isn't being a Christian somewhat selfish because of the desire to go to heaven?

Question

ok wow I'm not trying to be rude or sound dumb...I honestly just haven't learned much about Christianity ok geez sorry

Ok my intention wasn't for this question to sound "judgmental and mean". Also for the person who told me to educate myself, I do try to learn about different religions in my free time but I have other things I need to learn about for my school and job.

Answer 1

I guess if you believe that i am # 1 Selfish......

Answer 2

I've had many times of selfish impulse or selfish behavior. However, I became a Christian when I was 18 and suicidal. Some people told me about Jesus and I asked Him to help me, to rescue me. And actually it was quite "self-centered" - like a drowing person is self centered. I was desperate and grabbed hold onto what they offered. As the weeks went by I began to learn what Christianity was and who Jesus was. Having a relationship with Him eventually began to develop new things in my character and I became less selfish as time goes by.

It isn't selfishness at the bottom of my desire to go to heaven - it is homesickness. Heaven is where God is and I want very much to be there with Him. When I do get to go there I will be free from the selfish impulses that, even now, cross my thoughts.

My desire is to enable other people to know Jesus. He has meant everything to me and I want other people to descover how wonderful He is. His love and kindness saved my physical life and also gave me a new spiritual life. He reached out to me and saved me, so I can't actually be accused of selfishness in desiring to go to heaven. It is only natural for a "child" to want to go home to a loving "Father".

I wish everyone knew my Father and how wonderful He is. He is willing to keep building new rooms onto His home so anyone who comes will have a place to stay! =)

edit: Ecka, hang in there and don't be discouraged about some of the responses you've gotten. It can be hard to communicate your meaning on paper. I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

Answer 3

No, because there is no conflict, unless you have the view that Heaven is a fun park and God is the fun park owner, whom you must appease to get in. But Christianity has always rejected that, which is truly selfish. But it is also bad theology. God is all good, all beauty, all truth. He is Heaven, the loving of Him is Heaven, this is called the Beatific Vision. Are you postulating something that you in particular want more than you want God ?

Answer 4

The desire to go to heaven isn't the only reason to become a Christian. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God and the second is like it to love your neighbor as yourself. Christianity is a religion that teaches that the only way to be great in the kingdom of heaven is to be like a servant. A true Christian will be selfless not selfish.

Answer 5

Well, you know, it could seem that way. But think about it: Selfishness is caring for only yourself, or for yourself above others. Wanting to go to heaven is not, in and of itself, selfish. If we wanted to go to heaven and had to send others to hell to do it... that would be selfish.

Instead, I've found that being a Christian and knowing I'm going to heaven have made me more fervently want to see others go to heaven as well. Christianity has made me altogether LESS selfish and self-serving than I ever was. When you realize what was done for you (someone else willingly dying for your wrongs), it makes you want to do things for others.

So, no, I would not call it selfishness. I would say Christianity inspires the opposite.

Answer 6

You have to live the life to be able to get into heaven. So how is that selfish. It is very hard to resist temptations of the world. I live a Christian life because I want to live on in eternity with the Lord. I do not want to be here when the tribulation occurs and everyone has to suffer. The church will be raptured and will not have to deal with the antichrist and all of that because we claimed him before that.

Answer 7

Hmm I agree that for many people the sole motivation of christianity is a desire to go to heaven. yes. is it selfish? lets define selfish..."to be concerned excessively for ones own welfare without regard for others." well you are right in that it does not regard others, it is selfish in that way. practicinga religion for the sole purpose of getting into heaven is incredibly misguided practice, and I shoudl htink if theres any justice in this world, wont work. but is this an excessive concern? no. i think concern for the afterlife is normal.

Answer 8

Sorry,I was unaware that is the goal for Christians,I thought that was the reward.Most suffer,have heartaches,are lonely,left to search their whole lives to make sense of loved ones leaving them,are sinning & asking continually for light to be a better person,often are judged to be Hippocrates because they are still human and they are not perfect,they want desperately to find Gods will in their lives, plummeted by the public.It is the hardest life you can choose ,yet we are drawn by his inward loving kindness,his undeniable need for human form to carry out his work.
NO, I do not think it is selfish.

Answer 9

I don't believe so. One could argue that, depending on what a person does to gain favor with God, persons who undertake special tasks such as charity, service, and overall good will _may_ be doing so not out of the goodness of their hearts and the inert need to help their fellow man, but rather to gain brownie points to cash in later for a one way ticket to Heaven. This however would be a severely biased and uninformed point.

Without any direct insight into the intent of persons who undertake this lifestyle, it would certainly be deemed unfair to assume the worse.

Answer 10

Yes it can be, but I like to focus more on altruism here in this life. Plus, if there is a Heaven, doesn't everyone want to go there? How is that selfish, it's an instinct?

Answer 11

As long as you desire good for yourself and are not depriving someone else that is not being selfish. Since it is not subject to the laws of time and space, it cannot become overcrowded. To a Christian the other choice is hell. That would be intentionally doing harm to yourself for the benefit of no one.