This is the 3rd in a series of blogs that seek to answer difficult questions encountered by SR&F Outreach Ministers....

3. Do Babies Who Die Go To Heaven
There’s a Celtic tradition of prayer that I’ve practiced for decades that has been a most helpful aide to keeping my prayers relevant and fresh.  This spiritual disciple entails praying for specific requests…on specific days of the week…that are naturally associated with that day of the week.  For example, one of the things to pray for on Friday’s has to do with praying for the parents who have lost a child, based on the fact that the Heavenly Father’s Son died on a Friday.

Such prayers are almost always deeply appreciated.  Grieving parents, experience what is considered by most people as the greatest agony anyone can encounter on earth – the loss of a child.  So it should not come as a surprise that this is one of the first questions asked by new Christians who have suffered a miscarriage or who have had to bury their child...or even more poignant, have aborted a child earlier in life!  Thus it should not be surprising that SR&F local church missionaries (coaches, league directors etc.) may well encounter such a question, and would be wise to be ready for this inquiry.

Key Verses
Do Babies who die go to heaven?
 
Matthew 19:13-15 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 1.15 “… for he will be great before the Lord….even from his mother’s womb.”
 
Jeremiah 1.5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.”
 
2 Samuel 12:15.23 “…I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”  

So there you are, in the parking lot after your volleyball game and the gal form work you invited to join your church's volleyball league asks if she can ask you a personal question.  You of course say yes, but are totally unprepared for just how personal a question it is.  "Will the little girl I aborted be in heaven?"  Now you know why she waited until you were in the parking lot...far away from prying eyes and ears!

When such a question is asked, I encourage you to listen rather than talk!  This is a perfect time to “live out the Gospel” (“weep with those who weep" - Romans 12.15-18).  While it’s certain co-worker will want to hear what you have to say, they will more so remember how you responded and how they felt about this encounter.  While words are heard, love is felt; and those feelings most often outlive, and communicate for deeper, than what is said.  Yet, what is said is crucial and hopefully reassuring and comforting.  The following verses and concepts are best shared in a private conversation that is not rushed…and a box of Kleenex is recommended.

An Important Concept
An important concept to be shared is that a person is judged (condemned…as in not allowed into heaven) based on their willful, conscious rejection of God’s love and will for their life. ( 2 Corinthians 5.10; 1Corinthians 6.9; Revelation 20.12)  This alone would suggest that not only the preborn and the infant, but also those who are mentally incapacitated, are incapable of willfully and consciously rejecting God...and thus would certainly seem to indicate their welcome into the arms of Jesus in heaven.

Important Verses
Other scriptures that bring comfort include David’s statement about his infant son who died shortly after birth; children being chosen in their mother’s womb and Jesus’s own encounters with children. (see below)

The account of David grieving the loss of his infant son is profound in two ways.  First it clearly demonstrates the deep sorrow of a grieving father.  Second it communicates the foundational Christian belief that while the departed son cannot come back to his father, the father will see that child again in heaven! (2 Samuel 12.15-23)

In addition, there are passages that can encourage the hearts of grieving parents in the fact they teach that children were formed, chosen and consecrated in their mother’s womb. (Luke 1.15; Jeremiah 1.5)   This teaches that death cannot “steal” a child from God.

Then of course, there is the most wonderful story related in the gospels that record Jesus’s great love for the little children…and his claim that they belong to His kingdom. ( Matthew 19.13-15; Mark 10.13-16; Luke 18.15-17)   All I can say is; Hallelujah, what a Savior!

All of this of course lines up with what the entire Bible teaches about God being a loving Father and can be a great source of comfort to grieving parents when lovingly and sensitively shared in the midst of a SR&F Outreach Ministry.  Of course, it must be pointed out that this is a controversial subject and that regardless of one’s position or belief, a baby’s eternal status is up to God and we can find comfort in trusting God with this.

I further recommend you add these verses to the file on your phone entitled: Answers to Difficult Questions.  You never know when you'll need them.
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This is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's book to be released in late 2019 or early 2020 entitled: The Saving of Sports Outreach: The Soteriology of Sports Outreach - The 4th book in the Sports Outreach Institutes Series.
Dr. Linville's books can be purchased through the CSRM website -
------------------------------------------------ 
Dr. Greg Linville
CSRM's Director of Resource Development
sportsminresources@gmail.com

This is the second in a series of Difficult Questions Encountered by SR&F Outreach Ministers
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2. Do I Need to Get Baptized
Another question SR&F Outreach Ministers are often asked has to do with being baptized.  This of course raises one of the more controversial theological debates The Church has ever faced.  In fact, the issue of baptism has been a major cause for the creation of a number of denominational splits. 

