It's interesting to me that MacArthur makes such a strong argument that the
sacrificing of 'innocents' refers to pagans, but when I looked up the
passages, Psalm 106 seems to be one of the few places it actually says
'innocents', and yet it is not talking about the pagan children.
It is referring to Israel's adoption of pagan practices, INCLUDING the
sacrificing of Israel's children to pagan gods.
MacArthur says: "That, as well as in the Old Testament, where God talks
about the babies who were offered to pagan gods - they were burned in the
fire as human sacrifices - He called them 'the innocents.' If God says that
little one is innocent, even though it's a child of a pagan, offered in a
pagan sacrifice - you are not talking about a baptized baby; you're not
talking about a baby who has parents in the covenant; you're not even
talking about a Jewish baby - you're talking about a Gentile, pagan child,
and it is determined by God to be an innocent.""
But here's the text from scripture. Note WHO it's calling 'innocents'...
Psalm 106:35 But they (Israel) mingled with the nations (pagans)
And learned their (pagan) practices,
36
And served their (pagan) idols,
Which became a snare to them (Israel).
37
They (Israel) even sacrificed their (Israel's) sons and their
daughters to the demons,
38
And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their (Israel's) sons and their (Israel's) daughters,
Whom they (Israel) sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with the blood.
I couldn't find a reference where it calls the pagan children 'innocents'.
Can anyone else find such a passage?
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Tonn [mailto:btonn@...]
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 2:37 PM
To: soundofgrace@...
Subject: [soundofgrace] RE: soundofgrace Digest 23 Jan 2004 23:45:03 -0000
Issue 246
FYI ... Found this article on Crosswalk.com ... not sure if it (John
MacArthur's book) was mentioned when this issue was discussed recently?
Safe in the Arms of God: What Happens to Babies Who Die?
Janet Chismar
Senior Editor for Faith
Parents who have lost a child often are haunted with disturbing questions.
Why my child? Where is my baby now? Will I ever see my child again? And it's
perfectly normal. "The death of a child is the most devastating experience a
parent can ever face," explains pastor and author John MacArthur.
In his book, Safe in the Arms of God, MacArthur tackles the question of
infant death (in the womb or following birth) with compassion and honesty.
No death occurs apart from the purposes of God, MacArthur assures readers,
just as no life occurs apart from the purposes of God.
"This book is a great tool at those times when emotions run high and losses
are felt deeply," MacArthur told Crosswalk.com in a recent interview. "When
you are struggling with the feelings, when you come to grips with things in
a more stark way, you need the anchor that comes from the absolute truth of
the word of God."
Those who are grieving deserve an answer rooted in the truth of Scripture,
MacArthur notes. The parents need them, other family members need them,
friends need them, and pastors and counselors need them.
Where Are They Now?
"Is my baby in heaven?" It is natural for grieving parents to ask this
question. They are not alone in wondering. Many people wrestle with what
happens to children in third world nations - those who may die of starvation
without ever knowing God. What happens to aborted babies? Where do the
innocent babies of Hindus and Muslims go?
The Bible teaches that all children who die are in the special care of God,
MacArthur explains. "I think one of the really great passages along those
lines is in Mark 10, where Jesus said, 'Permit the little children to come
to me and forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of God.' That, as well as
in the Old Testament, where God talks about the babies who were offered to
pagan gods - they were burned in the fire as human sacrifices - He called
them 'the innocents.' If God says that little one is innocent, even though
it's a child of a pagan, offered in a pagan sacrifice - you are not talking
about a baptized baby; you're not talking about a baby who has parents in
the covenant; you're not even talking about a Jewish baby - you're talking
about a Gentile, pagan child, and it is determined by God to be an
innocent."
MacArthur shares another illustration, that of King David in the Old
Testament. When David and Bathsheba's infant son became ill, the Bible says
David pleaded, fasted and mourned. But when the baby died, he washed himself
and no longer mourned in any sense. Then he said, "I shall go to him, but he
cannot return to me."
According to MacArthur, "David was comforted in thinking of that reunion,
but the opposite was true with Absalom. When his adult son Absalom died, he
wept and wept, and mourned and mourned, and could not be comforted, because
he knew he would never see that child again. The difference there is pretty
significant.
"I think when we understand that these little ones - and the Bible makes
this very clear - belong to Him until they reach the age where they choose,
then we understand why He takes them to heaven," MacArthur adds.
The Anguish of Abortion
Women who have aborted their babies are particularly prone to despair, loss,
guilt and unresolved grief. They, too, may wonder where their babies are
now.
Ezekiel 18:20 clearly states that "the son shall not bear the guilt of the
father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son," MacArthur points out.
"Scripture says that babies do not have culpability for the sins of their
parents."
Sadly, women who abort do not realize that long-term, emotional devastation
will follow. "When a woman is considering an abortion, she is usually told
abortion is a simple medical procedure with no lasting side effects," says
Mary Comm, founder of SafeHaven , a website created to help women understand
and deal with post-abortion syndrome. "What a woman is not told is that
abortion, like a miscarriage, can cause tremendous feelings of loss and
grief. But because abortion is a 'choice,' those feelings are multiplied."
Comm started SafeHaven in 1996 after seeing how post-abortion syndrome
devastated the lives of two friends. The site is staffed entirely by women,
all who are intimately familiar with abortion and its after-effects.
Visitors to SafeHaven find a variety of links to help guide them in their
efforts to deal with post-abortion syndrome. Some information is designed to
help a post-abortive father begin to understand his own feelings of loss,
grief and regret.
"The hardest thing for these women to do is reach out for help," says Comm.
"They don't know what they are feeling is common and they are ashamed to
admit they have had an abortion. At our site, they can remain anonymous for
as long as they like. They are welcome to read messages and follow chats,
and are invited to participate only when they are comfortable doing so. Even
when they do begin participating, no one has to know who they are.
"But when a woman finally decides to participate, we accept her, we love
her, and we let her know her feelings are normal," Comm adds.
A dedication on the SafeHaven home page reads: "For all the mothers and
fathers whose arms ache for children they will never hug; for all the
bandaged knees they will never kiss; for the college graduations and
weddings they will never celebrate, and for the grandchildren that will
never be born: this site is dedicated to them."
For more information about Safe in the Arms of God, click here. To purchase
this book, visit CBD.
For information about SafeHaven, click here.
_________________________________________________________
Bill Tonn Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his
wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his
riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this:that he understands and
knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and
righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.