Email from the Edge – Advocate & Accountability
J.A. Clark – theHumanStain.net
Post Date: 4-20-08
In today's modern world, where there is no evidence at all of anyone responsible for their
own actions, it's not a big surprise that when you mention the word 'Accountability',
everyone looks at you as if you are a wild eyed pistol waver. When you mention the word
'Accountability', they either point you to the accounting office down the hall or they quickly
respond 'not my job' or 'don't look at me. I didn't do it'. That's not what accountability is.
According to Websters dictionary, the word accountability means 'the state of being
accountable, liable or answerable'.
This post is in direct response to an email I received from H.A. asking 'if everyone has
sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) then what happens to children
when they die prematurely? What happens to mentally handicapped people and people that
have never heard about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?' These are all excellent questions that
deserve an honest and Biblical answer.
We, as human beings, are accountable to many people. Bosses, fellow employees, etc. This
post is going to concentrate and explain what the Bible teaches when an individual becomes
accountable for their own soul. More specifically, is a human being accountable if that
individual does not have the mental capacity to fully understand the concept of sin and how
it directly affects the disposition of ones soul or spirit? When I say 'mental capacity' I am
referring to infants, young children and those who have mental handicap disease.
Although there is not specific Bible verses that tell us the age of accountability or whether
mentally handicapped people will go to heaven or hell when they die, we can find some very
important information that will help us determine what God's plan is for this important topic.
It is very important to remember, as mentioned above, ALL have sinned and fallen short of
the the glory of God. ALL, according to God, is EVERYONE. It doesn't say ALL