Once again, I encourage you to talk with your Lead Pastor about your specific congregational and denominational stance on this, but be assured that all Christian traditions hold a very high view of Baptism and greatly encourage (if not require) each Christian to be Baptized.  I believe the bible is clear that Baptism is not an absolute requirement for salvation, but it is the expected norm for all Disciples of Jesus.  This can be seen in both the words and life of Jesus.

Jesus personally sought out baptism (Matthew 3.13-17) and yet when he promised the thief on the cross eternal life He demonstrated baptism was not required for salvation and eternal life (Luke 23.39-43).  So, it follows that there is a major distinctive difference between baptism being required and it being the normative recommendation.
 
Relevance of Baptism for SR&F Outreach Ministry
Pertaining to baptism the major relevance for SR&F Outreach Ministers has to do with how it enhances and empowers the “making of Disciples.”  In specific, Baptism is a most important step in “making Disciples” because it entails making a public confession of faith.  (Consult chapter 5 of my book “The Fundamentals of Sports Outreach” for a full explanation and understanding of the “5B’s” of Sports Outreach and the relevance of baptism)

It’s one thing to “raise a hand” at a league-ending evangelistic outreach event or even privately pray a prayer with a league director or coach; it’s quite another to get up in front of a congregation and publically proclaim Jesus to be Lord and Savior.   The emphasis here lies in the public confession as being a vital step in the “making of Disciples.”  What Baptism looks like exactly, differs between denominations both in timing (infant / adult) and in its mode (immersion / sprinkling / pouring / or even not using water).

Whereas, some faith traditions baptize infants, others baptize upon a profession of faith and conversion.  However, while the specific outward modes differ, the agreed upon central belief has to do with making a public declaration.  Both traditions understand the significant importance of a public declaration for infants (baptism or dedication); and both require a later public declaration for new converts.  For those who baptize infants, the public demonstration is often called: Confirmation.  Conversely, those who dedicate infants reserve baptism for those that are later converted.

So, you're sitting in the post-game devotional room and are stunned by the question raised by your teammate: "Should I be Baptized?"  After you recover from your surprise, how do you answer him?  Here's a few questions to ask and steps to follow....

1. Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior
2. If so, then yes, you should be Baptized
3. If no, why do you want to be Baptized as Baptism is a public sign / testimony of faith in Christ....thus, are you really asking to become a Christian (be sure to communicate Baptism doesn't ensure salvation or eternal life)
4. If no, would he like to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

After you've worked through this with your teammate and he has accepted Christ and wants to be Baptized, the next step is to get with your Sports Minister or another congregational Pastor for further discipleship and for information about classes/instruction to prepare for Baptism.  Be sure to stay personally close to this new brother in the faith.  He has confided in you and trusts you...and God has also trusted you with this most wonderful spiritual responsibility!

Beyond all of this, I'd recommend putting the following verses on to a file on your phone entitled: Answers to Difficult Questions

Key Verses – Do I Need To Be Baptized
 
Matthew 28:19, 20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 16:31, 33 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”
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This is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's book to be released in late 2019 or early 2020 entitled: The Saving of Sports Outreach: The Soteriology of Sports Outreach - The 4th book in the Sports Outreach Institutes Series.
Dr. Linville's books can be purchased through the CSRM website - https://csrm.z2systems.com/np/clients/csrm/giftstore.jsp
------------------------------------------------ 
Dr. Greg Linville
CSRM's Director of Resource Development
sportsminresources@gmail.com

1. Can I Lose My Salvation
Inevitably, Sports, Recreation and Fitness (SR&F) Outreach Ministers, or anyone engaged in Evangelistic-Disciplemaking will at some point be asked some rather tricky questions about faith and a relationship with Christ.  This series of blogs is designed to provide some basic biblical answers and scriptural references to aid SR&F Outreach Ministers at these times....
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So, you arrived ready to lead your fitness class.  You were totally prepared for the physical activity, your equipment and music were ready to go and you had even been blessed by God with a great devotional to share.  You knew your support team had been praying for this class and today you even felt a special anointing of The Holy Spirit upon the class.  T

Afterward, you engaged in a conversation with a person who shared that they were troubled because they’re currently not experiencing the joy, fulfillment, peace or empowerment in their Christian life.  Their question, stopped you in your tracks: “Have I lost my salvation?”  Wow!  You have been trained to be fitness class instructor, not a theologian.  What to do?

