Paul Wilson (19 March
2013)
"True Conversion So
Young?"
I have seen some proud parents declare
how their son or daughter accepted Jesus at 4 or 7 or 10 only to
have them reject Christ in their teens. Now while some might
just say the children have backslidden I ask the hard question
“where they truly Christian to begin with??” Anyone who
knows children knows little ones are not fully capable of
comprehending such decisions even in 5th grade most are still
unable to fully understand the meaning and ramifications of the
decision and I don’t think God would accept as valid a decision
made in ignorance. I think that is why the Age of Accountability
is around 13 since at around that age they become able to
understand such big decisions and what it mean to be a
Christian. While some may say 11 is just a couple years shy of
the AoA again if you know children you know that a couple years
can make a world of difference. For example many 6th grade boys
are still not too interested in girls but by 8th grade many are
dating in a small since and have crushes.
While I know there are many who “came to Christ” as young
children and have stayed Christian I don’t think that they were
truly saved till the AoA when they were fully capable of
understanding being a Christian. Once they were able to
understand and still chose Christianity I believe that would be
when God would count them as accepting salvation.
While I understand how proud a parent is when their 4 year old
accepts Christ young children want to please their parents and
would say things they believe would please them. While it is
wonderful that at a young age they are excited about Jesus one
must keep in mind that they are still young and you must
continue there education and spiritual growth and religious
education so that when they reach the AoA they will want to
accept Christ with full understanding of what that means and
will want to keep growing as a Christian. Remember the world is
greatly secular so you have to keep up their education and fight
any Anti-Christian bias they encounter be it in schools or in
clubs or friends or friends parents (and this last one is
important as they may feel they are ‘helping’ your child my
getting him to stop believing what they consider myths).
Your work isn’t done because your toddler says he is Christian
you must keep helping him so that he can when the AoA come he
will be able to able to make the commitment for a lifetime eyes
fully open.
Paul
PS I know children and especially boys so I am not just saying
this to burst bubbles I am trying to help make sure that kids
aren’t left adrift spiritually once you think they are firmly
moored to the Christian dock.