Children and the mentally disabled in Hell?

[hithesh]

I know Christians always say that if a child dies at a certain age, and if mentally disabled individual dies, they will go to heaven.

Is there a verse to validate this? I don't recall revelations writing about them being taken up in the rapture?

How old does the child have to be before he dies to go to heaven without accepting Christ?

 

[Knight]

This is a common Christian "myth." There is no "age of accountability" in Scripture. It is silent on this.

Now the question will no doubt be, "What happens to babies who die before they are able to make the salvation choice, or the mentally disabled who are incapable of understanding?"

The answer is the same as it is for any of us. Salvation is by grace. Honestly, I do not know what happens to souls in the above conditions. But I do know the character of the God we serve. He is Holy, and righteous and whatever He decides is right.

I have two brothers who did not live for more than a few minutes each. I believe that I will see them on the other side of glory. However, I have faith that God has done and will do the right thing no matter what. I personally believe that babies which are aborted, stillborn, SIDS, or whatever are ushered into God's presence upon death. The same with the severely mentally ill. I base this belief on the character of God clearly revealed in Scripture rather than on a explicit passage in Scripture.

In the end, it is not about what I want but what he wants.

 

[hithesh]

If you're in heaven, would you be able to remember your friends and family?

 

[Assisi]

If you're in heaven, would you be able to remember your friends and family?

I think so. I think the people in heaven pray for those on earth.

 

[Maccie]

If your God sends babies and disabled people to Hell, then he is not the God I know.

 

[HisBelovedMelody]

If you're in heaven, would you be able to remember your friends and family?

yes, you don't lose your brain at the door!

 

[fevoldj2]

Do you have scripture to back up that claim?

 

[Grateful4God]

yes, you don't lose your brain at the door!

This of course is under the major assumption that we all have a brain when we arrive

Now for the OP, I would sure hope not. I would like to think the God upon Judgement, would weigh in the fact that this person was not capable of understanding the Gospels.

With that said, at my church we have a family, they have a child (well he is now 25 years old) who is mentaly disabled. He can not comprehend much but one thing he does comprehend is Jesus. He prays out loud all the time and it amazes me how he understands that God is all loving. He cries for forgiveness when he realizes he has sinned, and prays for his hearts desire as well. His hearts desire may not be our hearts desire. hOwever, he does understand the concept and has a baisc knowledge of God.

 

[DailyBlessings]

I see no particular reason why babies or insane people would be exempt from hell-I don't see hell as an literal place of eternal suffering so much as a spiritual state, so a child's experience of it would naturally grow as they do.

But even if God were the kind of entity who would burn anyone alive for eternity as judgement for either finite sins or inherited "Original Sin", I can't see why he would have a soft spot for kids. If you're going to support hell doctrine, I think it best to realize what you are claiming. A child is, for instance, no more innocent in terms of salvation than someone who lives in Niger and never heard the Gospel, and such people have been condemned to Hell by the church for many years.

 

[Grateful4God]

I see no particular reason why babies or insane people would be exempt from hell-I don't see hell as an literal place of eternal suffering so much as a spiritual state, so a child's experience of it would naturally grow as they do.

But even if God were the kind of entity who would burn anyone alive for eternity as judgement for either finite sins or inherited "Original Sin", I can't see why he would have a soft spot for kids. If you're going to support hell doctrine, I think it best to realize what you are claiming. A child is, for instance, no more innocent in terms of salvation than someone who lives in Niger and never heard the Gospel, and such people have been condemned to Hell by the church for many years.

The Scriptures clearly mtalk of The Lake Of Fire, and Judgement. None of us can answer this question, however I do beleive or God has more mercy than to condemn someone who was never able to hear the Gospel, or a Mentaly Challenged Person to a miserable eternity.

 

[seanHayden]

What kind of question is this?

Are you concerned for children?

How much more concerned is God for them?

Do you worry about those who suffer with they're mind?

How much more concerned is God for them?

 

[JimfromOhio]

I always believed that Infants, dying in infancy, including those who are mentally disabled are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, (Luke 18:15-17) who works when, and where, and how He pleases: so also are all others who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. I have to remember that God is in control and He KNOWS every heart and knows all of us before we were born. Sovereign God is the absolute, infinite, unqualified ruler in all realms in heaven, earth and sea. God is to be Lord over all the creation, He is omnipotent, He is omniscient, He is omnipresent. He knows every little details and He has already planned out our tomorrows and He is holding the world in the palm of His hand. Sovereignty and omnipotence are together that one cannot exist without the other.

