When is a child old enough to follow Jesus?

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onlinebuddy

Senior Member
Sep 1, 2012
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When is a child old enough to follow Jesus? (This question is from one of my previous posts)

Does the Bible (especially the New Testament) say anything about this topic?
OT passages will also be fine.

I would appreciate opinions that are supported by Bible verses, if possible. I am asking for Bible verses because I would like to keep this as OBJECTIVE as possible. In this way, I would know that it is God's word and not man's opinion.
Thanks in advance.
 
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Let me try to get back to you on that. I would like to start off asking a question in addition though, if that is ok:

How long were you considered a child back then? My reason for asking is simply that what is considered a child today might not have been back then.
 
Jesus told his disciples not to stop the children from coming to him.

I asked Jesus into my heart when I was only five. I still remember that day too :D
 
What is your (OP) definition of follow?
I personally believe all humans have a "built int" knowledge of God (simply because we are all made in his image), but of course there is a long way from this to actively following someone.

We are told to teach children to follow God's ways, and it would then seem to me we should assess how mature each child is and how much they can understand.
 
Let me try to get back to you on that. I would like to start off asking a question in addition though, if that is ok:

How long were you considered a child back then? My reason for asking is simply that what is considered a child today might not have been back then.
wwjd,
May I reword my question?

At what age is one considered old enough to follow Christ?
OR
At what age does God hold a person accountable for his life?
 
Aaaah.

My understanding is that we are held "accountable either way:
The man who knows his masters will shall be beaten with many stripes, but the one who did wrong in ignorance shall be beaten with few.

But since the kingdom of God is only available to those that are like a little child, I also think children are more prone to believe, and thus have he shield of Chris's blood.
 
@wwjd, Good questions. I guess I must be more specific with my questions.

@nukreation. Thanks for your comment.

I have to go now. I'll reflect on what you guys said and I will get back :)
 
Good to know that your seeking Bible verses. For me any ages as long as you have a concept of GOD and you hear the words of GOD. Immediately your mind is curious and wants to know more deeper. When i was 6 years old I am delighted to hear GOD words. I am excited when people talk about GOD. I am very curious his name and thinking how does he affect my whole being.Everything about GOD really interest me and now i am living by the Grace of GOD. I am very fortunate to know him as young as i was.
 
I don't know of any bible verses specifically
But i believe there is an age of accountability
(I could be wrong though!)
I believe the age of accountability begins when you understand what sin and repentance is
after all if you don't know your sinning, how can you know you need a saviour?
I love the following example
A child is not taught to lie, but if you see chocolate on his face and ask him if he's been in the cookie jar, what's his response, he'll lie and say he wasn't, is he sinning? Yes he is, but is he accountable? No, he's not, why? Because he doesn't know what he's doing is a sin
God bless
 
Let's go to the word of God to try to get an idea of what God considers to be the age of accountability.

Exod.20
[11] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[12] When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
[13] This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
[14] Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
[15] The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

So those that were 20yr and above were required to give an offering for the forgiveness of their sins.

Num.20
[3] From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
[18] And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
[20] And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

So those that were 20yr and above were able to go to war.

Num.14
[26] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
[27] How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
[28] Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
[29] Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

Num.32
[11] Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:

And now we see that God punished those that were 20yr and older for trespassing His laws and did not allow them to go into the promised land.


Thus we have the mind of God. It would seem that God does not consider those under 20yrs of age accountable for their actions.

Now does this mean we are not to teach our children to obey God and to walk in His ways? I would say definitely not! I teach my 12yr old son to do his best to obey God's laws and commandments. I pray that by the time he is of age he will know what God considers to be right and wrong.

I also stress to him the above verses and what God considers to be the age of accountability.

Hope this helps.


.
 
I don't know of any bible verses specifically
But i believe there is an age of accountability
(I could be wrong though!)
I believe the age of accountability begins when you understand what sin and repentance is
after all if you don't know your sinning, how can you know you need a saviour?
I love the following example
A child is not taught to lie, but if you see chocolate on his face and ask him if he's been in the cookie jar, what's his response, he'll lie and say he wasn't, is he sinning? Yes he is, but is he accountable? No, he's not, why? Because he doesn't know what he's doing is a sin
God bless

I always thought there was an age of accountabllity, but the bible isn't real clear on that(i JUST found this out lol), many people think 12 or 13 is the age for many reasons. One is because Jesus was preaching to men at that age so he is used as an example.