Well first of all, you need to know that this is a theological question that has been debated through the millennia, and my first piece of advice is talk with your Lead Pastor about your congregation's and denomination's position on this.  None-the-less, in this situation it is most likely that your friend is seeking assurance and peace of mind...and gives every indication that she have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Therefore, rather than wading into a lengthy theological diatribe, it would seem you have been blessed with an opportunity to help reassure your friend of her salvation.  To that end, I offer the following set of diagnostic questions that have worked well for me to determine how to respond.

1. Have you ever asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?
2. If not, why not do that right now?
3. If so, then why is it you now feel like you might have lost your salvation? 

Typically their answer to question #3 is one of the following.  Either they've engaged in some sinful activity/attitude that has shaken their basic relationship with Christ; are grieving a death; encountering a significant hurdle in their life or experiencing a personal set back of some sort.

Depending on their answer to the questions, I think it your response would be fairly obvious but could include: offering to share in a simple prayer with them; encouraging them to re-engage in spiritual disciplines; sharing relevant bible verses; or perhaps in certain situations, referring them for professional counseling.  Remember listening and communicating that you care are perhaps the most important things you can do.  

As to relevant bible verses, I believe scripture communicates a person’s salvation is dependent on God and thus a person’s salvation cannot be lost.  (See below)  Of course, this assumes a person’s conversion (salvation) is real and authentic.  The following verses are recommended to be among those you put on your phone file entitled: "Answers to Difficult Questions."

Key Verses – Can I Lose My Salvation
 
And I am sure of this, that He Who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1.6
 
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, ‘made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved... 
Ephesians 2.4, 5
 
For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship…
Ephesians 2.8-10
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Future Blogs on Answers to Difficult Questions will include:

• Do I need to be baptized
• Will the baby I aborted be in heaven
• Will people who never hear about Jesus be in heaven
• Do I have to be a good person to get to heaven

-----------------------------------------------
This is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's book to be released in late 2019 or early 2020 entitled: The Saving of Sports Outreach: The Soteriology of Sports Outreach - The 4th book in the Sports Outreach Institutes Series.
Dr. Linville's books can be purchased through the CSRM website - https://csrm.z2systems.com/np/clients/csrm/giftstore.jsp
------------------------------------------------ 
Dr. Greg Linville
CSRM's Director of Resource Development
sportsminresources@gmail.com

I approached Andrew, our Director of Digital Resources at CSRM, as he was standing next to one of the conference presenters at the Ridgecrest Conference Center last month. I recorded the presentation on the new iPad the University of Mississippi issued to me. It was my first Apple product to work with after years of being an Android user.

I noticed to the left of me in the hallway was Dale, a longtime friend from Baylor University. To my right sat John, the Recreation and Senior Adult Pastor with whom I worked in my last church staff position. These two men know me quite well including both my strengths and weaknesses. As I approached, the presenter asked how we were going to transfer the recording from my iPad to the director. Andrew said, “I’ll just have him AirDrop it to my device.”

I replied, “Yeah, that’s what I thought we’d do.”

My two friends, knowing of my technological ignorance, broke out in loud laughter. If you had questioned me before Andrew used the phrase, I would have said an “AirDrop” is when one takes supplies to a place with no roads that need supplies. The “REACH” goes even farther as I was telling the story to Ann Margaret, a lady friend of mine, and when I got to my part of saying, “that’s what I thought we’d do,” she burst into laughter as well.

I think my friends understood that me knowing a technological term like that would be “quite the REACH.” The phrase, “this is a REACH,” according to the website, English Language App is defined as “far-fetched” or “not likely but also not impossible.” 1

When one thinks of using leisure time experiences as a tool for telling people about God’s love and offering the hope of salvation, some would say that is “quite the REACH.” And, yet, it is happening in local churches all over this world and CSRM is doing what we can to assist in this process.

