Mentally Challenged: What about salvation?

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Where you been hiding bro?

an automotive forum

[True Believer]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

In the case of the mentally challenged, however, wouldn't it be a 'stage of accountability' instead of an 'age'?

Here is the crux of the dilemma... some will see our view of that as being inconsistent on our New Birth convictions.

It is the age of accountability in mental years not physical years.

[Sherri]

God won't let a little child go to hell, so I don't believe He would let a little child mentally go to hell either.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I hate to fall back on the terms "One Steppers" and "Three Steppers" but maybe such broad categories are helpful in untangling this, though I don't profess to have the definitive answers.

If faith saves us, as the "One Steppers" would say, then the only real issue is one of accountability. Given the condition of the individual then we are most probably dealing with someone who is "under grace." That is, the have the same judgment as an innocent child.

If baptism in water in Jesus' name itself effects some act of grace by remitting sins as a "Three Stepper" would say, then the baptism of this person would bring her into the same grace.

Of course most would probably want to add that her faith and obedience in the act of baptism and not just the water is what remits sin. Then we are back to the question of the individual's capacity to reason and to have faith. And so, she is in the condition that is often referred to as "under grace." She has the innocence of a small child.

Now, carrying through with the baptism in spite of the imponderables may also be beneficial in other ways. Showing her the same respect that is given to other members of the congegation may open doors among unsaved family members and others in the community. Seeing "grace" being conferred by a local church and pastor to an innocent person may open them to the idea that the same grace is available to them.

We are all saved "by grace and that not of ourselves", there are many that are not mentally "deficient" that are incapable to understand their need of obedience.

[PastorD]

Even now I have a 30 year old person in the hospital and not doing well. He has the capacity of a 6 month old child. I couldn't pray a 6 month old through and they wouldn't understand baptism.

I will have to go with age of accountability on this one. His family serves the Lord and good chance that he would have also had he been born normal.

[Esther]

I can't recall if there is a scripture or if this is a misquote often heard. "God takes care of the children and fools".

I think God is aware and has His hand on them and will take care of them.

JMO

[StillStanding]

Along these same lines, when I was growing up we had a deaf and mute lady that attended our church. She was OK mentally, was baptized in Jesus name, but never was able to talk, much less speak in tongues.

I remember praying for God to fill her with the Holy Ghost many times in the alter. Tears would flow down her face, but she was only able to grunt.

I wonderd as a young man if God would show mercy on this precious lady!

[Apprehended]

To consider that God will allow babies and the incompetent to go to hell in light of the Acts 2:38 message is to consider God unrighteous.

Neither the infant or the incompetent is accountable. They are SINLESS. They are in the state of one who has repented of sin.

[AmazingGrace]

Ok I havent read any of the other posts on this thread... making that clear before I post in case I say something already said...

In the church I grew up in there were 2 young girls.. both mentally retarded. Such sweet girls yet they both had very deminished mental states.. one had the mentality of a 6 yr old and drs said that would never change and the other that of a 4 yr old... These girls were brought to church every service from the time i have known them until now... They faithfully sat on the 3rd row from the front... Never disruptive too much just excited to be there..

Their mother asked our pastor once if he would baptize them and he said he would.. she really felt this needed done.. same situation as that spoken of in post 1 here.. so he said yes but lets wait a little while and let me talk with the girls so that I can see if I can get thru to them and get them to understand what we are going to do. They admired him and thought of him as a grandpa.. so he spoke with them and told the parents.. lets just wait a while longer I feel it in my spirit that they will get this on their own and I want to see just a short while? So they waited.. Well on his talk with them he walked them around the church... showed them the altar.. told them this is where they pray and ask God to forgive their sins.. then he also showed them the baptismal..

One service about 3 months later.. We hear the youngest girl screaming in church... I was sitting not far so I glanced to see what she was doing... she had no speech capabilities so all her sounds came out as just noise as is sometimes the case.. but this time it was screaching squeels.. I looked and she was jumping up and down pointing at the baptistry to her mother... just screaming and smiling... Her mom asked her what she wanted.. she pointed up there and then took her mother by the hand.. walked her to the altar.. the young girl raised her hands and began to immediately speak in tongues.. She then looked at her mother in the clearest voice and said... I need to get baptized!!! Needless to say she did!

The almost exact same thing happened to her older sister about 3 months later.. I am not saying make one wait.. I am just saying follow God as I know you would but also.. Know that yes they still have the capability to know and understand this no matter how mentally incapable they may seem

[Ron]

I didn't have a full understanding of all of the aspects of Baptism & Salvation when I was baptised.
I only knew that the Bible required it-so I obeyed & it worked!

God later revealed the wonderful revelation of Baptism.

Obedience is a good thing.