10. Accountability and Salvation For Special Cases

Accountability and Salvation

Most of us as Christians believe in the judgment of man (Ecc 11:9, Ecc 12:14, John 5:26-29, Acts 17:31, Ro 14:9-12, 2Cor 5:10, 2Tim 4:1, Jude 1:15) based upon some sort of qualifying criteria to obtain salvation. Most base this criterion upon repentance, baptism, and for some speaking in tongues is alleged to be mandatory. But is this an accurate understanding to hold? If such is being claimed as mandatory then what happens to other special case situations or individuals? Individuals, such as those who were either isolated (in the jungle or arctic) or remain set apart from civilization (primitive or natives)?

What happens to those individuals who did not receive the opportunity to hear the word of God or obtain the foreknowledge of Christ before their death? Those who existed prior to the time of widespread communication technology (TV or radio) or mass printing and distribution of the Bible?

But more importantly, what happens to those individuals who were (or are) mentally ill (handicapped) or infants who possibly died shortly after birth before even hearing the word of God?

God didn’t exactly give us all of the answers “directly” to every possible scenario an individual may be confronted with, although that is not to say the correct answer is not contained within the Holy Scriptures.

There are those who hold firm that an individual must 1. Repent 2. Believe In Christ (death, burial, resurrection, being the Son of God, etc..) 3. Receive Baptism and 4. Speak in Tongues (for Tongue Believers) as being mandatory criteria for “everyone” and with no exceptions, um?. Some hold that Hell (Damnation) is the final destiny for any individual if these steps are not followed above.

The problem with ministries who take scriptures out of context and then try to apply these select scriptures literally to everyone that ever lived would be to imply that it would also include all of the “special case” individuals and circumstances (such as the mentally handicapped or babies, etc…).

Generally, most Pentecostals (and others) who claim to be unwavering “Baptism by submersion only” and stringent “Speaking in Tongue Believers only” are sort of stuck holding this position, even though a baby cannot speak in tongues or repent let alone have the mental ability to confess or believe in Jesus Christ raising from the dead or even understand who Jesus Christ is (Lord) or his purpose. Babies have to be taught both to speak and understand right from wrong. I am also not aware of any religious group practicing full submersion under the water baptism of any infants.

God’s purpose for accountability and salvation was not to take advantage of those individuals who may be disadvantaged through no fault of their own, what kind of God would we be trying to make God out to be? We then would be making God out to be cruel. Do you then say that God is fair or unfair? Just or unjust? Your conclusion must take in every aspect of God’s character and make sure the scriptures you are quoting are interpreted correctly and fit jointly together in harmony.

Somehow, it seems that somebody is leaving out one component of God’s character and that is God is Love (1 John 4:1) and God has compassion for all of mankind, so much so that he gave his son so that ALL might have life (John 3:16) of which ALL includes “special case” individuals. Is God to be accused of being unfair? How dare we speak or even think such nonsense.

Fortunately for some of us, God knew these issues existed and his word does provide evidence when such unfortunate circumstances are presented he has consideration in these special situations.

God is wisdom, he just doesn’t haphazardly omit vital information necessary for one’s ability to receive salvation or unfairly jeopardize anyone due to disadvantages beyond their control. What may seem unfair and sound unreasonable is because it probably is. Therefore, we know that any unfair concept thinking surrounding God must be immediately discarded from even being considered as a possibility.

A Holy God Who Holds Us Accountable

God Arranged Or God Allowed

To believe in a Holy God, you must believe God is Just (FAIR)!!

Nothing occurs without God’s permission. They are either God Arranged or God Allowed (Exodus 4:11; Ecclesiastes 2:26). I first heard this phrase at a Christmas gathering one day and the truth of the saying stuck with me. I felt that it especially applies to those special case individuals and situations deaf, dumb, etc., (handicapped, babies, natives, etc..).

God judges a person based on what they know, no one is held accountable for things they do not know. (This is probably the category where some children and the mentally ill fall.)

(Luke 12: 47-48) “And that servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

(Ezekiel 18:20) “The child does not bear the iniquity of the father, but the wickedness of the wicked is upon himself.”

(2 Corinthians 5:10) “Each one will be judged according to what he has done in the body, good or bad.”

(1 Peter 1:17) “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:”

Note: These passages indicate that a level of knowledge is required for damnation.

(James 4:17) “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

(Mark 16:16) “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:12) “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

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(1 John 1:7-9) “But if we walk in the *light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ……………If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to **forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

*(Walking in the *light is doing God’s will by believing in Christ who was sent to be the light; teaching and showing us how to live so we may obtain eternal salvation)

** (Should we fall (sin) again, as we strive to Live Holy/ doing God’s will, we can be forgiven and cleansed (pardoned) from those sins or mistakes if we confess our sins.)