What about people who are born with some severe mental illness who cannot read or have the mental abilities of a 5 year old? How are they technically supposed to get eternal life since they cannot "be saved"? Christians, why did god make something that wouldn't be able to technically enter heaven? Was he bored?
2007-01-21 13:20:54 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
These people would go to heaven. According to the Bible, "where the law is not given, sin is not impuned": meaning, if you were never made aware that something was a sin, you will not be punished for it. Otherwise, what would happen to aborted babies? Or children who die before the age of reason.
There is one place in the bible where King David's infant son dies and David mentions that he will see him again in eternity.
Catholics used to teach us that babies that died without being baptised would go to limbo because they still had original sin. But, they never pushed us to read a bible, or we would have known that limbo and original sin (as such) are not in the bible.
They now have changed their teachings and say that babies go to heaven. Did God change or just the Catholics?
The comedian George Carlin, who was also raised in Catholic schools put it this way:
"Catholics used to teach that eating meat on Friday was a mortal sin, which means you go to hell for doing it. Now they say it's not a sin. Can you imagine going to hell and talking to a guy who is doing eternity on a 'meat rap' and explaining to him that it is no longer a sin?"
Seriously, though, most of what we have been taught is not in the bible. And, many things we first read will mislead us until we read the entire book with great interest. But, God is GOD! The creator of everything. When talking about Himself, He says, "I'm not a man, that I should have to lie about anything". So, He describes Himself as a fair God, a just God and a loving God. And you have to keep that in mind when you hear other people say something different, or even when you read something in the bible that seems harsh at first. If it doesn't line up with fair, just and loving then someone is misunderstanding it.
So, mentally slow people are no different than babies because they may never reach an age of reason. But, it's a great question.
What about normal adults who never hear about God or the Bible because they live in the middle of a jungle. Is God going to stand at the gate and say, "Well, technically, I can't let you in because you never called me by my biblical name!" ?? I mean, the bible does say there is only one name by which man is saved, Jesus. Right? So, if he can't guess the name after living and dying in the jungle, he goes to hell right? No, not at all. Remember, He's a fair God. If the 2 thoughts don't line up, it's not true. But, if you read the whole bible, you will see that it also says that anyone who asks will find the truth, and that God looks at a man's heart, and that He writes His laws on the tablets of a man's heart, and that a man's heart will either condemn him or exhonorate him. That's why we see primitive man worshipping the sun etc..., if they are really asking with their hearts, they instinctively know that there must be a God and that they must worship Him. They will never get His name right, technically. But, the bible does not say that He is a technical God either.
2007-01-21 14:19:00 · answer #1 · answered by Mike G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I the Bible God's free Gift of life is open to every living person at all times even those who have died already, the mentally ill are not excluded, but they too have that offer, and allthough they today may not find the lord they will get to know him in the future, the Bible says that Christ died for all mankind, that means that every person ever lived is included in receiving this offer of eternal life, while it is true that most religion teaches that all good people go to heaven, that is not what the Bible says, Rather (Matthew5:5)says:"Happy are the mild tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth. (Psalm37"10,11,29)10 And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; 11 But the meek ones themselves will posess the earth, Andd they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.29 The righteous themselves will posess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it. No what you are thinking is not the way it is or will be, the Bible does not su[pport your thoughts nor does it support the teachings of most religion. The God of the Bible, is a truly Just God, not only that but he is a God of love,Hi e is not sadistic as many religions portray him, one who organises a hell of eternal torment, NO that type of thing does not come up in his heart at all, he would never do that type of thing becaust as the Bible says God is Love and His Love is stronger that the love of a mother to her suckling child, The Bible also says that God Loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son so hat the world has the opportunity to be saved(John3:16) And the other point is that Jehovah God had a purpose for creating the earth, it was not to be a place for people to live for a short time and then go to some other place of dwelling, no he created this earth for it to be inhabited forever, by righteous humans and all other living creatures on it(Isaiah 45"18)No The God of the Bible Jehovah is truly a loving God and he deals lovingly with people even those who don't care about him he still provides for them the way to find him,and learn the truth about him, og course not everyone wants to know the truth about him, but he does not force anyone to know about him he wants that to come from their heart.
2007-01-21 14:07:32 · answer #2 · answered by I speak Truth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would you say that? You don't know the struggles these people go through. You live your life perfectly while you don't realize that their are children being bullied, animals being abused, husbands and wives fighting over how they will pay next months bills, elderly men and women dying alone. How about getting over your stupid little theory here and open your eyes to take a look at how much strength these people actually have.
2016-05-24 10:21:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is fair and just. It is just like children, if they die, they go to Heaven, because they do not understand yet. The same would apply to a person who was totally incapable of decision making. God is more fair than you know. I have known people who have had mental conditions and some of them would put others to shame with the level of faith they have in Christ. Salvation is not difficult.
2007-01-21 13:28:10 · answer #4 · answered by angel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, well...I wouldn't exactly go out and say that retardation is a mental illness. Now, if we were talking about schizophrenics, you'd find that a high number of schizophrenics turn to religion as it gives them a socially accepted outlet for the milder side of the dellusions and hallucinations. It's no longer their mind playing tricks on them, it's jesus or the devil talking to them.
As for mental retardation, no one said that a 5 year old couldn't become 'saved' or that people who suffer from mental retardation are not able to be 'saved'.
2007-01-21 13:27:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The guilt part of their sentence is reduced drastically because of their diminished capacity. Much of sin is in the will. If one does not will sin then how can they be responsible for it? It still carries consequences though. The reward of sin is sickness and death and since sin is within us weather we exercise it or not it is still going to kill us.
2007-01-21 13:46:54 · answer #6 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible seems to indicate that God makes special allowances for people who are too young or who for other reasons can't discern between good and evil.
Deuteronomy 1:35 'Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, (36) except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!' (37) Even with me the LORD was angry on your account and said, 'You also shall not go in there. (38) Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. (39) And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
2007-01-21 13:27:13 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that is what the 1000 year reign is for.
all who are as you say, will be brought to mental/physical perfection so as to make an INTELLIGENT informed decision as to whether or not they want to comply with the requirements of God's plan for everlasting life.
For those with a thumbs down, what up?
Do you not understand the mercies of God?
2007-01-21 13:24:02 · answer #8 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think there are alot of questions that wont be answered until we go to heaven. I thing God prefers it that way. If we had all the answers now, then we would all feel that we don't need God.
2007-01-21 13:25:44 · answer #9 · answered by Unshaken Faith 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
5 year olds can understand and love God too. They are capable of accepting Him
2007-01-21 13:26:48 · answer #10 · answered by Arwen73 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