I think it depends on the individual, and their own mental capacity and ability to learn. Everyone is different.

Just speaking from my own experience when I began to really listen to the Word, and realized that in order to go to Heaven I need to become a Christian I "felt" that I had to. Almost like I was being pushed. I am guessing that was the Holy Spirit saying "get your butt up, and confess!"...and I did. I was a teenager.
I was also raised in the church, and my mother actually wanted me to be baptized much earlier, and I refused. I didn't feel I was ready. In her eyes I needed to. In my eyes, had I done it earlier it would not had been heartfelt. It would have been a "false" confession to make momma happy, and sadly enough I see ALOT of that going on in the church today.
 
I don't know of any bible verses specifically
But i believe there is an age of accountability
(I could be wrong though!)
I believe the age of accountability begins when you understand what sin and repentance is
after all if you don't know your sinning, how can you know you need a saviour?
I love the following example
A child is not taught to lie, but if you see chocolate on his face and ask him if he's been in the cookie jar, what's his response, he'll lie and say he wasn't, is he sinning? Yes he is, but is he accountable? No, he's not, why? Because he doesn't know what he's doing is a sin
God bless

But i believe there is an age of accountability

I agree!

I believe the age of accountability begins when you understand what sin and repentance is
after all if you don't know your sinning, how can you know you need a saviour?
I Agree again!

Thanks for the example of the child. However, I would BEG TO DIFFER out here. Firstly, a person lies because they know that they have sinned. Therefore they are accountable. So, in my opinion, it is erroneous to say that the child has sinned but he will not be held accountable. I'm still thinking about this.

Galatians 5:19 says that the acts of the sinful nature (or flesh) are obvious (or evident or manifest). After a particular age, a child KNOWS whether he is doing right or wrong. That's when he is held accountable. I believe this age is different for different people.

"Wwjd" has pointed out rightly we were born with a built in consciousness of God. This consciousness acts as a homing device and leads us to God. Similarly, we are all born with a conscience that tells us what is right and wrong, whether we know Jesus or not (and unless we are born in some uncivilized nomadic tribe deep in the Jungles of the Amazon).


==============================================================
As I was thinking about my initial question, a thought popped up in my mind. (This verse was suggested by a cc member on another of my posts)
John 3
5Jesus answered , Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

From this post, I learn that God holds a boy accountable when he becomes a man. The same logic applies to a girl child. A child becomes an adult at the age of 18.

Now, this is not the final conclusion. We may take it just as a guideline. However, if someone would tell me that their 18 year old son or daughter does not know what sin is, I would find it hard to believe.
 
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Let's go to the word of God to try to get an idea of what God considers to be the age of accountability.

Exod.20
[11] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[12] When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
[13] This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
[14] Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
[15] The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

So those that were 20yr and above were required to give an offering for the forgiveness of their sins.

Num.20
[3] From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
[18] And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
[20] And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

So those that were 20yr and above were able to go to war.

Num.14
[26] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
[27] How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
[28] Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
[29] Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

Num.32
[11] Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:

And now we see that God punished those that were 20yr and older for trespassing His laws and did not allow them to go into the promised land.


Thus we have the mind of God. It would seem that God does not consider those under 20yrs of age accountable for their actions.

Now does this mean we are not to teach our children to obey God and to walk in His ways? I would say definitely not! I teach my 12yr old son to do his best to obey God's laws and commandments. I pray that by the time he is of age he will know what God considers to be right and wrong.

I also stress to him the above verses and what God considers to be the age of accountability.

Hope this helps.


.

Eccl12and13,
I loved your post. Also, thanks for providing the scripture versus. There's a lot we can learn about the ways of God from the OT, because God is the same.

However, I have just quickly skimmed through your post. I will read it carefully and get back.
 
Eccl12and13: i have my bible in front of me and the selections do not match your text(?)!) You meant Exodus 30: ; Numbers not in the 10, 20 or 30's chapters; etc.

When I was searching for God, I was in a Denver hospital for several months and visited with a Rabbi several times, he had told me the age of responsibility was considered to be 13. Same question brought answers of 8 or 9 from the Baptists. Others have told me when a child knows right from wrong, maybe as young as 4 or even 6 years old!For me, I realized that there must be a God at 13, but it took me until 18 to come full circle on that thought.....
 
