Ask Your Preacher - Archives
Of Sound Mind
Wednesday, March 08, 2017Does a person who is mentally retarded still go to heaven if they do not believe, or are they considered children, and why does mental retardation exist in the first place? I’m guessing mankind is at fault and responsible for this, and it is a consequence for humans for sin.Sincerely,
Young At Heart
Dear Young At Heart,
Those with mental handicaps would fall under the same rules as children. In order to obey the gospel, we must have the maturity to:
- Take responsibility for our sins (Acts 3:19).
- Hear and understand the Word of God (Rom 10:17).
- Be responsible for our own spiritual growth (1 Pet 2:1-2).
Children and those with mental disabilities do not have that ability, and God only holds us accountable for what we are able to do (2 Cor 8:11-12).
All disease and illness is a consequence of sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, their bodies began to die (Gen 2:17). When mankind was kicked out of the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:24), diseases of all sorts began to creep in. Mental diseases are just one consequence of that fateful decision that Adam and Eve made.
Here's Salt In Your Eye
Tuesday, March 07, 2017Who is the one who saw Lot’s wife turn into a pillar of salt? If they looked back, would they too not of turned to salt?Sincerely,
Pepper Person
Dear Pepper Person,
The story of Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt is recorded in Gen 19:26. The Bible never tells us who saw her turn into a pillar of salt, but it may have been Lot’s daughters who were also fleeing the city (Gen 19:16). Lot’s daughters could have been standing behind their mother when she turned back and looked at the city – something she was expressly commanded not to do (Gen 19:17). Either that or they may have returned later to see her frozen as a pillar of salt. The Bible isn’t specific about who saw the event, but there are numerous plausible answers.