Age of Accountability

[mcubed]

Most people say age 13 is the age of accountability. Some say 13, from the Jewish tradition of bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah(girl). I have even heard it argued, the age of accountability is 20, because in the wilderness G-d held everyone 20 and over accountable, except Caleb and Joshua, and could not enter the promise land. And of course, I have always been taught those with mental illness are always considered under the age of accountability. Is there an age? what is it? What is considered mental illness?

I bring up this topic for a specific reason. Tonight, at work we had a 13-year-old die because he hung himself, it was his heart actually why he died, but the consequence from hanging himself; I work in a trauma center emergency department. I am just sad. (side note)

 

[Ugly]

We've had these threads before. In my experience 'most' people do not say 13 is the age of accountability. Rather most people i've seen say there is no set age, because it can vary by individual. Some people mature quicker than others. Some people gain awareness quicker than others. So it is literally impossible to give a specific age, either as a blanket statement, or even per individual.
As far as mental illness, i would not say they get a special pass on accountability ages. I have depression, always have, yet i still knew right from wrong and was able to understand things the same as others my age. But, really, since there is no set age it all comes down to the individual. And God is the Only one that can determine when that is. So mental illness or not, God knows the mind and heart and will judge the individual accordingly.

 

[FlSnookman7]

Most people say age 13 is the age of accountability. Some say 13, from the Jewish tradition of bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah(girl). I have even heard it argued, the age of accountability is 20, because in the wilderness G-d held everyone 20 and over accountable, except Caleb and Joshua, and could not enter the promise land. And of course, I have always been taught those with mental illness are always considered under the age of accountability. Is there an age? what is it? What is considered mental illness?

I bring up this topic for a specific reason. Tonight, at work we had a 13-year-old die because he hung himself, it was his heart actually why he died, but the consequence from hanging himself; I work in a trauma center emergency department. I am just sad. (side note)

I could go into my thoughts on what I believe the Word says about the subject but I would instead like to say thank you for doing such a very difficult job.

 

[seed_time_harvest]

Romans 7:7-10
King James Version(KJV)

7.)What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8.)But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead.

9.)For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10.)And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death.
+++
Paul was born under law and was taught under law,so then when was he alive once without the law?
I believe that he was alive once,when sin was not Imputed to him and that would have been when he was too young to know right from wrong.

 

[Adstar]

Most people say age 13 is the age of accountability. Some say 13, from the Jewish tradition of bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah(girl). I have even heard it argued, the age of accountability is 20, because in the wilderness G-d held everyone 20 and over accountable, except Caleb and Joshua, and could not enter the promise land. And of course, I have always been taught those with mental illness are always considered under the age of accountability. Is there an age? what is it? What is considered mental illness?

I bring up this topic for a specific reason. Tonight, at work we had a 13-year-old die because he hung himself, it was his heart actually why he died, but the consequence from hanging himself; I work in a trauma center emergency department. I am just sad. (side note)

We really don't have to worry about what the age of accountability is.. Because it probably is different for each and every individuel person born on planet earth..

God knows when each person obtains the knowledge of good and evil.. So we can rest assured that all things are in his perfect hands..

Deuteronomy 1: KJV
37 "Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. {38} But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. {39} 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. {40} But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea."

 

[garee]

I think the age of accountability is a oral tradition of men.

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that callethIt was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.Rom 9:11

 

[seed_time_harvest]

We really don't have to worry about what the age of accountability is.. Because it probably is different for each and every individuel person born on planet earth..

God knows when each person obtains the knowledge of good and evil.. So we can rest assured that all things are in his perfect hands..

Deuteronomy 1: KJV
37 "Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. {38} But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. {39} 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. {40} But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea."

True,but It’s good to have an understanding of the age of accountability.

 

[7seasrekeyed]

some people never reach the age of accountability

whatever goes down in their lives, is always someone elses' fault

 

[Depleted]

Most people say age 13 is the age of accountability. Some say 13, from the Jewish tradition of bar mitzvah/bat mitzvah(girl). I have even heard it argued, the age of accountability is 20, because in the wilderness G-d held everyone 20 and over accountable, except Caleb and Joshua, and could not enter the promise land. And of course, I have always been taught those with mental illness are always considered under the age of accountability. Is there an age? what is it? What is considered mental illness?

I bring up this topic for a specific reason. Tonight, at work we had a 13-year-old die because he hung himself, it was his heart actually why he died, but the consequence from hanging himself; I work in a trauma center emergency department. I am just sad. (side note)

Sorry. It's not biblical. It's modern christianese to create more than one way to God.

I am so sorry that young one killed himself. It is a tragedy. It is a reason to be sad, but he was accountable. And, God's mercy may still have given him time to repent and come to the Lord between that brief nanosecond when he hung himself and there was no returning from the choice. We know the Lord does 11th hours. 11:59:59 is part of the 11th hour.

