Serious question now, I've noticed on here a lot of Christians saying "I'm going to heaven" and treating it

Question

like they have a divine right to do so, and therefore have the right to add "God's will" to everything they say. I don't think they should do this, if you have read the Bible you will know (as I do) that God does get a bit irritable with people who take him for granted and take advantage of him, (Job, the people in the flood, Adam and Eve) and tends to punish them. So I think the saying should be "I hope I will go to heaven" after all as Kipling said "Take things for granted and they will be taken from you"

What do you all think ?

Let me make this clear when I say a LOT, I don't mean ALL Christians.

I'm sure some of you on here don't take Heaven for granted, but I know some do. That's the people I'm talking about.

Answer 1

In Spanish you don't say I will go to heaven. One says,"ojala, que vaya al cielo" I hope that I will go to heaven. or - you say something and preface it with,"si Dios es servido". for example, I will go, if God is to be served, or if it's God's will. I guess that you are right, don't take God for granted.

Answer 2

I agree with you. I hate to hear people say that they do not have to work for there salvation. If you don't have to work for it then what is the point? If you really love Christ then wouldn't you strive to do what is right and be sorry when you didn't? It is an easy way out, it is twisting the word, and it is plain lazy. Just saying you believe in Jesus and God isn't enough. I disagree with the pictures though. I don't see why you would have to have them, but I can see why some would want them. I think most of the pictures of Christ are inaccurate. They didn't start making pictures of Christ till thousands of years later. Most of the pictures of Christ look like a white guy and not like a Jewish man of 2000 years ago.

Answer 3

As a Christian I agree. Remember the old spiritual that says "everybody talking about heaven ain't going there"?
And Jesus didn't spend a lot of time talking about Heaven as he did encouraging us to remember that if we want to be welcomed in to his kingdom we'd better care for the less fortunate and be of service to others otherwise he might say he does even know us! Oops, so much for easy salvation or faith without works!
Having said that I have to think that this is true of all religious people in general, not just Christians, the tendency to pride and self righteousness, as Jesus was pretty hard on folks like that; Scribes and Pharisees.
Good point-maybe we should spend alittle more time doing what's right and and less time worrying about what others believe.

Answer 4

A true "born again" Christian who makes every effort can know if they are Heaven bound or not... but what are the odds in this? Once I heard some statistics I will never forget... they went something like this -

100% of people who claim to be Christian believe they are going to Heaven... Of this group, a large percentage have;
* never been "born again",
* do not believe in Satan,
* do not go to church,
* do not read their bibles...
* do not serve at any capacity beyond membership

The resulting percentage who were responsible enough to do all of these things were something like 12%...To which out of them only about half, a whopping 6% were faithful enough to attend other weekly services.

This tiny percentage has been said to be the remnant or the few that find the narrow path that leads to life...

I truly believe this, as this knowledge changed my look at how serious I am about eternity.

Answer 5

You've raised some cogent points. This could really open a can of worms, but Job was not punished by God. Satan just wanted someone to steal away from God. God knew what a righteous man Job was and knew that Satan would not succeed, so He allowed Job to be tormented.

Calvinists believe that people were predestined by God to be
one of the chosen, or one of the not chosen. They basically think that the chosen ones are guaranteed a place in heaven no matter how they live their lives; and that the others are doomed to hell.

I believe that as long as I live by God's laws and am repentant of my sins that I will go to heaven. Kipling has sage advice, but unfortunately I don't think it was God-breathed.

Peace <><

Answer 6

yes i agree... in fact i think a HUGE amount of people are going to be upset when they step over into the next life. some people around here speak as if they are too good to be damned.

forgive me but Job didn't do anything to rouse God's anger... the people in the flood were just oblivious to God and wanted it that way, adam and eve couldn't stay in the garden because the tree of eternal life was there, and God couldn't be around them any longer because they sinned.

and if you are indeed learned in the bible you'll know that Jesus said, let not your heart be TROUBLED, you believe in God, believe also in me, for in my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so i would have told you. and if i go there to prepare a place for you, i will return and recieve you unto myself.

God wants us to have a sure faith. not to be troubled with doubt wether or not we'll get in. i was sure about it when i first accepted Christ and im more sure than ever today. I hold God to His word... He wants me to.

Answer 7

Jesus warned against such false confidence in Matt 7:13-14:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Of God's several requirements for a saving relationship with him, one is to endure to the end:

Matthew 10:22: And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Luke 21:16-18: You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 8

If christians make sacrifices to better the world and the people of the world then they do have a right to make out they have a better relationship with god,

by saying things that cause offence, that will irratate god regardless of what they do

Answer 9

Job,The people in the flood, and Adam and Eve were all under the old covenants. You know, "Today I have set before you life and death, choose life".
The new covenant brought by the Messiah (Jesus) is one paid for. No sacrifices, rituals etc. Jesus said He makes all things new. This is the belief of a Christian, not of the world. The faith of the Christian is that God sent His own Son to to be the final sacrifice. His death laid way for the Spirit to dwell with man and not in the inner court of the Temple.
This Bible that you speak of tells of what faith is. Not only believing that God exsist but also believing that He rewards them who posesses faith (Hebrews 11:6).
You quote Kipling, I quote words from the Bible of which I live out in my daily life.
You want a serious answer? Well, Jesus left behind The Spirit of the Living God of Abraham, Issiac, and Jacob. I have received that Spirit and walk out my life accordingly. Jesus said plainly that in Him one has life (zoe - the life of God).
It amazes me that all religons on earth do not have that promise, yet the Bible states as much; and people find it offensive. Sure there are people that porclaim much in ignorance waiving the banner of Christianity. But that is people. The words of Jesus (take them or leave them) are clear, as were the Apostles. A Christian will have fruit (proof of God's blessings) in their life. All others are in the bond of religion.
Show me what a man or woman does with his money, and I will show you if he or she is displaying the fruit of the Spirit.
You said "(as I do)" - but are you rightly discerning the Word of God? It seems to me you have made it through the Torah but not the New Testament.

Answer 10

I believe we all go somewhere after the physical world, whether we believe in God or not.

I also believe that, as in this life, like attracts like. Therefore, there is not one place where we all go. Therefore, in my opinion, it is perfectly possible for someone who doesn't believe in God to go to a nicer, more aware, more evolved and loving place than a Christian who maybe isn't the nicest person.