Accountability age
Here is the latest Children’s Ministry Think Tank question:
* What do you teach about concerning a child’s condition (sometimes called age) of accountability for responding to the Gospel?
There is no age of accountability about when a child (person) responds to the Gospel. A person can make a faith decision at any age in which he understands.
* How would you counsel a parent who is concerned about a preschool aged child who seems disinterested in learning about Jesus?
Preschoolers develop and mature at different ages and stages. As an early childhood teacher, I see 3-5 year olds learn at different levels and in different ways. Some 3 year olds students can write their names and letters of the alphabet. Others struggle to simply identify their written names. They learn differently at different times. Early childhood teachers continue to teach using different methods and preschoolers develop and learn all along the way. Therefore, Christian education teachers and parents must continue to teach preschoolers about Jesus using different teaching methods. They may seem disinterested but they are listening and comprehending the message on their own levels. Little tidbits of information are connecting in their minds. Through relationships with those preschoolers, teachers and parents will hear them say something and repeat something that they have heard and learned.
* If you had to estimate (and you do), what is the chronological age that most children become fully accountable for their decision about Christ?
The answer to this question is a grey area. There is no age of accountability when children (people) become fully accountable in their decisions about Christ. The Scripture does not speak about accountability ages. God holds a person accountable when he/she is totally woo’ed by Him in making a decision. Believing and accepting Christ is as easy as A-admit, B-believe, C-choose and a person is instructed to come to Christ with faith as a little child. When a person comes to understand and make a faith decision, then he is held accountable. There is no set age for this accountability.
For answers from other children’s ministry professionals, click this link.
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