Luke 18:15-17
People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Romans 8:28-29"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” (Rom 11:33)

“God knows instantly and effortlessly all matters, all mind and every mind, all spirits, all being and every being, all creaturehood and all creatures, every plurality and all pluralities, all law and every law, all relations, all causes, all thoughts, all mysteries, all enigmas, all feeling, all desires, every uttered secret, all thrones and dominions, all personalities, all things visible and invisible in heaven and in earth, motion, space, time, life, death, good, evil, heaven, and hell…” A. W. Tozer

The Bible clearly teaches that God knows beforehand what everyone will need and He will provide beforehand according to His will. Wisdom sees everything in focus and be able to trust God no matter what happens. All God's acts are done in perfect wisdom for His own glory.

 

[Ringo84]

I know Christians always say that if a child dies at a certain age, and if mentally disabled individual dies, they will go to heaven.

Is there a verse to validate this? I don't recall revelations writing about them being taken up in the rapture?

How old does the child have to be before he dies to go to heaven without accepting Christ?

I've seen this issue before on the ICQ message board. Someone was there trying to tell me that babies are sent to hell because they didn't ask for forgiveness. That's an asinine belief.

I'm a Baptist, and I believe in the "age of accountability" and disbelieve in infant baptism. Babies are too young to understand the implications of Baptism, which is supposed to be a person's conscious choice of following God. Because babies don't understand the implications and importance of what they're doing, infant baptism is meaningless.

I'll tell you something else. I had a down syndrome sister who died almost four years ago. To say that she - or some infant who died - went to hell simply because they didn't get Baptized or follow some other ritual is legalism. God makes allowances for people like babies, who are too young to understand the meaning of baptism, and my sister, who don't have the mental capacity to understand.

I don't care if you can't find some verse to back up this claim. I follow a just, loving God. I don't believe for an instant that he would singlehandedly plunge someone to hell because they didn't follow a ritual.
Ringo

 

[strikerchris0411]

I've seen this issue before on the ICQ message board. Someone was there trying to tell me that babies are sent to hell because they didn't ask for forgiveness. That's an asinine belief.

I'm a Baptist, and I believe in the "age of accountability" and disbelieve in infant baptism. Babies are too young to understand the implications of Baptism, which is supposed to be a person's conscious choice of following God. Because babies don't understand the implications and importance of what they're doing, infant baptism is meaningless.

I'll tell you something else. I had a down syndrome sister who died almost four years ago. To say that she - or some infant who died - went to hell simply because they didn't get Baptized or follow some other ritual is legalism. God makes allowances for people like babies, who are too young to understand the meaning of baptism, and my sister, who don't have the mental capacity to understand.

I don't care if you can't find some verse to back up this claim. I follow a just, loving God. I don't believe for an instant that he would singlehandedly plunge someone to hell because they didn't follow a ritual.
Ringo

I think there is a verse that says he only holds accountable those who know their actions. and i know there is a another verse that says something like "if you say something against me without knowing it then i will not hold you accountable, but if you do then I will" HOrrible translation but I think that kind of applies in all situations

 

[Ringo84]

I think there is a verse that says he only holds accountable those who know their actions. and i know there is a another verse that says something like "if you say something against me without knowing it then i will not hold you accountable, but if you do then I will" HOrrible translation but I think that kind of applies in all situations

Exactly. Thank you.
Ringo

 

[billwald]

Heaven is a gigantic nursery? God creates a virtual personality and body for aborted cells?

 

[Ringo84]

Heaven is a gigantic nursery? God creates a virtual personality and body for aborted cells?

Why would God hold babies responsible for not being Baptized if they're too young to understand what Baptism is all about? Why would God hold mentally handicapped people responsible for concepts that are beyond their ability to understand?

You are being far too legalistic and literal about who does and doesn't go to heaven.
Ringo

 

[DailyBlessings]

Why would God hold mentally handicapped people responsible for concepts that are beyond their ability to understand?
Ringo

I presume you think that you fully understand salvation?

 

[OD3]

My parents baptised me as a child and I do regret them doing that. I was not old enough to realise that I wanted nothing to do with the Church or Christianity. I dont beleive being baptised when you are a child makes any difference though. Why would it?

 

[Maccie]

Heaven is a gigantic nursery? God creates a virtual personality and body for aborted cells?

Looks like we're going to be knee deep in babies, billwald!!