http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Little-Soldier-Girl-Didnt-Want-to-Let-Go-63629627.html?yhp=1
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
My response to 9 marks and mentally retarded adults
The 9 marks blog has some insane comment policy, so this will probably never show up.
Response to this.
We have this same issue at our church with an 18 year old. Here's how we figure it:
No Jewish family ever had a baby whom they thought was a Philistine. Jewish families had Jewish kids. Sometimes those kids grew up to be Baal worshippers, and proved that they were not faithful Jews after all. But we don't admit only the elect to the visible church, because we don't know who's elect. We do our best at making a decision.
If it is impossible to know, as in this man's case, exhort the family to raise him and train him in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Remind them that the Word of God does not come back void, even in the case of the disabled, and that Jesus loves the little children (e.g. those who don't have the ability to speak like adults). Then admit him to full membership, sing with him, read him the Scriptures, and if he should ever need it, bring him under church discipline.
You wrote, "We're not saying he is not a Christian; we're simply saying it is nearly impossible for us (the church) to discern."
That's actually true for everyone. Seemingly faithful brothers have left their wives and the faith. Why did we let them be pastors and elders and Sunday school teachers? Because it is ALWAYS impossible to discern with CERTAINTY. We're ALWAYS just doing our best. Sometimes that's easy, and sometimes that's hard. But it's better to, with the best of intentions, allow an unbeliever to the discipline and sacraments of the church then to keep a true Christian away from the font and the table forever. It would be better to go swimming with a millstone around your neck.
Response to this.
We have this same issue at our church with an 18 year old. Here's how we figure it:
No Jewish family ever had a baby whom they thought was a Philistine. Jewish families had Jewish kids. Sometimes those kids grew up to be Baal worshippers, and proved that they were not faithful Jews after all. But we don't admit only the elect to the visible church, because we don't know who's elect. We do our best at making a decision.
If it is impossible to know, as in this man's case, exhort the family to raise him and train him in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Remind them that the Word of God does not come back void, even in the case of the disabled, and that Jesus loves the little children (e.g. those who don't have the ability to speak like adults). Then admit him to full membership, sing with him, read him the Scriptures, and if he should ever need it, bring him under church discipline.
You wrote, "We're not saying he is not a Christian; we're simply saying it is nearly impossible for us (the church) to discern."
That's actually true for everyone. Seemingly faithful brothers have left their wives and the faith. Why did we let them be pastors and elders and Sunday school teachers? Because it is ALWAYS impossible to discern with CERTAINTY. We're ALWAYS just doing our best. Sometimes that's easy, and sometimes that's hard. But it's better to, with the best of intentions, allow an unbeliever to the discipline and sacraments of the church then to keep a true Christian away from the font and the table forever. It would be better to go swimming with a millstone around your neck.
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