Cults and False World Views

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI approved a change on the Roman Catholic tradition about Limbo-” a place of happiness” somewhere out there between heaven and hell where the souls of unbaptized children go when they die. Limbo is not an officially published dogma of the RCC but a hope based on God's mercy which invites us to pray for there salvation, and Jesus' tenderness toward children that their is a way of salvation for children who died without baptism(MacCarthy 1995, 26-27 ; CBCP 1994, 1261). According to a Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, they do not suffer the pains and deprivation of hell, but neither do they enjoy the benefits of the blessedness of heaven (Erickson 1995, 1092). For centuries the RCC holds that infants are “Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin... have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God...”(CBCP 1994, 1250). However, the Vatican chose a new better hope that “children who die without being baptized can (now) go to heaven.”


The theological modification is not derived for clearer scriptural convictions but because of the “pressing pastoral needs.” How can those infants born to “non-believers” (non-Catholics) including the innumerable abortions, stillbirths, and miscarriages get to heaven? Certainty it is not achieved since the Scripture they said is “ largely silent on the matter.” Where there is no fixed ground of belief, changes and philosophical speculations are always welcome. This is the old historical trend of the RCC.


Further, the new teaching is not to encourage Catholics not to baptize their children anymore but to comfort parents who failed to baptize their children before death. But do we really need to worry about the souls dead infants? We will answer this without going through the subject of baptism.


Children are born with a sinful nature (Psa 51:5; Rom. 5:12-14). But they are neither lost nor condemned before reaching the age of responsibility. The child is still innocent and incapable of making genuine moral decisions. They are not yet able to reject Christ. In fact, Jesus made them an example of true and simple faith that leads to salvation (Matt 18:3-5; 19:14). If children are condemned, David would not have rejoiced with the assurance that someday he shall see his child that died-2 Sam 12:19-23(Erickson, 1994).


The new teaching of the RCC, though not Biblical, is designed to meet the needs of humanity. Albeit, even if there are some theological issues that are not so clearly revealed in the Bible, we should not be engrossed in formulating new beliefs that are given to change because they can't be found in the Scriptures but are merely conjectures. Nor should we adopt teachings because they are convenient to the conscience, but denying the unsatisfied needs of our church and society. Our main duty is to act by the clear teachings and commandments of the Bible while discovering and implementing Biblical systems and structures to help the needy within and outside the local church.


References:
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). 1994. Cathechism of The Catholic Church. Manila: ECCCE and Word of Life Publications.
McCarthy, James. 1995. The Gospel According to Rome. Oregon: Harvest House Publishers.
Erickson, Millard. 1995. Christian Theology. Manila: Christian Growth Ministry (CGM).