mental state of a sinner

[winwun]

I have a friend who is slipping into dementia/alzheimers, or whatever you call it, and while I wouldn't presume to know what is in his heart, his habits and lifestyle suggest that he hasn't accepted Jesus.

Jesus accepts children below the age of reason into heaven, and would the same acceptance be granted to persons who progress/regress into a mental state of inability to make a rational decision, such as accepting Jesus, or would they be doomed because they didn't acccept salvation when they were rational and had the chance ?

[unkerns]

No one can be kept from the Lord, but it is up to that person to choose in their heart whether they truly want to follow or not.

[jponb]

The bible tells us to seek the Lord while He may be found. This is why it is important for us not to take one moment for granted. We never know when it might be our last time.

[winwun]

So, what I am hearing is that a person in the grip of alzheimers who had not accepted Jesus before the alzheimers got them is doomed to H*** because they can no longer make a rational decision ?

[unkerns]

your hearing from me that he will still have that choice until basically he dies, but its a choice he has to make in his heart

[winwun]

If a person is in the grip of alzheimers or dementia, or is one of the thousands of mental defects in mental hospitals, they are incapable of accepting the plan of salvation by taking Jesus as their saviour.

I simply cannot believe that God would condemn them because their mental state precludes them from making a rational decision, regardless of the fact that at an earlier time, they might have been capable of making such a decision and did not do it.

[unkerns]

Im Curious are you only talking to jponb? or are you talking to me too? Im just wondering because i just told you that its a matter of the heart not what they say only we make the decision to choose the Lord or no Lord

[DaniHansen]

Since salvation isn't a mental assent but a heart decision, I would certainly think that God can convict even a person whose mind isn't quite rational.

I would encourage you to continue praying for your friend, and telling him/her about Jesus, regardless.

I'm not suggesting that Alzheimer's is caused by demons, but remember the "demoniac" in Scripture who had totally lost his mind, yet Jesus came and delivered him. If that kind of a person can be reached by God, then your friend certainly can. :)

[Ashley274]

I cannot know how Jesus will decide this but He has a huge heart and may reach that person within the confines of their mind and heart even though they cannot say they believe because they are ill...I will pray for this person

[David161099]

If a person is in the grip of alzheimers or dementia, or is one of the thousands of mental defects in mental hospitals, they are incapable of accepting the plan of salvation by taking Jesus as their saviour.

Depends.....some have 'moments of clarity'.

My grandmother just passed recently and she had dementia. Progressive. But even at her worst she would have moments.

I had a dream of her, that I visited her and hugged her, then my Father phoned me, which woke me up to tell me she passed the previous night.

I fully believe that God restores people in Heaven, and he will judge their hearts.

[Sold Out]

If a person is in the grip of alzheimers or dementia, or is one of the thousands of mental defects in mental hospitals, they are incapable of accepting the plan of salvation by taking Jesus as their saviour.

I simply cannot believe that God would condemn them because their mental state precludes them from making a rational decision, regardless of the fact that at an earlier time, they might have been capable of making such a decision and did not do it.

How many years did this person have to accept Christ before the Alzheimer's started?