Say there is a man. This man prays for the salvation of his wife, or sister, brother, or friend every day. His heart feels a constant desire for it; his mind, constantly prodding him with the thought. Sadly, the object of this burden gets taken in some sudden accident, and during the burial he asks the priest for the absolution for this loved one. The reply is that they died in their sin, never accepting of salvation offered.

Is that the end of it? Should we disbelieve in the efficaciousness of prayer from a story like this? Should we accept on authority of clergy that their judgements are always correct? No. The authority was never given to any rank, class, or brood of scholars to determine scripture; that authority rests with God and whomever God approves and anoints to shepherd his flock. The approval of man is only important for a few things, a reputation for righteousness is a powerful thing, but it is not determined by credentials given by other men; it is determined in knowing your God. And that is a thing open to all who care to be called, and work diligent to be chosen. Discipleship is not one man learning from another, unless it’s gleaned from that man’s whispers to his Master.

Reexamine, then, the previous account. Can we bear the burden of someone else’s salvation, and fulfill the requirement of faith for those we pray for? Absolutely. Saint Peter wrote “love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet 4:8) unbelief is a sin like any other, even those who attend church regularly and once accepted salvation are guilty, from time to time, of the same unbelieving heart. Saint Paul also wrote to “bear one another’s burdens, so fulfilling the law of Christ,” (Gal 6:2) and again, “love is the fulfilling of the law,” (Rom 13:10). If one has faith then the law is already fulfilled in them for personal effect, and Paul was writing to faithful believers in Galatia and Rome, so what is our dear brother Paul talking about here? Who is left for the law to be fulfilled or completed in? The word used in Greek for burden could be taken to mean a descent, a weight pressing down. It doesn’t give any measure of distance, so the descent could be take to mean anything from simple stumbling through a walk to falling into Hell itself. As far as a weight is concerned it’s clearly used as a figure here meaning anything from guilt to glory (glory is more burdensome in Hebrew). I’m sure the answer is obvious and clear; this not only is to bear one another among the sheep, all of their doings, but all the unrighteous and wicked they are connected to in life. Prayer alone can save anyone who dies in unrighteousness, and love by itself can cover their sins. Those garments will be given to them in the resurrection of the dead, to the awe of many, and the shock of all, and surely not the least of which to those who receive them; and with good hearts they can be healed of past wrongs and finally enter into the peace of eternal life.

Some teachers are quick to condemn, others are quick to condemn the judgemental. Both should ask themselves, which one accomplishes mercy in accordance with the law of Christ. Many will come from highways and hedges to fill up the Father’s house, and there will be wicked men allowed, not for the sake of their wickedness, but for the love and faith of others bearing them, and the hope in God’s grace.