The over emphasis about who is going to heaven and who is not (as though anyone knew) is about as much a waste of time and arrogance as are the “ideas about heaven”. Of coruse on the otehr side of the coin driving people to heaven is the fear of hell. What ever happened to the love of God concept and living in the NOW? What about heaven and hell on earth (as it is in heaven)?

Unfortunately it has been the tradition of th church for thousands of years to make up a list of “qualifiers” that get one into heaven. It’s been akin to getting presents and gifts from Santa Claus. Santa (aka as God) is checking His list, and checking it twice, trying to make sure who has been naughty and who has been nice.

We brain-wash our church-trained children in Sunday School by teaching them that God loves little boys and girls who are GOOD! So, the first time a child does something on the “naughty list”, that child feels that God no longer loves them. And if they do enough bad things of coruse God has given up on them and to they give up on God as well.

What about teaching unconditonal love, mercy, and forgiveness?

Maybe even teach them that there’s going to one day be a NEW EARTH and maybe ALL (like in everyone) will one day be cleaned up and go to heaven. Follow the theory that heaven’s guardian gate is hell and we’ll ALL pass through on our way back to the Source of all life, and you don’t even have to worry about who is IN and who is OUT!

Why can’t we just leave the “punishment” stuff to the parents? The answer is because parnets have left training and disciplining to the church. And the church has been all to glad to step in and try to conform everyone to whatever “lists” of good and bad things ther are in life while skipping over the really good stuff. Oh yes and skipping over the embarrassing stuff like Matthew 21.

Have you been there recently?

Have you explained (maybe to yourself) what the author of Matthew meant when he said tax collectors (really bad people), and prostitutes (doubly bad people) will get to go to heaven before the religious leaders. So, who wants to be a pastor, minister, rabbi, or priest?

Why don’t we not waste time about who is and who isn’t going to heaven. Let’s just LOVE everyone, and judge NO ONE! Sounds to me like something Jesus did.