Answers to Some Questions on Christianity
Summary of Lessons by John Piper and CS Lewis
1. What happens to infants who die?
They are saved.
All people should know God and glorify Him as God. We are without excuse not to do so because we have access to lots of things God made and see the power of Him. Instead of glorifying Him, many suppress what they know and the truth by their wickedness. They worship and serve created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:18-23, 25), resulting in their condemnation.
In other words, we are accountable based on whether we have access to the necessary knowledge. If one doesn’t have access, one shouldn’t be held accountable.
Since babies and those with profound mental disabilities don’t have access to the necessary knowledge, they should not be condemned. Therefore, somehow and in some way we don’t understand, they are saved. God, through Christ, covers these people, as God honors this principle of accountability.
2. What are the Christian view of suffering?
“Rich” in Matthew 19:23, Mark 10:23, and Luke 18:24 implies abundance in wealth, health, popularity, etc. Such people tend to feel contented without God, making them hard to enter God’s kingdom.
The “rich” live in a false happiness, which God, in His mercy, may take away to bring them to eternal happiness.
3. Is it our works or God’s grace that earns our salvation?
It is God who works in you and brings salvation to you. Yet we need to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).
4. Is ambition good?
Ambition for personal success is bad if the goal is to be better than others. But ambition is good if the goal is to do something well.
5. What about science?
Christianity encourages scientific inquiry and knowledge, and all that helps humans. However, scientific knowledge is bad if it becomes the only thing that is of concern to you.
6. Does Christianity make you happy?
Worshipping yourself can give you happiness. A bottle of wine can give you more happiness than Christianity for a short duration of time.
7. Benefits of going to church?
Going to church can let you see others’ goodness and get you out of your solitary conceit.
Summary of “What happens to infants who die?” by John Piper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCUAi8JfWk0
Summary of a Q&A session by C. S. Lewis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNIoZGMzsg
They are saved.
All people should know God and glorify Him as God. We are without excuse not to do so because we have access to lots of things God made and see the power of Him. Instead of glorifying Him, many suppress what they know and the truth by their wickedness. They worship and serve created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:18-23, 25), resulting in their condemnation.
In other words, we are accountable based on whether we have access to the necessary knowledge. If one doesn’t have access, one shouldn’t be held accountable.
Since babies and those with profound mental disabilities don’t have access to the necessary knowledge, they should not be condemned. Therefore, somehow and in some way we don’t understand, they are saved. God, through Christ, covers these people, as God honors this principle of accountability.
2. What are the Christian view of suffering?
“Rich” in Matthew 19:23, Mark 10:23, and Luke 18:24 implies abundance in wealth, health, popularity, etc. Such people tend to feel contented without God, making them hard to enter God’s kingdom.
The “rich” live in a false happiness, which God, in His mercy, may take away to bring them to eternal happiness.
3. Is it our works or God’s grace that earns our salvation?
It is God who works in you and brings salvation to you. Yet we need to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).
4. Is ambition good?
Ambition for personal success is bad if the goal is to be better than others. But ambition is good if the goal is to do something well.
5. What about science?
Christianity encourages scientific inquiry and knowledge, and all that helps humans. However, scientific knowledge is bad if it becomes the only thing that is of concern to you.
6. Does Christianity make you happy?
Worshipping yourself can give you happiness. A bottle of wine can give you more happiness than Christianity for a short duration of time.
7. Benefits of going to church?
Going to church can let you see others’ goodness and get you out of your solitary conceit.
Summary of “What happens to infants who die?” by John Piper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCUAi8JfWk0
Summary of a Q&A session by C. S. Lewis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNIoZGMzsg