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What about those who can't understand due to "disabilities"; AW or JG or anyone?????

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Posted by: MamaMoreno

Hello All,

I am sitting here desperate for answers. I am in a "mother' s state of panic" for my child, and others as well.

I was sitting here reading posts about salvation for those we love and I started to wonder, what about those who have limited capacity for understanding due to physical, mental, emotional "challenges" that they have within them. My daughter is special needs (I have been told by my parent's that her most current diagnosis is Non-Verbal Learning disorder; and possibly Asperger's Syndrome; which is a form of High Functioning Autism)

I am also wondering, what is considered the biblical age of accountability? You see, my daughter knows about GOD, she knows about JESUS CHRIST, as we talk about them every chance we get. I use GOD as a reference point in helping her to make right choices. She is able to express herself; but it takes her far longer to process information and to have it retained to her long term memory than others her age. This causes me to worry; especially with all that is going on in the world; I am seeing more and more signs of that are talked about in Revelations, and this causes me to be afraid for her. IF she can't truly understand what it means to accept JESUS CHRIST in her heart, then what does that mean for her salvation? Anyone who can provide input and answers that will put this mother's heart at ease, will be greatly appreciated.


Posted by: StarChilde

Many of you know here, that Brendan my 24 yr. old is a special needs person as well. He is more limited in his being able to communicate with words, than your daughter is. Yet these who are limited, they speak with their hearts. I know that as sure as I know anything else in the world! Many prayer meetings where I have taken Bren, where the speaker is from somewhere else, and does not know Bren or I... they say when they lay hands on Bren, or say a word about Bren...that he has a closeness with God. I have no doubt in my mind or my heart now, that Brendan does not know God.

In another thread, this is what Talena said:
WELL according to God's Word, among HIS people in the old testament the age of accountability was 20 yrs old. Times change and I am sure that age has changed since that time because of how knowledge has increased over the years. BUT, I have scriptures:

Numbers 14:29
"Your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from 20 yrs old and upward you have murmured against me."

Exodus 30:14 also mentions only those older than 20 were to give an offering to the Lord to make atonement for their sins. Those under that age did not need to for they had no knowledge of good and evil.

Deut 1:39
"Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go thither, and unto them I will give it, and they shall possess it."

Isaiah 7:16
"For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings."

In Numbers and Exodus the "children" aged 19 and under were not held responsible for rebellion against God and were allowed to enter the promised land. Deut 1:39 refering to that same rebellion said those 19 and under have no knowledge of good and evil.

I am not saying 20 yrs old is the age of accountablilty, that was just the age for God's people DURING that time. To be honest I think that when a person reaches the point in which they are aware of good and evil and CAN choose the good over the evil..then they have reached that age to which they will be held accountable for what they do before GOD.

Note added from StarChilde: We also have to remember that those Israelites in the desert were punished for their murmering and complaining against God, and it was the new generation that were to go to the Promised land. In my personal opinion, to be accountable for one's sin... one must be able to know it is sin... I cannot go into a full explanation right now on that, due to having to get things done at home... but I believe those who are disabled have a special connection with God, His "special kids".


Posted by: pickone

I will add my questions and thoughts (and I will accept correction). Jesus said He would "not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

This is a message to overcomers. To me, this suggests that all of our names are in this book of life from the beginning. We will not be blotted out of the book until..... These little ones haven't done anything except remain captive and helpless before God (God knows). I don't think they have ever done anything to repent of, they have remained children all of their lives, dependant upon God through other people.

Many are so full of love, they have believed everything they have been told. "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." Certainly these words apply to their lives.

When they "jump into heaven" or "wake up in heaven" they have "overcome" the world, I think.

Karmi left our family when she was only 9 years old. We knew she was going to leave us, and she did in her sleep one night. She got around just fine all of her life and could speak clearly. She had inoperable physical deformaties, and we knew they were going to be fatal, eventually, but not really. I don't think it is possible to accept death for a child.

She left behind a great testimony, even though her life here was so short. She walked the aisle of the church building before her death. She decided she wanted Jesus, and was baptised. I am going to suggest to you, though, that she always had Him.

