God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
All those dying in infancy, as well as those so mentally incapacitated that they are incapable of making an informed choice, are among the elect of God chosen by Him for salvation before the world began. The evidence for this view is scant, but significant.
1. In Romans 1:20 Paul describes people who are recipients of general revelation as being, “without excuse.” Does this imply that those who are not recipients of general revelation (i.e., infants) are therefore not accountable to God or subject to wrath? In other words, those who die in infancy have an “;excuse” in that they neither receive general revelation nor have the capacity to respond to it.
2. There are texts which appear to assert or imply that infants do not know good or evil and hence lack the capacity to make morally informed and thus responsible choices. According to Deuteronomy 1:39 they are said to “have no knowledge of good or evil.”
3. The story of David's son in 2 Samuel 12:15-23 (esp. v. 23)… What does it mean when David says “I shall go to him?” If this is merely a reference to the grave or death, in the sense that David, too, shall one day die and be buried, one wonders why he would say something so patently obvious! Also, it appears that David draws some measure of comfort from knowing that he will 'go to him.' It is the reason why David resumes the normal routine of life. It appears to be the reason David ceases from the outward display of grief. It appears to be a truth from which David derives comfort and encouragement. How could any of this be true if David will simply die like his son? It would, therefore, appear that David believed he would be reunited with his deceased infant.
4. There is consistent testimony of Scripture that people are judged on the basis of sins voluntary and consciously committed in the body. See 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 20:11-12. In other words, eternal judgment is always based on conscious rejection of divine revelation (whether in creation, conscience, or Christ) and willful disobedience. Are infants capable of either? There is no explicit account in Scripture of any other judgment based on any other grounds. Thus, those dying in infancy are saved because they do not (cannot) satisfy the conditions for divine judgment.
5. We have what would appear to be clear biblical evidence that at least some infants are regenerate in the womb, such that if they had died in their infancy they would be saved. This at least provides a theoretical basis for considering whether the same may be true of all who die in infancy. These texts include Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15.
6. Some have appealed to Matthew 19:13-15 (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17) where Jesus declares, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Is Jesus simply saying that if one wishes to be saved he/she must be as trusting as children, i.e., devoid of skepticism and arrogance? In other words, is Jesus merely describing the kind of people who enter the kingdom? Or is he saying that these very children were recipients of saving grace?
7. Given our understanding of the character of God as presented in Scripture, does He appear as the kind of God who would eternally condemn infants on no other ground than that of Adam's transgression? Admittedly, this is a subjective (and perhaps sentimental) question. But it deserves an answer, nonetheless.
Sam Storms
Duck Stew Foggia Style with Olives
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(0)
CATEGORY
CUISINE
TAG
YIELD
Grains
Dutch
New, Text, Import
1
Servings
INGREDIENTS
1
Muscovy duck, or 2 wild ducks
6
tb
Virgin olive oil
1/2
lb
Pancetta, in 1/4" dice
1
lg
Spanish onion, in 1/4" dice
2
Ribs celery, in 1/4" rounds
1
tb
Fennel seeds
2
c
Green olives from Ascoli
2
c
Sweet Aleatico di Puglia wine
2
c
Basic tomato sauce
2
Dried hot peppers from Puglia
INSTRUCTIONS
Cut duck up into 10 pieces by splitting the breast and cutting each in half
into 3 pieces, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks and 2 wings. Save the liver and use
it to thicken the sauce.
In an 8 to 10-quart heavy bottomed braising pan or Dutch oven, heat 6
tablespoons virgin olive oil over medium flame until smoking. Place duck
pieces skin side down and cook until golden brown and most of the fat has
been rendered. Cooking 4 to 6 pieces at a time, this should take 20 to 30
minutes. When done, drain pan of all but 2 tablespoons of fat and add
pancetta. Cook until lightly browned and add onion, celery, carrots and
fennel seeds and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add olives, sweet
wine, tomato sauce and hot peppers and bring to a boil. Submerge duck
pieces and liver and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 1/2 hour,
or until duck is falling off the bone. Remove duck and liver to platter
with tortiera. Using a wooden spoon, chop liver to fine mush, return to pan
and season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over duck and serve.
Yield: 4 servings
Recipe by: Molto Mario
Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #506 by Sue <suechef@sover.net> on Mar 08,
1997.
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