What do you think is more important to God?

Question

The nature of your heart and the way you treat others, or the way that you follow rules and regulations?

For example, you see people that don't listen to secular music, don't watch secular television, are very particular about the clothes that they wear ... do you think that any of that stuff really matters to God?

Answer 1

The nature of your heart, no doubt!

God called King David in the old testament a "man after God's own heart" and yet he forced a woman to commit adultery and then had her husband killed!

What you do or how "obedient" you are all flows from having a good relationship with Christ, it is a result.
Never make a goal out of a result.

Answer 2

Honestly, I think the most important thing to God is whether or not a person accepts His Son, Jesus.
After that, I believe it's the way you treat others. We are to treat them the way we'd like to be treated.
As far as the rules & regulations you mentioned, I'd say people should quit trying to tell other people how to live, and let God deal with those things Himself.

Answer 3

Clearly its the former in your statement. Im not religious. I chose to give up the catholic faith. Im not sure if there is a God (although im leaning towards no). But if I lead a good life and treat others well, and there turns out there is a God, do you think I will go to hell (if there is one)??? Some how I dont think so.

In my life, Ive found true wisdom in some places you wouldn't expect to find it. Heres a quote from the movie "Kindom of Heaven" that hit home with me. Hope it does with you too.

"I put no stock in religion. By the word “Religion”, I’ve seen the lunacy of fanatics of every domination be called the Will of God. Holiness is in right action."

Answer 4

My religion teaches that it is what is in the heart that matters. The Bhagavad Gita has a line that says "whether you offer me fruit, leaf, twig, or stone, if it is offered with love and devotion in your heart to me I will accept it" (i.e. that it's not what you do, but what's in your heart). Another line from the Bhagavad Gita says "Though a person be soiled with the sins of a lifetime let them but love me in utter devotion: I see no sinner, that person is holy." Over and over again the many sacred texts of many religions talk about how it's one's focus, what's in one's heart, that matters most. As one Hindu guru said in answering a person's question during a talk at the temple, the questioner asked something about doing something "right" and how to do it "right". The guru smiled, looked at him and she said "What is taught is just a suggestion to help you, there is no wrong way, but the right way for you your heart will direct you to do. It is what is in your heart while you do the practice that matters, not the practice itself."

Excellent question.

Peace be with you.

Answer 5

Legalism leads to cultism..Second- God weighs the heart of a man. Read Matthew 17, Mark 7:6 and Isaiah 29:13..They're cross referenced but they talk about how God sees the hearts of people..Check it out! God bless!

Answer 6

God said "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8&9
There is nothing wrong with listening to Christian radio or wearing modest clothing but God won't let you into heaven on the basis of this kind of thing. God wants people who belong to Him to be examples of good and modest behavior but, again, God isn't manipulated by our attempts to collect brownie points.
If we have committed our lives to Christ than we are responsible to God for the way we present ourselves to the world. If we do not belong to Christ then all the good behavior that we do is just posturing for the appreciation of other people. It means nothing to God.

Answer 7

I only no how i feel and how i would like to be treated and that is how i treat people,I don't no about GOD and all that stuff.I watch horror movies and I love my husband.I don't go to church because I don't believe in them. I'm not talking about the people who go to the Church's just the people who run the Church.

Answer 8

I firmly believe that God is far more interested in the nature of your heart and the way you treat others.

Answer 9

The only thing that matters to God is if we are born again (saved) and have accepted Jesus as our Savior, and follow His ways. Once a person is saved God sends the Holy Spirit to convict them and they change and turn from sin, although we do stumble once in a while. We are all sinners! Not one of us deserves Heaven. Your works, cloths, and being nice will not get you there, only salvation through Jesus Christ will. This is all that matters to God.

Answer 10

The way you treat others, including animals, and the Earth, and the rest of the universe.