|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Heaven???
Posted: 3/10/2008 4:13:59 PM | | Can someone show me in the bible what heaven is? I can't find it. I always tend to bump into something else. Something like, reap what you sow. I always associated that to doing something stupid. But you know what, its not about that at all, its about doing something that is swell. Makes me feel real good, I can imagine what a guy like Jesus must have felt when he took a took a blind man and healed his eyes. Wow what a rush. But he put joy in that mans heart. I think the only way to heaven is when people treat you like your already in heaven. Lets do it now instead of waiting. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/10/2008 6:53:51 PM | | hello... a Christian is a follower of Jesus .. Jesus is a Mirror of God The Father.. if you know One then you have met The Other.. only those who love God and His Perfect Law and Government would find any Joy and Peace in Eternity under Gods Reign... if you long for Gods Holy Family you would seek out God in praise and thanksgiving.. the notion that a person who Hates Gods Ways and would end up in His Eternal Presence is a silly as the notion that God would force anyone to enjoy His Ways ... free choice is what it is and it is a gift offered to every living person, amen... in His Love warmly Mona | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/10/2008 9:45:42 PM | My friend who is a priest told me that Heaven is however you want it to be.
Lots of food and drink without worrying about getting fat or drunk Cool ocean breezes, and plenty of loving folks all around. Puppies, beautiful flowers, kittens and gorgeous landscapes. Sounds good to me! | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/10/2008 9:52:20 PM |
hello... a Christian is a follower of Jesus .. Jesus is a Mirror of God The Father.. if you know One then you have met The Other.. only those who love God and His Perfect Law and Government would find any Joy and Peace in Eternity under Gods Reign... if you long for Gods Holy Family you would seek out God in praise and thanksgiving.. the notion that a person who Hates Gods Ways and would end up in His Eternal Presence is a silly as the notion that God would force anyone to enjoy His Ways ... free choice is what it is and it is a gift offered to every living person, amen... in His Love warmly Mona
The notion that ONLY Christians can know the creator, spiritual truth, and might enjoy the possibility of an eternity of peace and joy in an afterlife is pretty silly too...but you can believe whatever you want. Just don't feel like you have to share it in those words on these forums because here, we're all created equal and frankly no one is interested in "exclusivity of truth" as this site is designed to embrace a plurality of truths and opinions whether some people like it or not.
Hail Bacchus, BOOM SHIVA! RA-men. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/11/2008 2:31:54 PM | An interesting speculation....and that is all it may be. The question is based on the unproven premise, that heaven actually exists , or at least will exist at some time in the future. Unfortunately, the assumed existence of heaven, has been as much a bane to man's existence as it has been a benefit. The whole concept of heaven is the carrot side of the carrot and stick system of motivation to believe in religious doctrine / dogma.......the faithfull believers will go to heaven.....the faithless disbelievers will not.
The difficulty lies in which particular god is the real deal, and which god / gods are the phonies.......therein lies the dillema. All the christians punting on their trifecta being the winners will be pretty surprised if some "ring in" from another stable is the actual winner.
Personally, I'm not much for gambling...it's a mugs game. The odds are in favour of the bookies.
For further information on the wisdom of punting on god....refer to commentary on Pascal's Wager
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_Wager | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/11/2008 3:55:09 PM | | I've asked around here in my home town of Maryville, TN, and the consensus seems to be that only the Baptists are going to heaven (except for the ones that went to high school dances.) | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/11/2008 4:11:39 PM | I hope that it's true that only christians go to heaven.... there are too many of them shooting their mouths off about things they have absolutely no idea about.
"AND JESUS WANTS THIS... AND GOD WANTS THIS AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE PARTS OF THE TRIPE WE PREACH ARE IN A 2000 YEAR OLD BOOK THAT SAYS THAT GOD ACTUALLY USED TO TALK TO PEOPLE (until people started wising up a bit)" | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/11/2008 8:52:45 PM | A Jesuit theologist* coined the term "Anonymous Christian."