The word, “REACH” on its own has various meanings. The conference referred to above is called REACHGathering and is held for local church Sports, Recreation, and Fitness (SR&F) Outreach Ministers.

In a way, based on my experiences through the years with events like this, the conference encompasses different definitions of REACH from www.dictionary.com. 2

To Get to or Get as Far as in Moving, Going, Traveling, etc. (verb)

People who attend the REACHGathering conference are interested in going as far as they can in REACHing people for Jesus and teaching them how to be like Jesus through sports, recreation, and fitness programs. Topics at the conference included items such as how to deal with Sunday tournament games or how to deal with gender and transgender issues. Breakout sessions dealt with coach recruitment and retention as well as dealing with diverse populations.

I would offer that sports, recreation, and fitness opportunities may be the best method in this world in bringing people together. When one is involved with others in a sport, sitting alongside someone in a craft class, or pitching the tent on the perfect campsite, the thought doesn’t go to the differences in other people. Instead, the idea concentrates on the similarities. The “reach” for others will allow us to get to or get as far as in moving, going, or traveling.

A Continuous Stretch or Extent of Something (noun)

John Wooden, the longtime successful coach at UCLA, said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” 3

It’s incredible at this gathering how many people attend that have been in sports, recreation and fitness ministries for over twenty years. When asked as to why they still attend, the reason includes relationships and that they will learn something new.

Knowledge is a stretching of the mind and heart. It’s a REACH to extend oneself in learning about new techniques or new programs that can help someone else learn how to be like Jesus. To gain new knowledge at this conference and extend all we know about leading in sports and recreation programs is a good “REACH” to attempt.

Range of Effective Action, Power, or Capacity (noun)

In a culture that is enamored with leisure time activities, it behooves churches to do what they can to influence said culture with love and grace. Sports, recreation, and fitness programs provide the “REACH” to gather the people of a community together. The action, power, or capacity of a single program can be the impetus to draw in a person that needs God’s grace and love.

I have heard when missionaries move into different cultures, they learn the culture and then attempt to minister, evangelize, and disciple through the ways of that culture. It is no different for the sports, recreation, and fitness ministries in our culture using all of their action, power and capacity to reach a culture with God’s amazing love and grace.

Join us for REACHGathering 2020
While my knowledge of AirDrops and other technological advances are a “REACH,” I can attest to the fact that the REACHGathering Conference is a more realistic “REACH.” The dates for next year are March 31 – April 2, 2020, at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, North Carolina. You may register now
at https://reachlive.org/register. I’ll be there. You can find me around the tech people discussing AirDrops.
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in1 Em1Em1 2, Alicja ZAlicja Z 1. (n.d.). What does “this is a REACH” mean? Retrieved April 12, 2019, from
https://english.stackexhcange.com/questions/160356/what-does-this-is-a-reach-mean
2 Reach. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2019, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/reach
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Professor David Waddell currently teaches at Ole Miss and is CSRM's Executive Director.  He had a long tenure as a SR&F Outreach Minister at a local church in Memphis, Tennessee and has authored three books.  Contact him at dwaddell7@gmail.com
His books can be ordered at:  https://csrm.z2systems.com/np/clients/csrm/giftstore.jsp

It was Memorial Day in 1921 that the exhumation of four World War I unknown soldiers took place from a cemetery in France. Sargent Edward F, Younger, decorated for his valor and recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, selected the third casket from the left and decorated it with a spray of white roses. This casket was transported to the United States for interment at the Arlington National Cemetery where it stands on top of a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. and is known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Inscribed on the back of the tomb are the words:
 
    Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God[1]
 
I won’t place myself in the same position of worth as those that have given their lives for this country, but I do understand the feeling of being unknown. Countless people carry out the duties of their lives with a similar lack of recognition. Musicians who labor for small gigs or small crowds, teachers who lack appreciation for their work, or employees who feel underemployed are among those that feel as though they are the unknown in their area of expertise and giftedness. For me, the feeling of being unknown comes with the territory of the career path which God called me into, the sports and recreation ministry.
 
For example, I wish I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, in one form or another, when I was going to get into a “real” ministry. I felt like a child again where people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. It’s a question that many sports and recreation ministers deal with regardless of his or her age. I may be a bit sensitive, but I always got the idea that sports and recreation ministries didn’t warrant the same amount of respect or value as other ministries from certain people in the church.
 
