I don't want to jump into the fray too deeply and join the theology discussion... I know what I believe and I believe what I know, your mileage may vary. :) Yet I would like to speak to this particular question, if I may. I am the sister of a mentally retarded schizophrenic and I am a substitute teacher and have worked many days with the special ed kids.
I see it in my sister and I see it in the kids I've worked with. These kids have a relationship with Christ, inherantly, IMHO. I don't know if I'm of the elect, or if they are of the elect... God is glorified everytime I'm with the kids or my sister regardless!
Anyway, I'm new here and probably won't speak up much. You just touched on a subject near and dear to my heart. :)
One of my dearest friends is Baptist and poor thing grieves for my salvation because I don't solely read the KJV Bible and because of the whole predestination thing. I get enough theology debate from her! I do look forward to reading these threads as there does seem to be some intelligent discussion.
I completely agree,it is because they love in simplicity and unconditionally,it's not because they understand the theology of how grace works IMHO.
There are those who also don't know who Christ is who can be saved because of the “Law of love written on our hearts”.
The Gospel doesn't say that a person who never knew Jesus will be rejected. Christ refers to those who disbelieve Him, such as the Pharisees - when He speaks in John 3, for example. In Romans 2, Paul says that all men, even the Gentiles, have a law written on their heart. The Catechism details the “natural law” pretty well. Basically, God has written onto our hearts the Law of Love. Even a person who has never heard of Jesus Christ can “know” this law. If a person loves, He abides in Christ. 1 John makes that statement several times. We know that we can do nothing good without Christ abiding within us. Thus, when a person who has never heard of Christ can listen to that divine natural law printed inside of us - and the Spirit blows where He will. Thus, a person who has never heard of Jesus Christ CAN be saved - because they are not specifically rejecting Him - AND they ARE following His Law of Love - which is the summary of the Commandments, says James.
The Catechism refers to the Muslims - Some have not heard the truth of the Gospel, so they cannot reject it. They have been presented a scare crow by their mullahs, so they are considered invincibly ignorant (as the Catechism calls them and other such people). A person will not go to hell if he is invincibly ignorant and loves others.Some Muslims don't know Jesus Christ and the Gospel. They haven't been presented it.
When a person loves unconditionally,They have Christ abiding within them.
Thank you for your posts ,dear sister.
I will be praying for you at Adoration this week