This term is used for anyone who is not a Christian. So according to this school of thought, there is no such thing as a non-Christian.
So if you're not a Christian, you'll still get into Catholic heaven. | |
|
| |
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/15/2008 4:41:05 PM |
Do you believe that when someone dies, they have to be a "Christian" in order to be allowed into Heaven?
Heaven isn't described in the Bible as a place where people go when they die. I know that's what everyone believes, but take a look at what the Bible says and see for yourself. The phrase the Kingdom of heaven has been misinterpreted to mean a Kingdom in heaven.
Matthew 5 talks about the poor in spirit inheriting the kingdom of heaven, and the gentle inheriting the earth. Unless people are going to be divided up into two groups- the poor in spirit and the gentle- then the kingdom of heaven must be on earth. If not, gentle Christians better change and start being poor in spirit if they want to go to heaven, because the gentle aren't going there!  Matthew goes on to talk about the persecuted and the peacemakers in addition to the poor in spirit/gentle, and all of these descriptions are obviously referring to only one group of people. It closes by saying "your reward in heaven is great". This verse just says the reward is in heaven; it doesn't say Christians are going to heaven.
Revelations 5:9~10 says the kingdom of God will reign upon the earth, not in heaven. God already reigns in heaven. If everyone is going to heaven or hell after Revelations as so many people believe, why would anyone be reigning on earth? Especially Christians?
Matthew 11:12 says the kingdom of God suffers violence and violent men take it by force. Are violent men climbing up into heaven and storming the pearly gates? Rhetorical question of course. . . the kingdom of heaven is right here on earth.
In Matthew 23:13 the pharisees are condemned for shutting off the kingdom of heaven from people. Are the pharisees posted up outside the pearly gates not letting people go in?
In John 14:2~3 Jesus says He left to prepare a place for Christians- but He didn't say Christians would be going to that place. Instead He said He would be coming back to receive Christians. Acts 3:19~21 backs this up saying heaven received Jesus until the appointed time when He will come back.
The place He is preparing is described in detail in many places. IICor 5:1~2 describes this dwelling place that is in heaven, and that this dwelling place will be coming to Christians from heaven (Most of Christianity thinks the opposite, that they are going to heaven to get it ).
Philippians 3:20 says Christians are citizens of heaven, from which we await a Savior. Having citizenship doesn't imply residing in a place. Someone can be a citizen of Germany and be in the US. Someone can be a citizen of heaven and (obviously) be on the earth.
Hebrews 11:16 goes on to describe the dwelling place as a city Jesus has prepared for Christians. Hebrews 12:22~29 goes on to describe the city as "heavenly Jerusalem", which is for those enrolled in heaven (citizens of heaven, Phil 3:20). Then it describes this city being received by Christians on the earth.
Revelations 21:1~4 is the fulfillment of all of the above, when Jesus returns to an earth completely destroyed by the battle of Armageddon with the city He went away to prepare for Christians. He will then dwell among His people. The ungodly have all been destroyed in the war, and peace will usher in on earth.
Non- Christians aren't sent to "hell", they suffer eternal destruction away from the presence of the living God and His glory. Not being destroyed eternally; as in a constant, unending agony of pain and punishment. There is no such thing as hell according to the Bible; only Sheol which is the grave. Suffering eternal destruction simply means one will cease to exist- for all eternity. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/16/2008 1:54:24 AM | temp1980 said
Suffering eternal destruction simply means one will cease to exist- for all eternity.
It seems that i have ceased to exist for a very long time, prior to my conception, why should i be so greatly concerned that I shall cease to be for a very long time after my death?
