantly become accountable to God for their sins. The Apostle Paul said, "For I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died," Romans 7:9.    

    It may be offensive to some readers, but I won't miss this opportunity to lay the truth before the readers.  What I have written above places emphasis on just how much parents really "love" their children.  From the day my first daughter was born, I dedicated her to the Lord and prayed for her salvation until the day she received Christ as her own personal Savior.  Folks, just providing food, shelter, clothing, education, gifts, the first car, financial help, etc. is only showing "natural affection" for your child.  If that is all the so-called "love" you have for your child, you haven't really loved them at all.  It is only those parents who look at their new born babe and see a "living soul" that is going to spend eternity somewhere, and then never rest until that child is saved by the grace of God, who truly "love" their child.  God have mercy on the millions of young people today who don't have a clue about God, Christ, sin, salvation, or eternity. My heart breaks and cries for them, and my eyes weep for them.  Most of the wicked apostasy of their own parents, most of them living today don't have a dog's chance of being saved.  Oh God have mercy!  They will be swept into the terrible Tribulation, and yes, ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD will they be saved during that terrible time.  But folks, think what they will then have to suffer and still will end up being martyred.  "

    Oh Lord!  Give God's people today, in the short time we have left, the courage and grace and love and faith to "cry alound and spare not"  in seeking the salvation of our children, our relatives, our friends, our neighbors, and WHOSOEVER crosses our paths.  Forgive our past negligence and stir our hearts to witness as never before.  And dear precious Lord, bless our last minute efforts with souls saved.  Please Father God, hear our plea, for we ask in this fervently in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

    God bless you brother Paul, and all of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ.  I'll meet each of you soon at the great family reunion in glory.  Don't any reader disappoint me! 

                  Pastor F. M. Riley