I was driving up to a stop light in rush hour traffic once, and a van pulled out in between parked cars in the middle of the street and slammed my car in the side clear across two lanes and into a corner with a pole. If I told you all I saw and all that happened during that moment from when I got hit to when everything stopped moving, it would take about 15 minutes, and yet, in real time it took 1-2 seconds. The brain works faster than thought. So there was still time.

And it was always God's choice whether he gave the boy mercy or wrath, because we're all accountable for our sin.

 

[Depleted]

We've had these threads before. In my experience 'most' people do not say 13 is the age of accountability. Rather most people i've seen say there is no set age, because it can vary by individual. Some people mature quicker than others. Some people gain awareness quicker than others. So it is literally impossible to give a specific age, either as a blanket statement, or even per individual.
As far as mental illness, i would not say they get a special pass on accountability ages. I have depression, always have, yet i still knew right from wrong and was able to understand things the same as others my age. But, really, since there is no set age it all comes down to the individual. And God is the Only one that can determine when that is. So mental illness or not, God knows the mind and heart and will judge the individual accordingly.

How or why would a baby kick in the womb, if he/she did not have "awareness?" Even for children born profoundly impaired, they are already aware. Maturity isn't an issue, since even babies know crying gives them attention, whether needed or not. That is awareness and mature enough.

 

[Ugly]

How or why would a baby kick in the womb, if he/she did not have "awareness?" Even for children born profoundly impaired, they are already aware. Maturity isn't an issue, since even babies know crying gives them attention, whether needed or not. That is awareness and mature enough.

Given the topic of the thread i'd have thought the obviousness of 'awareness' meant in regards to sin. Perhaps i gave you too much credit to put 1+1 together? A baby kicking in the womb isn't aware of sin, nor accountable for their 'actions'.

 

[Mercy4u]

Jonah 4:11

New American Standard Bible
"Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?"

 

[Mercy4u]

Rom 7:9
New American Standard Bible
I was once alive apart(not knowing right from left/innocent) from the Law; but when the commandment came(awareness/accountable), sin became alive and I died;

 

[Willie-T]

It matters not what number anyone sticks on the invention of a point in time called "The Age of Accountability." God will handle things as He will.

 

[Blain]

The age of accountability is not really a set thing, I mean even at age five kids know right from wrong but they are not aware of the sinful costs of their actions I think it really has more to do with the persons mindset than anything as we are all different.
But as for this teen the whole instant hell thing is a doctrine made by the Catholics I have not seen it anywhere in the bible that killing oneself means hell.
God looks to the heart and if this teen killed himself because he was drowning in misery or because he was all alone in life and no one was there for him I cannot imagine father would send him to eternal fire rather than instead invite him into his open arms telling him he will never be alone again

 

[Mercy4u]

It matters not what number anyone sticks on the invention of a point in time called "The Age of Accountability." God will handle things as He will.

Very true Willie.

It seems to me that many have overlooked many of Gods attributes.

He is Sovereign, yet His Sovereignty is based upon many other attributes. Namely, His righteousness.

The young boy in the OP is safe in Gods hands. Based upon Gods character and nature

God Sovereignly shows compassion through His perfect Justice/righteousness. SO that boy was handled fairly and with equity.

And At 13 years old, still under someone elses authority in his life at the time. We can be quite sure that God kept him safe.

New American Standard Bible
Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity.

New American Standard Bible
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity."

New American Standard Bible
And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.

New American Standard Bible
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah.

 

[Depleted]

Given the topic of the thread i'd have thought the obviousness of 'awareness' meant in regards to sin. Perhaps i gave you too much credit to put 1+1 together? A baby kicking in the womb isn't aware of sin, nor accountable for their 'actions'.

Oh, no. You give God so little credit that you create your own terms where you think he's failed.

 

[Depleted]

The age of accountability is not really a set thing, I mean even at age five kids know right from wrong but they are not aware of the sinful costs of their actions I think it really has more to do with the persons mindset than anything as we are all different.
But as for this teen the whole instant hell thing is a doctrine made by the Catholics I have not seen it anywhere in the bible that killing oneself means hell.
God looks to the heart and if this teen killed himself because he was drowning in misery or because he was all alone in life and no one was there for him I cannot imagine father would send him to eternal fire rather than instead invite him into his open arms telling him he will never be alone again

Not trusting God means hell. As someone who came very close to suicide, it was very much an act of not trusting God.

 

[Depleted]

Very true Willie.

It seems to me that many have overlooked many of Gods attributes.

He is Sovereign, yet His Sovereignty is based upon many other attributes. Namely, His righteousness.

The young boy in the OP is safe in Gods hands. Based upon Gods character and nature

God Sovereignly shows compassion through His perfect Justice/righteousness. SO that boy was handled fairly and with equity.

And At 13 years old, still under someone elses authority in his life at the time. We can be quite sure that God kept him safe.

New American Standard Bible
Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity.

New American Standard Bible
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity."

New American Standard Bible
And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.

New American Standard Bible
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah.

Another of God's sovereign attributes is righteous wrath. I hope God had mercy, but I cannot say God had mercy.