Should I give credence to one superstitious mythology over other alternative superstitious mythologies, with the self interested intention of living eternally??? It is a pretty petty diety whose sole concern is sorting sheep from goats amongst his/hers/its/their hominid creations. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/16/2008 6:36:21 PM | Yeah, Catholic Heaven is cool--as my friend who is a Catholic priest said, heaven is whatever you want it to be--eat drink and be merry!!! And best of all many Catholics like myself believe that everyone ultimately ends up in Heaven. There is no "exclusivity" in Catholic heaven--people of any or no faith are welcome! No one religion is the "true" religion, and God welcomes everyone He has created Home when people are ready for heaven. Some make a beeline (saved) while others have a learning curve. It's all good!! My friend who was a Muslim made a beeline for sure--he was one of the kindest and most loving people I ever knew. Salmon, spuds and beer sound good to me!!!
   =Catholic Heaven | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/17/2008 8:14:38 PM | Going to Heaven? I kinda think we just keep circling the block... I only really believe in one place and this is it.
Barriers we don't know how to breach (or manmade ones like borders) are the only things that make this one place many.
Earth got alot smaller once we breached the barrier of water... The universe could be next.
The multiverse is my Heaven. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/21/2008 6:42:45 PM | If Jesus was the Son of God and died as payment for the sins of sinners for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, then this is a noble thing that one man should die for the sins of many, but if the death of Christ did not for once and all purchase the sinners away from the just rewards then his death was for nothing and is a crime that the Father loved the world more then he loved his only son; to love a stranger far away from you over the child near you is a crime.
So to say that God allowed his son to die for your sins is not a complete saying for Jesus did not die for you but for all sinners everywhere and with his blood purchased all sinners. To say that Jesus died only for those that believe like you is a lie for you are a sinner and have fallen short just like every other person on the Earth.
God is not a respecter of persons the Jew, the Muslim, the Buddhist, the Christian are all the same to God they are ALL sinners worthy of death but have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. To say anything less is to make the Gift of Gods Son ineffective in the intent to purchase the sinners unto redemption.
The saying goes that you were saved why your were a sinner by the blood of Christ this must be true for all sinners or the blood of Christ was for nothing and God loved the world and gave his son for nothing or Jesus died for those that are not saved and that is a crime. But Jesus did not die for nothing for by his blood ALL were saved.
Now that ALL sinners are saved what is left is growing in his love.
So if you need to be saved by the blood of Christ to get to Heaven you either have been or Christ died for nothing. What is then a factor is your works and what you did with the grace given to you. Did you bury your grace in the ground or did you invest it and put it to work. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/21/2008 8:58:04 PM | Christians except and profess that Jesus died for them while they were sinners. How is it that the can say that Jesus did not die for the sinner next to them when to God you are both the same, sinners
So if you need to be saved by the blood of Christ to get to Heaven you either have been or Christ died for nothing. What is then a factor is your works and what you did with the grace given to you. Did you bury your grace in the ground or did you invest it and put it to work.
What can we add to being saved by grace.
grace plus you have to believe
grace + believe + believe that he is the Son of God
grace + believe + believe that he is the Son of God + that God raised him from the dead
grace + believe + believe that he is the Son of God + that God raised him from the dead + church on Sunday + tithing + plus this + plus that +plus, plus, plus.
People are either saved by the GRACE of Gods gift or the gift wasn't worth very much. It is what you do with the grace that makes a difference.
That man has the power to send himself to hell by rejecting Jesus makes man out to be a god, and is not in line with scripture.
God has already given man his grace that can not be denied or even rejected, what man can do is in the face of the grace of God travel down paths that are not growing in the love of God but separating, running or hiding from God.
A person can say that they reject that the Christ has come but if the Christ has come saying that you reject him or his teaching does not change that he has come, and if through this Christ salvation was brought to the world by the command of God saying that you reject that salvation is empty words as man has not the power to command that the salvation be withdrawn
If he only came for those that are saved the is no need for salvation as they are saved it is those that are lost and in dire straights that need a savior the righteous have their works to speak for them for their faith is evident by their works.
So it is not up to man if he is to go to heaven or go to hell man has not that power to decide God must grant your request to go to hell as you have been purchased by the blood of Christ and he owns you if you ask him on judgment day to go to hell he may grant your request as why would he want someone in heaven that doesn't want to be there. Until that day that you stand before him you have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.
