Classic argument based on a red herring. The matter is not what will God do with those who are innocent by virtue of their age or lack of mental capacity. The issue at hand is what will or what must those who have the capacity do to be saved?
So, Romans doesn't apply to ALL, but those who have capacity? That's the point - it's not absolute. The point is it being leveled as "ALL" have sinned to condemn the sinlessness of Mary (which I don't believe she was sinless), and it was being applied absolutely without caveat, like those with capacity. But that wasn't the argument - Scripture was being used in an extreme measure to oppose an extreme position... when Scripture is clearly not extreme in that topic, but hyperbole.
God is merciful and a God of grace but God is sovereign. God is within His sovereign right to condemn all men and His perfect justice demands that His sovereign right be satisfied. God saves by grace because man cannot rise to the level of perfection Gods perfect justice demands.
Well I don't want to get into a "what is sin" "what is justification" etc argument. Only that what God said to begin with is half the battle, before even interpreting what He said.
Instead of hiding behind aborted babies and small children how about we face up to our personal responsibilities to God?
Have you ever had a loved one or friend with mental illness? I have bipolar. There are things I own up to - AND there are things that are literally beyond my control via brain activity. That's why I have to take meds. Because my behavior is partly out of my control, quite literally because of the physical activity of my brain.
So how do I stand before God, in this respect? Am I responsible for what I've done when mentally unstable? Because overall, I DO have the capacity, but not absolutely, not all the time. Aborted children, or children who die young COULD have the capacity later if they hadn't died. It's not hiding behind anything... it's the argument that these people are also humans. It's the argument that if you are going to level a Scripture in absolute fashion in respect to another human, then understand the ramifications of doing so. Not offering this caveate, or explaining the position fully, is a very good indication of bias and agenda than actual discussion.
It is not about what someone else is doing but what are you doing.
And the point is, what if "you" was an infant? What if "you" was someone who was in an accident that resulted in a vegetative state before she/he accepted the Lord - yet technically still alive?
God deals with and saves souls on an individual basis only. No corporate salvation is taught in the bible.
I agree with that, but what do you mean by corporate? All of x group of people are saved or not, or do you mean a uniform plan or means of salvation?
Catholics may claim all the day long that the do not worship Mary but their actions betray them openly. You cannot walk into a catholic church and not trip over statues and art work portraying Mary in highly lauded scenes.
If your argument is idols or representations, plenty of Protestant churches I HAVE walked into have these things (representations of Jesus or other symbols). Just because they are not typically on the same level of grandeur, doesn't mean that they are not there.
Churches that are usually considered extreme (take JW for example) are the ones that have extremely plain sanctuaries with no crosses, no paintings, no banners, nothing that suggests any religious leaning. Is that what you are talking about? Otherwise, just because something is done in a less extravagant fashion doesn't mean the same thing isn't being done in principle.
Enter the average protestant church and make a comparison. Even Jesus is not seen in statues and art work
lol I beg to differ! I've seen this painting in Protestant churches:
You have Veggie Tales and certain posters for children in nurseries. You may have pictures of Jesus on the bulletin when you walk in (I could even SCAN you one I still have!) Crosses are very common. You may see representations of doves. I have been in more Protestant churches, different ones, than I have Catholic and EO and I can tell you that I haven't seen one church completely bare of religious representation, regardless of what it was.
in the protestant church. Jesus is seen in the hearts and faces of the people in the churches.
You mean Protestant specifically? And statues of Mary prevents Him from being able to do this in Catholic churches?