Sunday, September 9, 2007

Leah Marie


A few days ago passed what would have been the 30th birthday of one of our daughters. During the pregnancy my wife suffered a complication in which the baby died in miscarriage. This is a devastating circumstance on many levels but especially when one considers as the psalmist declares we are sinners from conception totally guilty and justly deserving God’s temporal and eternal punishment. Psalm 51

Some our family, friends and fellow church members were of the “decision Theology’ mindset. These folks tried to say that because Leah had not reached the age of decision making she was not a sinner. The difficulty with that if she was not a she would not have died for the wages of sin is death. They did not have any bible verses with which to show us this teaching.

Others were of a Calvinist mindset. Part of them stated that she would be in heaven due to being of a family of elect parents. The difficulty with that is the teaching is to the baptized of elect families and being Baptists we did not baptize infants and she was not baptized due to not being alive to receive this. No scripture to be had there either.

Another part was of the opinion even if she had lived she may not have been of the elect and would be lost anyway. This is of no comfort and will lead to wondering if the parents and the children that are alive are elect. One can find a few passages to use as proof text for this position but what we end up with is a capricious God that does not exist. If He did exist who would love and serve Him?

Matthew 19: 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." ESV

The promise of Jesus is the real answer. He opened heaven’s gates to little children. The kingdom of heaven is given to children whom are unable to choose or understand the doctrine of election. However, he or she is able to passively receive the benefits of the cross of Christ. That is how we adults receive it too isn’t it. He has graciously brought my wife and me to trust Him with the salvation of Leah Marie as well as her siblings who lived, their children and our salvation as well.

Glory be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen †

2 comments:

Matthew said...

"The promise of Jesus is the real answer."

Yes, indeed. The way I've come to understand this is, there are people trying to find comfort in the law. That's where you get these weird doctrines like "age of accountability" and such calvinistic doctrines of election that leave us with a capricious God who follows some inscrutable laws that we can't know.

But there is real comfort in the Promises of God. God doesn't need a law to compel him to keep his promises, so we don't have anything we can hold against him in that regard. But he will keep his promises.

"The kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these".

David Cochrane said...

Matthew,

Indeed we need nothing more than His promises for comfort not our activity.

pacem domini