Everyone has received the Grace of Gods salvation it is what you do with that grace that counts. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/22/2008 9:32:52 AM | Well, the concept of a heavenly afterlife abode is preChristian in origin and can be found throughout the various Indo-European mythologies... and no doubt beyond them as well.
In Anglo-Nordic belief, heaven is the home of "stars"... of those who have earned glorious repute by virtue of their deeds here on Earth. It is not open to everyone, and the surest sign that one has ascended to a heavenly afterlife is the strength and quality of the reputation they leave behind.
As for Christianity; the Bible speaks of Judgement Day, the resurrection of the dead, and the recreation of the Garden of Eden here on Earth.
So, you tell me, are Christians the "only one's" going to Heaven? Are any of them going to Heaven based on their own mythology? | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/22/2008 11:22:26 AM | | If there is a "Heaven" No you dont have to be just Christian to get in. lol Not all believers in God are Christian. lol Thats a ignorant question and if you answered yes then your not a Christian or dont understand your own Bible! | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/22/2008 11:25:56 AM | | Remeber Christians...........the reason you are a Christian is not because you believe in God its because you praise Jesus. lol I find it so funny that people dont even get there own belief. Every religion has a praising person. Catholics praise Jesus's mom Mary right? They still beleive in God and praise God right? There going to Heaven. lol Thats according to the Christian Bible. Wow!!!!!! | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/28/2008 12:52:59 PM | ben696:
"Do you believe that when someone dies, they have to be a "Christian" in order to be allowed into Heaven? Just curious as to your thoughts and opinions. "
The Bible makes clear that Jesus was raised from the dead and that he went to heaven. Also, it says that other humans would be taken there. On the night before his death, Jesus told his faithful apostles: “In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going my way to prepare a place for you. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you also may be.”—John 14:1-3.
Clearly, Jesus was telling his apostles that they would be taken to heaven to be with him. The apostle Paul often told early Christians about that hope. For example, he wrote: “As for us, our citizenship exists in the heavens, from which place also we are eagerly waiting for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20, 21; Romans 6:5; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2)
Who does not go there?
Shortly after Jesus was raised from the dead, the apostle Peter told a crowd of Jews: “The family head David . . . both deceased and was buried and his tomb is among us to this day. Actually David did not ascend to the heavens.” (Acts 2:29, 34) So the good man David did not go to heaven. What about the righteous man Job? While suffering, Job prayed to God: “O that in Sheol [the grave] you would conceal me, that you would keep me secret until your anger turns back, that you would set a time limit for me and remember me!” Job expected that when he died he would become unconscious in the grave. He knew he would not go to heaven. But he had hope, as he explained: “If an able-bodied man dies can he live again? All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait, until my relief comes. You will call, and I myself shall answer you.”—Job 14:13-15. John, who baptized Jesus, was also a good man. Yet Jesus said: “A person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is.” (Matthew 11:11) This is so because John the Baptizer will not go to heaven. When Jesus was on earth he said: “No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man.”—John 3:13. According to Jesus’ own words, no man had gone to heaven for all those 4,000 years of human history down until his day. David, Job and John the Baptizer will receive a resurrection to life on earth. In fact, all faithful men and women who died before Jesus died had the hope of living again on earth, not in heaven. They will be resurrected to become some of the earthly subjects of God’s kingdom.—Psalm 72:7, 8; Acts 17:31.
Those who go to heaven, what will they do there?
Those who go to heaven will share with Jesus in his work. They go to heaven for that very purpose. They inherit the kingdom and will rule as kings and priests. This is a loving gesture on the part of God because through Jesus's blood sacrifice they recieved an adoption as spiritual sons. The fact that they have once lived as humans will qualify them to be just and fair in the way they judge the people on the earth.
Long before Jesus came to the earth, the Bible book of Daniel foretold that the “son of man” would be “given rulership.” The “Son of man” is Jesus Christ. (Mark 14:41, 62) And Daniel goes on to say: “His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.”—Daniel 7:13, 14.
