Who’s going to heaven? Depending on who you ask, even among Christians, you are going to get very different answers from what you might be thinking. While I believe Jesus makes it pretty clear who will be saved, I’m not going to talk about that now. What I want to discuss is which Christians are going to heaven.
You might be shocked by the fact that I would even bring this up, but to give you a better idea of why I am interested in this topic, let me start off with a joke.
There was a man who died and went to Heaven. Once he got there, Peter gave him a tour. They went to the throne room, the man saw his mansion, the whole shebang. On the tour, they passed a walled off city that was separate from the rest of heaven. Peter didn’t say anything about it, and so the man decided to ask.
“Who lives there?” the man asked.
Peter answered, “Oh, that’s the [insert denomination of choice]. They think they’re the only ones here.
While this joke may have gotten a few chuckles, the sad truth is that many Christian groups have what I call “exclusive theology,” or theology that is based on only their group going to Heaven or the “fact” that other groups won’t be going to Heaven. It actually makes me sick that division runs within the church so deeply that people are excluding their own family from the benefits that they have the right to inherit.
So, I want to give some facts about who will be in heaven. To some of you, this will be old news. To others, you may be startled that I would say such things.
- There will be Catholics in Heaven
- There will be Protestants in Heaven
- There will be Orthodoxes in Heaven
- Some Popes will probably be in Heaven, but not necessarily all of them
- There will be at least one person you would have never have guessed will be there
- There will be someone you expect to see who is not there
- All races will be represented
- All denominations will (probably) be represented–>I say probably because I don’t know about every single denomination that has or will exist, but I would guess that, if not all, then most will be
- There will be people in Heaven who only use the KJV translation
- There will be people in Heaven who hate the KJV translation
- There will be people in Heaven who have never read the Bible
- There will be people who have every single verse of the Bible memorized
- There will be people who used musical instruments in worship (before you laugh at this one, I was actually told I was going to Hell for going to a church that used instruments)
- There will be people who have never been to a worship service that had instruments
This isn’t nearly an exhausted list, but I think you get my point. Yes, different groups of Christians will have differing opinions in theology. But can we all agree that we are one body in Christ? We all believe in the same Jesus. Isn’t that enough to be able to actually work together instead of tear each other down? Should we keep each other accountable? Definitely, but it should be out of love, not trying to prove whether or not one side is right or wrong.
Honestly I wouldn’t want to say for sure that there will be X (or there won’t be X) in heaven.
And of course, whoever is in heaven will – if X is right – be X since they will have the truth revealed to them directly by God.
But… it’s not “differing opinions in theology” that will keep X out if X don’t make it to heaven.
I mean, one has to admit – from a Catholic perspective for instance – the sacraments are – or at least ought to be something necessary – how are people made “one body in Christ”? Through the shared Eucharist. So how can a completely non-sacramental protestant be in that same body? Oh sure, on some level they may be open to God’s mercy – and God is merciful and can take mercy on anyone – that’s a wonderful and reassuring thought. But if the sacraments ARE needful – then there is definitely a loss in not having them, a loss that may well mean the difference between salvation and not.
If it doesn’t – what is the point of anyone being Catholic (or Orthodox)? Why is there a Church and a Sacramental life if not to aid people in attaining salvation?
It’s dangerous to be non-exclusionary in a way, because it degrades the value of these things which are so valuable.
I agree with you in the fact that, at some point, you do have to start excluding people. No, not everyone who has ever lived will be in Heaven, and certainly not everyone who calls himself a Christian will be saved. Hell is a very real place. However, I don’t know if the number of times that someone takes communion is going to determine their salvation. I grew up in a church that took communion every week, and so it is something that is important to me, and I do believe that it is important.
To your question of what is the point of being Catholic or Orthodox–I don’t know what the point is in being either of those traditions, and there isn’t really a point in choosing one denomination over another (that includes all denominations). I don’t belong to either of those traditions, and so there is definitely a lot that I don’t understand about them. For me, I don’t choose where to go to church based off of a specific tradition or denomination. I go to church based on 1) whether or not the God is moving, 2) whether or not the people actually do what they preach, 3)whether or not what they do is based on love, and several other factors. The point of going to these churches is that I am challenged, the preachers speak truth, I can worship freely, and the congregation actually does what the Bible says. It doesn’t matter what denomination/tradition officially is as long as the congregation itself is doing what needs to be done.
Well, that’s fair enough for a person outside of one of those traditions to say – so long as you acknowledge you are actively saying those traditions are wrong on something that they think is essential.
Because if you talk about how everyone should just get along but aren’t willing to confront the serious differences in what different traditions believe Christianity is, then you are basically doing the same as someone who says “all religions are the same” is doing (even if you restrict it to Christianity). To say that is basically saying “all exclusive religions are wrong” which is also saying that all religions are not the same since some (those that make exclusive claims) are wrong whilst others (those that don’t) are right.
