A
dead baby may not be your problem, Judy, but it's many people's rather
traumatic problem. People wonder where their family members GO...especially
their children.... when they die. Death is a very real problem most of
us have to deal with at one time or another. The death of a child is
probably a pain so great that I can't even imagine it.
jt: True Kay but what point is there in borrowing trouble. I trust
the Lord to give me the grace to deal with it if and when the time
comes.
I understand that people question these things. My
own mother has been asking why my sister was taken at 60yrs for the past
16yrs and she just had her 99th birthday. However, if you told her the truth
she wouldn't receive it. Yes the pain is great but pulling a
rabbit out of a hat to make them feel better is no long term solution.
This was not the context
of the discussion, Judy, nor the question John asked. There was nothing
about borrowing trouble. The discussion was about being born in sin...would
that affect salvation...what about a baby who doesn't get much of a life,
who can't make the choice between God or not of God? John said:
Judy - is a dead baby going to heaven or hell. I am
sure your theology allows for such -- just interested in
how that happens. You answered by saying a dead
baby is not your problem. Now you say there's no point in borrowing trouble.
I think it's a simple yes or no answer. Is a baby going to heaven? Is a baby
going to
hell?
John is simply saying babies aren't accountable. Haven't you ever had
a friend who miscarried or lost their baby to being stillborn, or died from
SIDS, hit by a drunk driver, or from their immunizations? Haven't you known
a family whose child died in an accident? Catholics would tell you the child
goes to some in-between place unless the infant has been
baptized.
jt: I have miscarried myself and yes, I know how
that is but John does not know everything and it's OK to be honest and admit
it.
It has nothing to do
with what John knows or doesn't know. The discussion is centered
on salvation....who has it and who
doesn't.
We
don't have to know everything, but we can certainly have some tools to be an
encouragement to others so we may minister to them in empathy and love. If a
young mother just had a miscarriage, or had a baby stillborn, would you say
to her.....Gee, your dead baby isn't my problem? I have a heavenly father
whose nature is love...... What if that young mother was a
non-Believer? What do you think she would think/feel about a God who is
love? Kay
jt: Of course I wouldn't say that to someone who is
grieving Kay but neither would I give them false hope. I see it as an
opportunity to encourage them to seek God's answers in His Word for
themselves. Too many people look to others for all the answers.
Helping and encouraging them is one thing.....
How does false hope come
into the picture? What if the mom is illiterate and simply CAN'T read
what the Word says? What if mom's reading/comprehension skills are lacking
and she doesn't understand the difficult words in Scripture?
Kay
jt: JOHN a dead baby is
not my problem. I have a Heavenly Father whose nature and character is
love and so I
leave all those kinds of problems with Him
cause I don't have to know everything. However, what about the babies
of the Amorites and these other nations God was
so disgusted with? I mean the ones where Israel was told not to let even one animal live?
In a message dated 1/10/2005 11:42:20 AM
Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I think....correct me if
I'm wrong, John....
that John is saying that a child is "saved" when he is
born. A newborn is not cast into hell because he wasn't "born again".
A child who dies goes to heaven...until he is of the age of
accountability and makes his decision...either for God and
"heavenbound", or against God and "hellbound".
Kay
Interesting and close to what I do
believe. Judy - is a dead baby going to heaven or
hell. I am sure your theology allows for such --
just interested in how that happens.
John