The “son of man” is not to rule alone. The Bible says: “And the kingdom and the rulership . . . were given to the people who are the holy ones of the Supreme One. Their kingdom is an indefinitely lasting kingdom.” (Daniel 7:27) Jesus said: "Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/28/2008 3:23:32 PM | | The Bible isnt the only religious text that uses the word "Heaven" so understand that not only christians go to this place. What I am saying. dont just read the bible for this answer read all religions then get back to me. Again Catholics believe in the same God as Christians only thing is one praises Jesus and one Mary. So is what your telling me that Catholics cant go to Heaven cause they praise mary rather than Jesus? lol Jesus would be a cold person then to turn you down cause you praise his mom over him (someone I am sure jesus praised himself.) | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/28/2008 3:26:36 PM | from everything i have read and learnt over the last few years, it is my opinion that we have no choice we all go to heaven weather we like it or not.
a couple of reasons
1st reason for this is our soul is a small piece of god every living thing has a soul so when we or anything dies the soul can only return to god or heaven.
2nd reason other than hanging around and just haunting someware or whatever there is no where else to go, i believe hell dont exist it was a catholic invention to scare and control people. | |
|
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/28/2008 4:05:18 PM | When I was in the first grade, my dog was killed when he was run over by a car.
I was told he went to heaven - where there was lots of room to run around and play with no cars to worry about...where he could have all the milk-bones he wanted...and where God would throw a ball for him all day.
I'm pretty sure my dog was not a Christian. | |
|
| |
| Are Christians the only ones going to Heaven???
Posted: 3/29/2008 3:25:49 AM | " Are christians the only one's going to heaven?"
Sorry...can't make a bit of sense out of the ridiculous idea that christians are the only ticketholders to heaven...never have been able to. It seems almost ludicrous to think they are the only people that can possibly enter the kingdom of heaven. There are so many religions in the world, as well as different beliefs within those very religions....some alot older than christianity, & the belief systems vary from 1 extreme to the other..these religions for the most part have their preachers, priests, reverands,pastors,mullas,etc. you get the point -holy men of most all religions telling you that you better believe what they say & live by their codes & laws ....or you're going to hell or their version of it... Ok....so , the people that follow these religions & believe that their God, Allah, etc. is the ONE to follow...& they practice & follow their religion faithfully everyday...good, honest, loving,kind,caring,gentle people who live life believing in their God...but because they werent christians.....they arent worthy of heaven & go to...eternal damnation in some big friggin fiery pit of torture forever....YIKES?? 1st of all....how damn presumptutious! 2nd of all, what kind of loving, merciful & forgiving God is that?? If that truly ends up being the case (not)...it would appear that it's all kinda a cosmic joke at our expense right? The best we can do as his "children" is guess which religion is the "correct" 1 to follow...follow it the best we can...have faith....& hope for the best! What if muslims..or hindus are the winners in the religion lotto....Wow.. are christians gonna be pissed!! Do you really think God is that narcisistic...that this is all a game for his amusement & that as just mere humans in all of our infinate weakness...we can only hope to get it right when we call ourselves christians,muslims,buddists.&so on...the rest of us are just sh it outta luck...no matter how good we are? Me personally...I think he would just prefer for us to all just be his children....& practice tolerance & celebrate diversity, to be kind & gentle..to help one another on this journey. True faith is in the heart..not in a certain building during certain hours on a particular day, reciting certain words from a particular book...while ostrisizing every other belief or thought that doesnt coincide with the 1 you happen to adhere to & have no tolerance for anything different. Organized religion is scary, its like a giant controlled cult in my opinion, & how do you control the masses? With fear...& who doesnt fear Hell? YIKES...it's a scary damn place ! Sorry.....I just cant make it all work! ....& ya know what? If thats the way it is .....If I could even get in...I'll pass...cause that would make God hateful and vengeful....I just dont particularly care for hateful beings | |
|
|
| Page 26 of 28
|
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 |
|
Home
login 
