The mentally challenged...

[Blackness]

I dont know if this is the right place to put this. But I was wondering, you know how most Christians believe that the only way to the Father is through Christ. Lets say someone was mentally challenged to the point they do not know, "what is going on", or are unable function like non mentally challenged people. How are they supposed to accept Christ?

 

[RealDeal]

I dont know if this is the right place to put this. But I was wondering, you know how most Christians believe that the only way to the Father is through Christ. Lets say someone was mentally challenged to the point they do not know, "what is going on", or are unable function like non mentally challenged people. How are they supposed to accept Christ?

Just a simple little thing I'd like to share on the matter (it has no real bearing on an answer)... I'm Irish, and thus learned that in the Irish language a person who is mentally handicapped is called "Duine le dia", which means "Person with God". The idea behind the naming is that these people are generally so innocent, so childlike and oftentimes happy/content and still positive despite the card they've been dealt, that they are closer to god than normal people.

I always thought that was a nice idea, or at least I used to when I believed.

 

[RealityCheck]

I dont know if this is the right place to put this. But I was wondering, you know how most Christians believe that the only way to the Father is through Christ. Lets say someone was mentally challenged to the point they do not know, "what is going on", or are unable function like non mentally challenged people. How are they supposed to accept Christ?

It makes no sense to me to believe that any of us have more power than God. How is it possible that a person's mental handicap can prevent God from reaching that person, or from God accepting that person?

If we have to make the conscious choice to accept Christ, then that pictures a God who has set up rules that exclude the mentally handicapped, infants and young children, people from all around the world that never even know Christ existed in the first place, etc.

I don't believe in a God that makes our mental capacity or our age or our physical location in the world a barrier to salvation.

 

[Rochir]

I dont know if this is the right place to put this. But I was wondering, you know how most Christians believe that the only way to the Father is through Christ. Lets say someone was mentally challenged to the point they do not know, "what is going on", or are unable function like non mentally challenged people. How are they supposed to accept Christ?

There's no need for them to accept Christ for He already accepts them!

 

[tgg]

God creates mentally handicapped people as well, and a lot of them are quite gifted people come to that despite their ailment.

They are here to help us extend's Christ's love to them. I know this because I have previously worked in a couple of jobs with mentally handicapped people that were of the Christian persuasion.

 

[Argent]

Technically, they never reach the "age of accountability" for their sins, therefore they are granted salvation as are people who die in childhood before reaching the age of accountability.

 

[ImaginaryVoyager]

There's no need for them to accept Christ for He already accepts them!

Oh, Rochir, you STOLE MY POST!!

j/k, but that's exactly what I was going to say.

 

[Blackness]

Now it sounds much more easier to be mentally challeged, because I struggle with faith alot, now it sounds like being non-mentally challenged sucks.

 

[Bombila]

What about persons who reach the age of accountibility as normally gifted without receiving Christ, then suffer devastating brain injury, are they thereby rendered innocent, despite previous sinfulness?

 

[JesusWalks78]

I dont know if this is the right place to put this. But I was wondering, you know how most Christians believe that the only way to the Father is through Christ. Lets say someone was mentally challenged to the point they do not know, "what is going on", or are unable function like non mentally challenged people. How are they supposed to accept Christ?

The problems that arise with the logistics of this thinking lie with original sin.

Christians believe we are all born to sin, with sin and the only way to eradicate that sin is throug hthe acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ.

A person that is mentally challanged does not have the option to accept Jesus and yet still has the original sin with them, unconfessed and unrepentent..only because they lack the ability.

So what then happens to them, do they die without accepting christ and die with sin.

Its a complex question that requires an even more complex answer. I often wonder why God would create a person like that that cannot enjoy the wedding feast.

 

[RealityCheck]

The problems that arise with the logistics of this thinking lie with original sin.

Christians believe we are all born to sin, with sin and the only way to eradicate that sin is throug hthe acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ.

A person that is mentally challanged does not have the option to accept Jesus and yet still has the original sin with them, unconfessed and unrepentent..only because they lack the ability.

So what then happens to them, do they die without accepting christ and die with sin.

Its a complex question that requires an even more complex answer. I often wonder why God would create a person like that that cannot enjoy the wedding feast.

Christians may believe that - but I don't think God does.

 

[Monica02]

The problems that arise with the logistics of this thinking lie with original sin.

Christians believe we are all born to sin, with sin and the only way to eradicate that sin is throug hthe acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ.

A person that is mentally challanged does not have the option to accept Jesus and yet still has the original sin with them, unconfessed and unrepentent..only because they lack the ability.

So what then happens to them, do they die without accepting christ and die with sin.

Its a complex question that requires an even more complex answer. I often wonder why God would create a person like that that cannot enjoy the wedding feast.

Baptism takes care of original sin and a mentally handicapped person is probably not culpable for their sins so they are probably in better shape than others.

 

[tapero]

What about persons who reach the age of accountibility as normally gifted without receiving Christ, then suffer devastating brain injury, are they thereby rendered innocent, despite previous sinfulness?

We know that God is good, and so we leave those things in His hands. He knows our hearts.

 

[tapero]

The problems that arise with the logistics of this thinking lie with original sin.

Christians believe we are all born to sin, with sin and the only way to eradicate that sin is throug hthe acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ.

A person that is mentally challanged does not have the option to accept Jesus and yet still has the original sin with them, unconfessed and unrepentent..only because they lack the ability.

So what then happens to them, do they die without accepting christ and die with sin.

Its a complex question that requires an even more complex answer. I often wonder why God would create a person like that that cannot enjoy the wedding feast.

Regarding the wedding feast, we will all have new bodies, we will no longer have disease. We will all be healed. We will be blessed with those that are challenged to see them as they are. For those that do not have a disease or illness that caused their challenge again we will be blessed to see them as they are.

 

[JesusWalks78]

Regarding the wedding feast, we will all have new bodies, we will no longer have disease. We will all be healed. We will be blessed with those that are challenged to see them as they are. For those that do not have a disease or illness that caused their challenge again we will be blessed to see them as they are.

That only applies to those that make it into heaven. Those that are born with original sin and have not confessed christ as lord do not make it to heaven, if you go by what the bible says.

 

[tapero]

That only applies to those that make it into heaven. Those that are born with original sin and have not confessed christ as lord do not make it to heaven, if you go by what the bible says.

I have no doubt that God who is loving and compassionate is capable of determing whether in their capacity or lack of whether or not they go to heaven.

God didn't speak to all our issues in the bible, so we can only determine from what we know. We know that God is good and just from what the bible says, and from Him lving in me.

 

[tapero]

Christians may believe that - but I don't think God does.

Hi, What part of what He said did you think that Christians may beleive but that you don't think God does?

 

[Rochir]

Oh, Rochir, you STOLE MY POST!!

j/k, but that's exactly what I was going to say.

Great minds think alike!

 

[Chajara]

I look at it as God giving them a special job... to teach us compassion and in some cases patience. God's not going to give them a job that affects their entire time on Earth and then /not/ reward them, now is He?

Not the God I worship, anyway.

 

[RealityCheck]

Hi, What part of what He said did you think that Christians may beleive but that you don't think God does?

This part:

Christians believe we are all born to sin, with sin and the only way to eradicate that sin is throug hthe acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ.

A person that is mentally challanged does not have the option to accept Jesus and yet still has the original sin with them, unconfessed and unrepentent..only because they lack the ability.

Its a complex question that requires an even more complex answer. I often wonder why God would create a person like that that cannot enjoy the wedding feast.