Eccl12and13: i have my bible in front of me and the selections do not match your text(?)!) You meant Exodus 30: ; Numbers not in the 10, 20 or 30's chapters; etc.

When I was searching for God, I was in a Denver hospital for several months and visited with a Rabbi several times, he had told me the age of responsibility was considered to be 13. Same question brought answers of 8 or 9 from the Baptists. Others have told me when a child knows right from wrong, maybe as young as 4 or even 6 years old!For me, I realized that there must be a God at 13, but it took me until 18 to come full circle on that thought.....

Thanks Chip. That made sense.
And yes, I am yet to examine the versus provided by our friend Eccl12and13. Never mind the mistakes. I'll find them out. Got to log out now guys. Will get back later.

Peace!
 
Psalm 58:13
The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Isaiah 48:8
...... :for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb.

We know Jesus said: suffer not the little children to come unto to Me. Well something like that --
Matthew 19:14
Mark 10; 14
Luke 18:16
 
I once helped raise an adopted son of a family I lived with. I would carry him on my shoulders around the room. They had a crucifix, and at age 3 (this child was very late talking) we always had a conversation: "Why He die? (pointing to Jesus)" I would say "He died so we could be good". That was it. But the tone in his voice, and the concern on his face! That boy was ready to follow Jesus as soon as he could express it. Children just follow Him different.

Maybe some of the responses assume you mean "when is a person old enough to make Jesus His personal Lord and Savior?" The answer to that is, when he's old enough to understand what the words mean. But, I think a lot of adults don't even understand those words. I think we just need to realize Jesus died for everybody, time is meaningless to God, and I think Jesus can figure out to lead anyone who wants to follow Him, regardless what he does or does not understand or need.
 
Eccl12and13: i have my bible in front of me and the selections do not match your text(?)!) You meant Exodus 30: ; Numbers not in the 10, 20 or 30's chapters; etc.

When I was searching for God, I was in a Denver hospital for several months and visited with a Rabbi several times, he had told me the age of responsibility was considered to be 13. Same question brought answers of 8 or 9 from the Baptists. Others have told me when a child knows right from wrong, maybe as young as 4 or even 6 years old!For me, I realized that there must be a God at 13, but it took me until 18 to come full circle on that thought.....

Thank you for the correction. Here are the correct Books, chap, and verses;

Exod.30
[11] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[12] When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
[13] This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
[14] Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
[15] The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

Num.1
[3] From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
[18] And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
[20] And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Num.14
[26] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
[27] How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
[28] Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
[29] Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

Num.32
[11] Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:


We find that God did not hold any accountable for sin under 20yrs old. That God only sent those that were 20yrs old and above to war. And that none that were 20yrs and older, other than Caleb and Joshua, were allowed into the promised land.

It would appear that God's age of accountability for man is 20yrs old.


Again....thanks for the correction.



.
 
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At what age does God hold a person accountable for his life?


A child should always be encouraged and a child is never too young to hear about Jesus. As someone else mentioned, Jesus said to let the children come to Him, He was encouraging it. A lot of learning takes place while in the womb, the baby hears and feels what you do before they are born.

Another scripture that comes to mind....

Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it"


As for age of accountability. I posted my thoughts in this other thread...

God has likened many Jewish customs/traditions to future events. Like the bride of Christ is likened to a Jewish wedding, down to the return of the groom, preparing a place for us in His Father's home, the wedding feast in Heaven, etc. The feasts represent certain prophecies being fulfilled gradually over time. Next one to come is the Feast of trumpets (I believe this is the rapture and the trumpets blow in Jewish weddings when the marriage is about to take place!!!!!!!!! :)).

Now here's an interesting one... the Jewish Bar Mitzvah is the 'coming of age' celebration, making it age 13 for a boy and age 12 for a girl. I believe this is the age of accountability in God's eyes :)

My mother had a miscarriage many years ago. I will see my other sibling for the first time in Heaven :)
 
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does anyone think a child has a natural understanding of Christ because they haven't been away very long? I dont see a compassionate God condemning little children to hell, some people think babies are condemned because they haven't been saved yet, why would God condemn a child who doesn't understand and is not capable of professing salvation?