How would you respond?
- Thread starter Joidevivre
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Good points here.
I think seed_time_harvest gave a good response, and I think Willie hit on a very serious potential issue.
I would focus on being honest while also being gentle and prudent.
I would start by saying you don't know, because in reality you don't know... that is just the simple truth.
You may be able to make an educated guess if you really knew the boy well.
But you can't really know if the boy heard the gospel on tv the morning before he died, or whatever similar thing... you just don't know.
Then if you're asked more specific questions, you should answer them honestly but gently.
But... my default position would be to speak as little as possible.
I think seed_time_harvest gave a good response, and I think Willie hit on a very serious potential issue.
I would focus on being honest while also being gentle and prudent.
I would start by saying you don't know, because in reality you don't know... that is just the simple truth.
You may be able to make an educated guess if you really knew the boy well.
But you can't really know if the boy heard the gospel on tv the morning before he died, or whatever similar thing... you just don't know.
Then if you're asked more specific questions, you should answer them honestly but gently.
But... my default position would be to speak as little as possible.
A
We can't possibly know what's in someone's heart, so we can't use that as a measure of someone's faith or spiritual condition. We don't even know our own heart except when God reveals it to us.
But we know the Lord Jesus. We know His nature, how merciful and faithful He is. What great love He has for us. We know His arm isn't too short to reach us in any situation. We know He hears every prayer and is faithful to answer. We know nothing is impossible with God. We know His grace is made perfect in weakness. We know the Lord God is our perfect Father. We can put our complete trust in Him.
As King David said when he & Bathsheba lost their baby boy, "I can go to him, but he can't come to me.” I would encourage her to trust in God's amazing grace, in the merciful kindness of the Lord, that she will one day reunite with her son in the Presence of the Lord.
But we know the Lord Jesus. We know His nature, how merciful and faithful He is. What great love He has for us. We know His arm isn't too short to reach us in any situation. We know He hears every prayer and is faithful to answer. We know nothing is impossible with God. We know His grace is made perfect in weakness. We know the Lord God is our perfect Father. We can put our complete trust in Him.
As King David said when he & Bathsheba lost their baby boy, "I can go to him, but he can't come to me.” I would encourage her to trust in God's amazing grace, in the merciful kindness of the Lord, that she will one day reunite with her son in the Presence of the Lord.
Thank you for responding. I had planned on saying that I do not know. I did not know her son and I really do not know her. I've heard that she says she is an atheist. But someone is encouraging her to talk to with me.
I tend to feel that Jesus took this little boy to Himself - he really was young. And he must have had some major emotional problems that he just felt he could not handle. Our Lord is very compassionate to the weak and young ones. He might have had grandparents who prayed for him when he was born or very young. Maybe that is something I could bring up to the mother. Or not. Just pray that the words she needs to hear be given through me.
I'm sure she has guilt to deal with, along with grieving. I will at least give her a safe place to talk without judging.
I tend to feel that Jesus took this little boy to Himself - he really was young. And he must have had some major emotional problems that he just felt he could not handle. Our Lord is very compassionate to the weak and young ones. He might have had grandparents who prayed for him when he was born or very young. Maybe that is something I could bring up to the mother. Or not. Just pray that the words she needs to hear be given through me.
I'm sure she has guilt to deal with, along with grieving. I will at least give her a safe place to talk without judging.
You ask a good question - one that many have wrestled with in an attempt to get a clear and concise answer.
Thankfully, only God reserves the right to judge someone's heart, as no man is capable of seeing things that only God can see. God does not give us eyes or discernment to know what goes on inside a person.
The Bible says that God is all loving and all merciful, so we can be sure He looks at His created ones with such passion and indescribable love. No one will ever know what went on in the mind and heart of this young boy, but God does, and will judge him accordingly.
I do not have the spiritual authority to confirm the eternal destination of anyone, but Jesus does -
In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge. John 5:22
Thankfully, only God reserves the right to judge someone's heart, as no man is capable of seeing things that only God can see. God does not give us eyes or discernment to know what goes on inside a person.
The Bible says that God is all loving and all merciful, so we can be sure He looks at His created ones with such passion and indescribable love. No one will ever know what went on in the mind and heart of this young boy, but God does, and will judge him accordingly.
I do not have the spiritual authority to confirm the eternal destination of anyone, but Jesus does -
In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge. John 5:22
I would answer the truth, which is "I don't know."
Then I would probably comment that it doesn't matter what
I or anyone else thinks, it only matter what God thinks.
I might also ask them what they think as an unbeliever, and if they
are open to the possibility that God exists and the Bible is true.
If they are, I would gently present the Gospel and try to land 'em.
Then I would probably comment that it doesn't matter what
I or anyone else thinks, it only matter what God thinks.
I might also ask them what they think as an unbeliever, and if they
are open to the possibility that God exists and the Bible is true.
If they are, I would gently present the Gospel and try to land 'em.