This was one story that was told at her funeral: There was a family picnic or something one day and the kids were all outside. Another child fell and cried. She laid down beside and cried with him, because she understood about pain.

The doctors said when she was born that she would never walk on her own. Her mother's love was greater than the doctor's words over her. She bought a little toy shopping cart for her, and she learned how to run. Later she walked. On her own.

She couldn't smile, really, except with one side of her mouth just a little. She had some facial paralysis. Two weeks before she woke up in His arms, she smiled at me, but I didn't realize that was what she was doing until later that day. It was the biggest smile I'd ever seen her do! I have regrets that sometimes I didn't pay close enough attention.

Anyway, don't worry about your little ones. Helen Keller wrote a book and spoke about a Man being with her, but she didn't know what His Name was. She was blind and deaf most of her life on earth in the physical sense.

We are called to be one Body. Do you think that when one of us received Christ as Saviour He came into all of us? (I will never leave you, nor forsake you?) Just curious.

I used to pray for God to hold my hand when I was little. After my youngest son first came into His Presence, when He was at the altar he tried to shut his hand and couldn't. He said it felt like Someone was holding his hand.

I asked God if I could speak to my Grandma in a dream not so very long ago. The next day or so, my oldest son said he'd had the coolest dream. You guessed right! I enjoyed hearing about it.

I cried with each story, because I knew God had answered my prayers.

What about "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Could this apply to that individual's whole family? I mean, if we applied the Word of God to our lives, it is made more personal, don't you agree?

Well, of course the "One" is Jesus in that scripture, but we can't be obedient without Him, so if we choose to became obedient, it would be the Spirit through us, wouldn't it?

Another scripture that is comforting to me is this:

I WAS FOUND OF THEM THAT SOUGHT ME NOT; I WAS MADE MANIFEST UNTO THEM THAT ASKED NOT AFTER ME. (You could say this one worked for Helen Keller, for example.)

Also,

Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Isn't that the way God has always done things?

I hope this wasn't too disjointed to make sense. My mind dances sometimes!


Posted by: Frederik

Of course she's saved! Do you think God would send her to hell?
Cause she was born with a disorder?

I just listened to a sermon a few days ago, I think this fits pretty well in here.
There was an evangelist who came to a village in Switzerland every year and there was a disabled boy who was not able to do anything else than watch after the cattle. And this man prayed to God every year how to get him saved, how to make him understand the gospel. (By the way I think that this disabled boy was saved anyway)
And then he had an idea. He talked to this boy. He asked him, do you see my thumb? The boy nodded. This thumb is Jesus. The boy nodded again.
Then he said whenever you're in trouble just take your hand and grab this thumb and everything will be okay.
One year later he comes to this town again but the boy is not there. He asked the others where he is and they said he's dead. He fell down a dip.They found him there with the thumb in his hand.

You see, the kingdom of God is so simple.
Why do you not try the thumb thing? I bet your daughter will understand it.


Posted by: MaryTemp

Hello All,

"I am sitting here desperate for answers. I am in a "mother' s state of panic" for my child, and others as well.

I was sitting here reading posts about salvation for those we love and I started to wonder, what about those who have limited capacity for understanding due to physical, mental, emotional "challenges" that they have within them. My daughter is special needs (I have been told by my parent's that her most current diagnosis is Non-Verbal Learning disorder; and possibly Asperger's Syndrome; which is a form of High Functioning Autism)

I am also wondering, what is considered the biblical age of accountability? You see, my daughter knows about GOD, she knows about JESUS CHRIST, as we talk about them every chance we get. I use GOD as a reference point in helping her to make right choices. She is able to express herself; but it takes her far longer to process information and to have it retained to her long term memory than others her age. This causes me to worry; especially with all that is going on in the world; I am seeing more and more signs of that are talked about in Revelations, and this causes me to be afraid for her. IF she can't truly understand what it means to accept JESUS CHRIST in her heart, then what does that mean for her salvation? Anyone who can provide input and answers that will put this mother's heart at ease, will be greatly appreciated."

