Q: Does Someone Who Is Severely ‘Mentally Challenged’, And Has The Mind Of A Little Child Go To Heaven When They Die?
Q: Dr. Mike, a dear friend wanted me to ask you the question, when someone who is severely ‘mentally challenged’, and has the mind of a little child, dies; Do they go to Heaven?
A: Young lady, that is a good question to be hit with, while walking out of church on a beautiful Sunday afternoon … smile! I could tell by the expression on your face, that your friend, intended for YOU to bring her back a satisfying answer to that question. So, let’s briefly consider the question of accountability and what happens to babies/children, (and this case somewhat falls within that category), when they die.
Being a member of the class of Reformed Theologians, the concept of the “age of accountability” comes from the assumption that, babies/little children (and the severely mentally retarded) are born in the ‘stage of innocence,’ a form closely aligned to the Dispensation of Innocence, that Adam and Eve were born under. And because babies (healthy or unhealthy) are born in SIN, but yet in a stage of innocence, due to their mental comprehension, we say that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age, and if death strikes the child before reaching the “age of accountability,” (knowing right from wrong)that the child will, by God’s grace and mercy, be granted a free path through Heaven’s gate.
And since there is NO Bible text that actually says, “ALL babies/children that die are granted entrance into Heaven;” the Reformed Fathers came up with the term, “Elect Children” go to Heaven upon death. [Simply stated, they never attain the ability to make their individual choice like we as adults are capable of, therefore, we conclude, in their limited knowledge, they too depend on God’s grace and mercy, just as they do their parents for every day substance to help sustain life.]
I conclude with the story in 2 Samuel 12:22-23, King David said of his son, “And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” Here, King David’s response somewhat indicates that little one who cannot believe for themselves, are safe in the arms of the Lord. David seemed to be comforted by this knowledge and soon returned to his normal duties as king.