Does Ellen White indicate an age when children become accountable for their own sins? When is a child able to assess whether their conscience is hurt by doing something wrong? When are they able to independent of their parents' will choose to follow God's way?
Does Ellen White indicate an age when children become accountable for their own sins? When is a child able to assess whether their conscience is hurt by doing something wrong? When are they able to independent of their parents' will choose to follow God's way?
I think for most it is the age of 12 years. Some more some less depending on the maturity.
When Children Are Ready for Baptism.--Never allow your children to suppose that they are not children of God until they are old enough to be baptized. Baptism does not make children Christians; neither does it convert them; it is but an outward sign, showing that they are sensible that they should be children of God by acknowledging that they believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and will henceforth live for Christ. {CG 499.2}
Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14. {FLB 270.1}
God wants every child of tender age to be His child, to be adopted into His family. Young though they may be, the youth may be members of the household of faith, and have a most precious experience. {FLB 270.2}
I was eleven years old when the light broke into my heart. I had pious parents, who in every way tried to make their children acquainted with their heavenly Father. We sang the praises of God in our household. Every morning and evening we had family prayer. There were eight children in the family, and every opportunity was improved by our parents to lead us to give our hearts to Jesus. {FLB 270.3}
Children are most susceptible to the teachings of the gospel; their hearts are open to divine influences, and strong to retain the lessons received. The little children may be Christians, having an experience in accordance with their years. {FLB 270.4}
Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, so that the promises and commands of God awaken in the child gratitude and reverence; the parents whose tenderness and justice and long-suffering interpret to the child the love and justice and long-suffering of God; and who, by teaching the child to love and trust and obey them, are teaching him to love and trust and obey his Father in heaven. Parents who impart to a child such a gift have endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of all the ages--a treasure as enduring as eternity. {FLB 270.5}
Never allow your children to suppose that they are not children of God until they are old enough to be baptized. {FLB 270.6}
If properly instructed, very young children may have correct views of their state as sinners and of the way of salvation through Christ. {FLB 270.7}
In love, faith, and prayer let parents work for their households, until with joy they can come to God saying, "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me." Isaiah 8:18.
As far as I know, there are no inspired words to specifically define an "age of accountability". Most likely, that is because different people mature at different speeds.
The closest I know, as has already been mentioned, is when Jesus went to the temple at age 12. He basically told his parents that he was accountable to his Father for himself, instead of being subject to their care for his soul.
I believe it is wrong to baptize a child before their "age of accountability". For example, I know some children (relatives) who loved Jesus very much and so were baptized at age 8 or so. By the time they got in their late teens, they weren't sure if they were really Christian or not. It is impossible for an 8 year old child to have an appropriate understanding of what it means to be "born again". When is it "possible"? As a convenient number, "12" seems to be the best I can find in inspired words.