Hi Mama,

I will pray for your daughter, how old is she? My daughter Caitlin Rose age 6 has Aspergers disorder as well as an auditory processing deficit and sensory integration disorder so I completely understand. My feeling on it is that God truly loves these children (all children with disablities) as they are so precious and innocent in his sight. When someone does wrong, it is only a sin before God when that person understands right from wrong. Children are special to our Lord. The Lord knows your heart and how you are bringing up your children and teaching them. Has she been baptized? I would guess that this should be enough to suffice. I truly do not think that our Lord Jesus Christ would be so harsh as to turn his back on a child with a limited capacity to fully understand what he did for her. He did this so that she COULD be saved! Jesus loves the little children and holds a special place in his heart for each of them. Therefore through his blood she is already saved. I don't know if this helps but it is what I believe. God Bless you and I will pray for you and your daughter.

Love,
Mary


Posted by: MamaMoreno

Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryTemp
Hello All,

"I am sitting here desperate for answers. I am in a "mother' s state of panic" for my child, and others as well.

I was sitting here reading posts about salvation for those we love and I started to wonder, what about those who have limited capacity for understanding due to physical, mental, emotional "challenges" that they have within them. My daughter is special needs (I have been told by my parent's that her most current diagnosis is Non-Verbal Learning disorder; and possibly Asperger's Syndrome; which is a form of High Functioning Autism)

I am also wondering, what is considered the biblical age of accountability? You see, my daughter knows about GOD, she knows about JESUS CHRIST, as we talk about them every chance we get. I use GOD as a reference point in helping her to make right choices. She is able to express herself; but it takes her far longer to process information and to have it retained to her long term memory than others her age. This causes me to worry; especially with all that is going on in the world; I am seeing more and more signs of that are talked about in Revelations, and this causes me to be afraid for her. IF she can't truly understand what it means to accept JESUS CHRIST in her heart, then what does that mean for her salvation? Anyone who can provide input and answers that will put this mother's heart at ease, will be greatly appreciated."

Hi Mama,

I will pray for your daughter, how old is she? My daughter Caitlin Rose age 6 has Aspergers disorder as well as an auditory processing deficit and sensory integration disorder so I completely understand. My feeling on it is that God truly loves these children (all children with disablities) as they are so precious and innocent in his sight. When someone does wrong, it is only a sin before God when that person understands right from wrong. Children are special to our Lord. The Lord knows your heart and how you are bringing up your children and teaching them. Has she been baptized? I would guess that this should be enough to suffice. I truly do not think that our Lord Jesus Christ would be so harsh as to turn his back on a child with a limited capacity to fully understand what he did for her. He did this so that she COULD be saved! Jesus loves the little children and holds a special place in his heart for each of them. Therefore through his blood she is already saved. I don't know if this helps but it is what I believe. God Bless you and I will pray for you and your daughter.

Love,
Mary

Mary,

My daughter, Julianna Rose, is 7 (her birthday is in July). I have not yet had her baptized due to my own confusion and not having full understanding (if ya couldn't tell by my post here). Thank you for prayers. Please feel free to message me. I love to talk to those who have gone thru raising these "special children" and share GOD's truth with them.


Posted by: JeriRose12

Is she is not capable of understanding, then how can she be capable of getting saved in the way we do, making a decision one day to follow Christ? And, if she is not capable of making such a decision, why would a merciful God hold her accountable for not doing so? God would understand. He coud reach out and heal her in a moment. So, as long as she is still in this condition, He is not going to condemn her to hell because she can not make this decision that we did.

~JeriRose~
Finding HIM in 2005


Posted by: Rachel R

I only offer my opinion.

I think your children are all in complete contact with God.

He knew them before they were born and their spirits aren't damaged, just their connections to the earth through their bodies.

I would speak directly to their spirit, bypassing their less than functioning bodies.

Just because their earthsuit isn't functioning is no reason to believe that their spirit, which is eternal, is harmed in any way.

God be with you as you care for them.

Rachel R


Posted by: Beverlyjoy

I am in agreement. God is a God of love and mercy..Praise Godl For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the OUTWARD appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart Isn't this wonderful? Be at peace, enjoy life and your child.