There are those that were sports and recreation ministers at one time that are now in different ministry positions in the local church. Others I’m aware of have entered business venues, became professors in universities, or have joined in some parachurch ministry. Some would view this as upward mobility, or in other words, climbing the career ladder. While this may be the way the world would see the situation, it doesn’t minimize the impact a sports and recreation ministry has in God’s Kingdom. Nor does it mean that sports and recreation ministry is a stepping stone position.
 
I was conducting a recreation staff meeting at Germantown Baptist, and the notion came out about some of these kinds of feelings. I attempted to use the phrase, “the redheaded stepchild at the family reunion,” which means "being neglected, mistreated, or unwanted."[2] I felt as though the efforts of my ministry team made us the redheaded stepchild, or in other words the ministry that didn’t measure up to the others in effectiveness. Unfortunately, my tongue often works quicker than my brain, and the statement came out, “Well, I guess we’re the step-headed red child.”
 
Carla, one of my staff members, drew a cartoon figure with his head being three steps going from a high forehead down to the back of the skull. It might have been better for me to remain unknown in that case.
 
I also got this “unknown” feeling when it came time for budget discussions or priority of calendar dates. Other ministries were “important,” and sports and recreation seemed to be second in importance. After all, as it would be pointed out, it’s just fun and games, right? I know other sports and recreation ministers that have similar feelings of anonymity. In many churches, this great ministry and outreach program is seen as entertainment only. People don’t recognize the value the ministry provides the church and the world. It’s as though we become “the other guys” in the ministry scheme of things. 
 
Well, there is hope found for us unknowns in the story of Easter. Two people that were instrumental in the last week of Jesus being on Earth in human form do not have their names given in the story. They are the “unknowns” of the Easter story.
 
I wrote about one of them, the owner of the upper room (Luke 22:7-12), in my second book, Holiday Biblical Characters: Finding My Stories in the Stories of Christmas and Easter, inspired by my good friend, Chris Teague, Administrator at Grace Bible Church in Oxford, Mississippi. In the chapter, Upper Room Owner: Behind-The-Scenes Kind of Guy, it states:
 
    “The man seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I would see him before and after the church services around the lobby, where I drank coffee while either waiting on the service to begin or meeting with people after the service was over.
 
    This man would be introduced with the other elders in the church, but I would never see him up in front of the people… He seemed to be in the middle of everything but never in the front of anything."[3]
 
The other “unknown” hero was the owner of the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem (Luke 19:30-34). Here we have two people that were instrumental in the story of crucifixion and resurrection that has changed the world, and yet we have no idea who they are.
 
Jesus gives a message to those that work for God in anonymity, which you'll find in Matthew in what is called the Sermon on the Mount, “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1 NLT)
 
Perhaps those that minister in silence, like myself, should relish the fact that we play a part of a story in someone’s life. To quote Holiday Biblical Characters again, “It must take an amazing heart to be able to do something and keep the ego in check. It’s easy to work when praise is readily and humanly available. It’s something else entirely when the only praise one receives is from God.”[4]
 
So, organize those sports leagues and plan those craft classes. Assemble the tournaments and seminars. Create opportunities for fitness and wellness for the people of your community. Sing for the nursing home residents. Teach with the knowledge that you are helping the next generation be better than we are. Work for your employer as if you were working for God. The work you do is making a difference, one life at a time.
 
So, like the Unknown Soldier, rest in the fact that your work may be "known but to God," and that’s not all that bad of a place to be known.


[1] Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (n.d.), Retrieved March 12, 2019, from http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier

[2] Red-headed stepchild. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-red2.htm
 

[3] Waddell, D. (2015). Holiday Biblical Characters: Finding My stories in the stories of Christmas and Easter. Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan. P. 293

[4] Waddell, D. (2015). Holiday Biblical Characters: Finding My stories in the stories of Christmas and Easter. Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan. P. 299

------------------------------------------------
Professor David Waddell currently teaches at Ole Miss and is CSRM's Executive Director.  He had a long tenure as a SR&F Outreach Minister at a local church in Memphis, Tennessee and has authored three books.  Contact him at dwaddell7@gmail.com
His books can be ordered at:  https://csrm.z2systems.com/np/clients/csrm/giftstore.jsp