A question to Christians?

Question

I am a faithful Christian, but sometimes I have these things pop in my head that makes me wonder. I know its wrong, but I'm sure we all come across these thoughts. Some questions I wonder about is what happens to the mentally challenged and the people who have never heard about God. Also what happens to a person who used to be a Christian, and then became mentally challenged after an accident/incident. Also what happens to the aborted babies, and the babies killed by accidents/murders. My answer is that God will have mercy on them, and that he shows mercy to them because they are not spiritually able to accept God. I have faith that God will do what is right, but I've asked this to some fellow Christians and there were mixed responses. These things always boggle my mind, and I guess we shall find out eventually.

I like these group of answerers, no controversy or thumbs down. I'm amazed lol.

Answer 1

First off, I don't think it is "wrong" for thoughts like this to pop into your head. If God didn't want us to use our minds he either wouldn't have given them to us in the first place OR he would have zapped them into a state of uselessness the instant we accepted his messages!

I too have wondered about what happens to people who don't have the opportunity to hear and accept the message of Jesus. Condemning them to the hell imagined by many Christians just doesn't seem consistent with the concept of a merciful and just God...and frankly, I just do NOT believe that is the reality of the situation.

When I have these thoughts, my first reaction is NOT to think that my faith in God is incorrect...instead, I see them as opportunities to wonder if my imagination is incorrect! More specifically, I start wondering if ANY of us have an accurate picture of what hell (or heaven) is really like!!

Consider these possibilities...

Perhaps hell is actually the life we are living now...a life limited by our own knowledge and subject to suffering and burning pain. Certainly the last sprained ankle I had caused suffering and burning pain as do many of the other things that can happen to us in life. What if every person who dies without knowing the way to God's kingdom (Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the light, no man comes to the father but by me") is merely told to "try again" when they die! That all the souls of people who die without knowing Jesus, including those that died before they had the opportunity to even hear about him, are returned to earth to live another life...with NO knowledge from their previous life to help them get it right the next time.

Another possibility is that all people are given an opportunity to accept or reject God AFTER they die. Once removed from the limitations of the physical body, even the souls of aborted babies and people with mental disabilities might then have the opportunity to hear the message and accept or reject it.

A final possibility I've considered is that the truly "innocent" minds already KNOW God....that each person is conceived with the knowledge and acceptance of God (and his son) and that it is through our conscious choices that we reject him later in life. Those that aren't born, that die very young, or that have mental disabilities may actually be exactly where they need to be to enter heaven when they die. Didn't Jesus say, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for such is the kingdom of God"???

In short, I don't know what God has in mind when it comes to matters of heaven and hell. I do know that the bible tells me that my greatest wisdom is but foolishness in the eyes of God...that tells me that anything I can dream up or imagine about the way things really are is most likely seriously flawed! Instead, I choose, once again, to have faith in God's promise that if I follow his instructions and accept his grace when I make mistakes, that I will see his kingdom and that his kingdom is awesome. Anything else is speculation including trying to put hell in some kind of "eternal burning pit of torture" box to use for scaring people into believing what I believe! Personally I prefer to leave decisions about hell to God and focus on telling people about the earthly and heavenly rewards of accepting and following God's message!

Answer 2

Only those who are able to understand the truth can sin against it. Those who die in their ignorance, whether it be infants, little children, mentally ill persons, or even adults who simply never came in contact with the truth are saved by grace alone.

In the Old Testament they were commanded to give animal sacrifices for those who sinned ignorantly.

In the New Testament it says God "winked" at those who sinned ignorantly but now commands all to repent.

Jesus offered his blood to atone for the sins of those who die in their ignorance, as well as those who have sinned but have repented and turned to Him with real intent. On the other hand those who know the truth and willfully rebel are the ones who face damnation.

It is a solemn mockery to God, denying His mercy and justice, to suppose an innocent infant or mentally ill person would be damned just because they died before they could accept Jesus or be baptized. Unto those whom the law has never been given, they cannot break that law and are under no condemnation.

Answer 3

I agree with your take. So has the Church from the beginning.

By the way, I believe that the same thing goes for people who commit suicide. I believe that often it is caused by mental illness or defect, and the people cannot always be held 100% accountable.

Just one more reason why, although I am not Roman Catholic, I believe in the doctrine of a place of purgation after death.

Answer 4

We will find out eventually but my opinion is:

The mentally handicapped are true children of God. They have so much love for people & go around hugging people.

People who died & never heard of God or Jesus get to. The specifics on that I DON"T KNOW. Maybe reincarnation or maybe a seperate place they go to to study to enter into heaven.

All babies who die go to heaven b/c like the mentally handicapped they have an innocence about them.

A person who leaves Christianity & dies? I DON"T KNOW but maybe he is then judged on the morals of his life.

Answer 5

That is an excellent question, and I agree with your answer.
I believe God does know what he's doing and he takes care of his own in a very loving and compassionate way. God loves us all the same, he is no respecter of persons, and he will always be the same yesterday, today and forever.

Jesus Bless You, Really BIG.

Answer 6

While reading the Book of Enoch I came upon these verses which gave me a eerie sort of feeling.
Here's a quote:
5. I saw the spirits of the children of men who were dead, and their voice went forth to heaven and made suit.
6. Then I asked Raphael the angel who was with me, and I said unto him: "This spirit--whose is it whose voice goeth forth and maketh suit?"
7. And he answered me saying: 'This is the spirit which went forth from Abel, whom his brother Cain slew, and he makes his suit against him till his seed is destroyed from the face of the earth, and his seed is annihilated from amongst the seed of men.'

I wonder if there are aborted fetuses there, or were there, who do or did the same thing against their mothers? Crying out for the injustice done to them while their mothers enjoyed a night of sex. Death for sex. The one who ought to treat the little child with all manner of protections is the mother. And they give their children up for a doctor to kill. So they cry out to God all day and night long for they were treated like trash. Killed for the sex their mothers thought it their right to do.

I think that it is possible!

Answer 7

Psalms 103;1-12, The lord is merciful and gracious; he slow to anger and FULL of UNFAILING LOVE. If you read it all the way Thur you will find out he is a loving God.

Answer 8

There will be a 1,000 year period after the return of Christ, where Christ will rule the earth.
It is during this time, that those who have not had the chance to hear, or fully understand, the teachings of Christ, will be given a chance to learn of his message.
They will be brought back to a physical life and taught the ways of Christ.

Answer 9

Like He said to Job "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the world?"

Since when, is it any of our business? What belongs to God, is His, not ours.

We can only speculate that God knows His own and takes care of His own, regardless of how we feel about it or think.

Why not leave God's business up to God?

Answer 10

As for the thoughts that pop in your head, hey welcome. Read Present darkness by, Frank Peretti it will answer some questions , I believe this really happens to us all daily. As for the rest God protects the innocent always.