what about this child?

Question

she is care free, has no hate or "darkness" in her heart. She loves art, reading, running, and using her emagination to have nothing but fun in life. She knows nothing of jesus or the word of god, only that its some silly story in a book. She doesnt understand why people must be confined into believing something so limiting instead of just having fun with life and being like her, care free.

She died in an accedent that took her life much to early. she did nothing wrong.

yet according to many beliefs she will spend all eternity in hell.

why?

Answer 1

That is such a sad story :(

Whoever says that she's burning in Hell is a fool and an idiot and I don't care if this insults anybody. I'm just sick of dogma. Sick, sick, sick of it!

Where was ''God'' to prevent the accident?! Where was ''God'' to give her more time to ''become saved?'' BS - big time.

I'm so sorry about that little girl, it sounds like she was a wonderful little girl. And smart to top it all, since she already rejected the silly concept of fairytales at an early age.
.

Answer 2

I understand from sermons, books I have read, etc, that children at about age 11-12 are old enough to understand the gospel. Jesus said to become like a little child which I think means to believe without needing proof. If this child is older than that and never accepted the truth that Christians hold dear, then, to a Christian, she may very well be lost. If she never heard the gospel, I don't think there's any need to worry. I'm sure this is a very sensitive issue for you and I'm sorry but only God can decide. Not us. However, God is a righteous judge. All of us have sinned and all of us will sin again. None of us deserve the grace He is willing to give. Jesus Christ died in order to pay our fine. All we need to do is receive it.

Answer 3

First if she knows nothing of Jesus, she would have no reason to not understand why people as you state it must be confined into believeing something so limited. The reason that many believe she will spend eternity in Hell, was because as parents we have a right to make our own decisions if we accept the Lord as our Savior, thats called free will, then we will see to it hat our children are reared up in the way of the Lord. If we do not accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord the sins of the father fall upon the children, as he was the one to make that choice, and rear his kidz with his non belief. I guess I would have to add to this as I am a Christian ,by stating I believe that being a child, that she is in heaven, because I don't make judgement on anyone. We make our judgement calls when we make our decisions of right and wrong. I also believe that Jesus show's mercy and grace one's as he is LOVE. In any case, if this is for real, my heart goes out to all involved. Have a Merry Christmas. I will hold the family in prayer.

Answer 4

Some of the answers here are unbelievable. For one thing, we don't know for sure whether this story is true or false, therefore calling the child a brat is in horrible taste, and definately unwarranted.

To move on to the question; psychologicaly, children are impressionable, therefore they will immitate the beliefs of their parents, relatives and close friends until they are old enough to develop opinions of their own. With that in mind, I don't see how she could be held accountable for not believing those "silly stories". Somewhere in our Judeo-Christian religious books, there must be something about that. If not, then it is just further proof that religion in general is flawed. Or at least our perception of it.

Answer 5

Not according to my belief. God is a loving God. It is not God's will that any should perish but all have everlasting life. If this is true what is this obsession with hell.
Jesus refereed to the garbage dump of Gehenna as a metaphor for a dishonorable death. The child you described would in no way apply.
Check what we lovingly call the WEGOT passages in the gospels. (WEGOT stands for weeping and gnashing of teeth) In none of them was there not a specific dishonnerable act associated with it. Just retribution is only for those that deserve it and it is not everlasting!

Answer 6

Well, you are wrong. According to Islam, no child will ever enter hell regardless of what his/her believes are at that time. Muslims don't believe in the original sin as Christians do. So, according to Islam she will enter Heaven. God willing!

Only when you are old enough to tell a difference between good and wrong is when you become responsible for your deeds or sins. (Perhaps after reaching puberty). and Of course, the child must have never heard of Islam - another reason for not putting her in Hell. I can go on. I think you got your answer.

Answer 7

According to the bible she is not going to hell because it says

Ecclesiastes 9:5,10
5 For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
and even the memory of them is forgotten.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, [ where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Punishing people with eternal fire is not in line with Gods personality

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.

1 JOhn 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Answer 8

Yes, according to theory, she will be in hell.

But theories are not proven.

and God is beyond theories. His mercy, love and compassion is beyond theories and the wisdom of men.

if she did not have a chance to hear the gospel, God will judge accordingly, but until then i choose to hold on to the theory that anyone without Jesus will suffer for the penalty of sins.

Answer 9

I believe in the will and grace of God. I often wonder is ignornace is a sin? However I have faith in God and that if she truly was given the oppourunity to accept Jesus as her Savior and rejected him he cannot save her. Again I believe in the will of God and I think i.e. babies go to heaven who have never gotten a chance to take jesus into their hearts I believe its the will and grace of God that can save them. I think God can look into her heart and know if she truly denied him or if she was never given the chance to. Maybe there is anotherplace between heaven and hell and maybe she would go their before her eternity is decided?

Answer 10

Because the don't understand the gospel.

I'm copying and pasting one of my answers to a similar question. You can see it at truthisrestored.blogspot.com

Tough question, huh?
Many people struggle with this one.
Fortunately, truth has been restored on earth. Many religions will claim that if a person who has never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus or his gospel will got to hell. That does not sound like a just God, does it?
It is true that
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” –Mark 16:16
Also, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” –John 3:5

Just as you asked, what DOES become of those who have never heard the gospel and hence, never had an opportunity to accept or reject it?

Simply put, everyone will have an opportunity to hear the gospel and choose for themselves, whether or not to believe it. Thus, everyone will be judged fairly. Paul said “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law….” –Romans 2:12
Now, this does not mean that someone who has not had the gospel will not be accountable for anything they have done, it just means that provisions are made.
I’m about to reference a lot of scriptures, so please be patient with me and follow along.
After the death of Christ, he went and visited the spirits of those who had already died, but had not been resurrected yet.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
‘By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” -1 Peter 3:18-19
“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” -1 Peter 4:6 (dead in this verse comes from the Greek Nekros, which means corpse, or dead-it does not mean alive and spiritually dead).
Christ essentially opened up missionary work to those who had not had an opportunity to hear the gospel yet.
So, when did Jesus have an opportunity to go preach to these spirits? Well, when he was dead is the answer. We know that Christ’s body was in the tomb for 3 days, but where was his spirit? He was not in heaven for those whole three days. After Christ’s resurrection, Mary ran up to him and was going to touch the savior, but he said, “Touch me not; for I am NOT YET ascended to my Father.” –John 20:17
This doctrine is not discussed much these days, simply because most churches and or believers don’t understand or believe it. It was a common belief amongst Christians. If you look at history, you can even find paintings depicting Christ opening the gates of those kept in captivity who had not heard the gospel (example above-this is a catholic depiction of Limbo, but it's close enough to suit this entry's purpose).

In conclusion, every person will be accountable for their actions, and all will have the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel, and thus all will be judged fairly. It’s a beautiful doctrine and shows how just and loving our Heavenly Father is.

Best Wishes,
Rusty