Dear Conrad - If someone is mentally handicaped or is a baby or unable to decide their faith understand sinful acts do they go to hell? Are there any exceptions as to whether people belong in heaven or hell? Thanx for your time:) – Lissa

Dear Lissa,

This question really gets into one’s doctrine of Salvation. Who chooses who? Does God choose man for salvation or does man choose God.

There are two main schools of thought – Calvinism and Arminianism. Calvinism believes God initiates the salvation process by choosing man for salvation. They look to verses like -“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Eph 1:4-5). Arminianism (Man chooses God for salvation) believes man initiates the salvation process.

So your answer will be based on what interpretation of the Bible you come to. Of course only one can be right and the answer is not based on what we believe, but rather what is right.

I would suggest looking into the doctrine of salvation deeper and find out which interpretation you find more Biblical.

Try doing an internet search on Calvinism and Arminianism.