Christians believe that human beings are born with the difficulty to comprehend right from wrong and to make choices that may lead to positive or negative consequences. Consequently, believers view every action taken by us as an expression of our free will and thus believe that sin is inevitable as it has been with us from the age of accountability.
The idea of the age of accountability and being held responsible for sinning originates from Bible texts like Matthew 18:3, in which Jesus Christ says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. This suggests that a certain level of understanding is required for one to be held accountable for their sins.
The age of accountability is determined by each Church and varies depending on the denomination and on personal conviction. For many Christians, this age is marked by a point in a person’s life when they have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and to accept the consequences of their own actions. The age is believed to be around 12 or 13, but it can also beolder.
The recogntition of this age is also closely linked with the age of baptism, as many Churches accept onlythose above the age of accountability in order to receive baptism. Receiving the sacrament of baptism is considered essential for anyone who wants to be saved from sin and to experience forgiveness from God.
Although the age of accountability varies among Churches and denominations, it demonstrates Christians’ belief that we are capable of understanding and choosing between right and wrong from a certain age in life. It also reveals their belief that special steps, such as baptism, need to be taken for regenration, redemption and forgiveness.
Different point of views exist from Churches, some of which believe that life begins at conception, and thus a new born baby already carries the responsibility of sin. Other denominations however advocate for the view that babies and children cannot sin until they reach a certain age.
Intellectual Responsibility
Only when children can understand and understand any type of decision they make, they can be rightfully expected to take responsibility for their actions. At this point, they must be informed about the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of one’s actions.
It is only then that a person can understand their actions towards other people and how each decision affects their spiritual life and their relationship with God. Accordingly, children should be taught from an early age about Christian principles and social behaviours.
By doing so, they will become more capable of understanding the concept of sinning at an appropriate age and of comprehending it when they become older. Thus, parents and Teachers have the responsibility of teaching children the difference between right and wrong, allowing them to make important decisions and thus fulfilling their responsibility in upbringing children to understand and take responsibility for their decisions.
Punishment
When a child reaches the age of accountability, they should deepy understand the consequences of their actions and the level of spiritual responsibility they have. This way, they will be familiar with the concept of punishment, which is a major element in the Christian faith.
The punishment, known as penance, varies in terms of severity, depending on the level of sin committed and the level of understanding the one who committed it had. Hence, age has a major role in determining the level of responsibility and the amount of punishment that a person should receive for his or her actions.
In some Churches, minor sins such as telling lies or breaking minor rules are usually addressed by the parents, usually through an apology or through verbal reprimands. The more serious sins, such as stealing or falsifying documents, require a greater level of punishment and often result in criminal charges.
Guidance
Parents have a crucial role in guiding their children and in helping them to understand the concept of committing a sin and its consequences when they reach the age of accountability. Through love, guidance and devotion, they should explain to their children the importance of making the right choices and of understanding the consequences of wrong choices.
Children should be taught the importance of asking for forgiveness when they commit a sin and of the necessity of understanding and accepting the respective punishments. This way, parents are an effective structure for teaching children about foundations of Christianity and of being held accountable for their actions.
Authentic Absolution
Absolution – the forgiveness from God – is only achieved when sins are fully understood and accepted. This is why the age of accountability is a crucial point in a Christian person’s life. It marks the point at which they have affirmed fully the consequences of their decision making.
Though sins can be committed before this age, full absolution is only achieved when a person accepts and understands the true nature and meaning of the sin they have committed. By doing this, they take full responsibility for their actions and can more closely connect with God and ask for the ultimate redemption.
Humility
The concept of the age of accountability should not be taken lightly. Becoming accountable for one’s actions requires a lot of work and dedication from both the parent and the child. It requires trust, humility and hard work to change old habits and instill new ones.
Humility is particularly important for a proper comprehension of sinning. Until that is achieved, a person is not able to understand the gravity of their wrong doings properly. Thus, through humbling ourselves, we can become aware of our spiritual needs and can be closer to God and achieve full redemption.
Personal Reflection
The age of accountability is also closely linked with personal reflection. It is only when a person has the skills to reflect on their past and present actions that they can fully comprehend the problems they have faced in life and accept the role they have played in them.
Personal reflection often requires courage and the willingness to accept mistakes with open arms. Thus, it is only when someone is mature enough that they can learn from their mistakes, become closer to God and ask for absolution and redemption.
Education
Parents and Teachers should be aware of the importance of teaching children and adolescents about the Christian faith and of the concept of sinning. This responsibility is important for instilling a sense of morality and of the inevitability of reaping what is sown.
Although guilt is not supposed to guide our actions, understanding the concept of beingheld accountable for one’s actions is a necessary tool when it comes to developing one’s moral standards and asking for forgiveness. Thus, education is key to help children to become better Christian persons when they reach the age of accountability.
Support
The Church is responsible for providing support to children, teens and parents during their spiritual journey. This way, having a spiritual home provides teenagers with a sense of purpose and a sense of being in a safe place.
At the ages of accountability, when youngsters realize that they are responsible for their actions and face the possibility of sinning, it is particularly important for them to feel supported and able to ask for guidance from those who share their beliefs and serve as role models.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although it varies among denominations and Churches, the age of accountability is an essential concept for Christians, as it demonstrates their belief that when we can discern between right and wrong, we can take full responsibility for our actions and for the consequences that come with them. It also indicates the importance of love, humility and guidance from an early age. Thus, the age of accountability is an important part of understanding and appreciating the Christian faith.