For the traditional Churches a Church is not the same thing as what a Church is to a protestant (any kind of non Catholic/Orthodox/Old Believer etc Christian). To them the Church is a visible body, the body of Christ, both created and affirmed through physical communion in the Liturgy and the Mass. Membership of the Church is not about the “times you take communion” – it IS communion. Which is not to say it is impossible to be Christian and not commune (for one, all the sacraments, including baptism are interconnected so to experience one in some sense is to partake of them all) – but it does emphasise the very real and concrete importance to those Churches of the thing – not just as a symbolism, not just to give a particular experience – but to really and concretely join a person with Christ and with the Church.
Likewise, in both Churches there is a strong belief that the Eucharist cannot be brought about – for instance, without a priesthood. And a priesthood with a legitimate succession. These are not just ideological beliefs – they speak of a tangible concrete reality – which if broken from – means to break from the tangible ability to connect with the reality of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Thanks so much for commenting. You make some really great points, especially from the Catholic perspective. I definitely want to keep this conversation going. So, hopefully, I’ll be able to make a better reply sometime in the near future. I also wanted to let you know that I’m working on another post that is going to look at what the Bible says (especially what Jesus said) about how to be saved. I hope that you will read it when I get it finished.
Ametanoia,
I am a Catholic and I truly believe in all what the Church teaches. But I also know the Bible speaks of a sin which God hates and that is a sin which causes discord among the bretheren.
I am also a convert and I do so love all of my Protestant Brothers and Sisters.
And I do agree with you that many are going to be astounded when they get to heaven. It is not up to us to kick people out of God’s family because of the Church they go to. It is God’s family not ours. He is the Creator we are not.
The Catholic Church teaches that Protestants and Muslims alike are our Brothers and Sisters, due to the fact of a common belief in God.
This is what I do. I leave who is and who not is going to heaven up to God. He is the One who will make that call in the end. Not us.
I myself love them all. If I see someone I think maybe will go the other way, I pray for them.
To me that is the best we can do, outside of living our own lives in love and giving this love to others. To weed out so to speak, is not an option for me.
I wish everyone could be Catholic as it has been a wonderful and beautiful gift to me from our Lord. But I tell you what, if I go to heaven, what I see in your heart I will see you there also.
Won’t that be a great day for us both?
God Bless and thank you so much for caring. Sandy
I believe that God will judge each heart. Churches that preach that you must become a member of their church to enter heaven concern me. What they are really doing is negating John 3:16 They are placing themselves between you and Christ as an additional intercessor. Anything that attempts to take glory from God, and his wonderous gift of magnificent love for us, cannot possibly be right. Some churches have a Pope or a Prophet, others have an entire board of directors telling them what to believe. It becomes very confusing and actually plays into the hands of Athiest, who often site such churches as a reason for unbelief. Most of these Athiest seem very inspired of hate toward Christians. Certainly anything that inspires hatred must be wrong.
Division, according to the theme of love, that I’ve found in the Bible, is strictly between believers and unbelievers period.
I did not say these thing to cause any kind of decension, but, because this is my personal belief and I wanted to offer a different perspective. May God Bless You in the name of our lord Jesus Christ.
[...] August 14, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized — ametanoia @ 11:32 am In the previous post, I started the conversation of who is actually going to heaven. I’ve gotten some great [...]
I am anxiously awaiting your post regarding “how to be saved” and will without hesitation read it.
God Bless
Dear Ametanoia,
I have just posted a post regarding the “praying to the Saints” the title is “Biblical Reason for Praying to the Saints/By a Convert.”
I thought you may be interested not to “Convert” you or make you believe, so that in the interest of Christian unity you would at least understand and could present it to others if need be.
I like you believe in Christian unity and faith, and the first step to this is understanding the word “why?”
Just thought it might be of interest to you. It is posted on Catholic blog. God Bless, Sandy
I think you speak some truths! I mean the little things aren’t what get you Saved, it’s the simple fact of whether or not you believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, died for your sins and rose again. The things in between are quite irrelevant. I often think of that list you made myself. I wonder who will be in Heaven that will surprise me! Not in a judging way, just you never know what’s in someone’s heart!
Thanks for the input in my 20SB discussion on blog reading/following. I will definitely be following you, it’s nice to find find fellow Christian bloggers!
It amazes me to see all the reasons people have in order to get to heaven
when Romans 10-9 and 10 give the simple, and I mean simple way you can
make it.If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, that means repent and believe in
your heart that God raised Him, Jesus form the dead you shall be saved, for
with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Now if you accept His testimony and you are saved start growing in His word for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I write this with the love of Jesus Christ, may God bless you. Evangelist Raymond King.