Reformed. Christianity. Evangelism. Modern Culture.
In today’s world it’s common to hear one thing and then before you blink find the statement has been amended. Well we men are fallible are we? A few Atheists were left irked when given a free Papal pass to Heaven by the only “infallible man” on earth the Roman Catholic Pope Francis himself and only to have a mere mortal who called himself a spokesman for the Vatican revoke their free pass the next second:
It’s sort of problematic to contradict someone who’s supposed to be the infallible voice of your religion, but that’s apparently what’s happened here. Refuting Pope Francis’ statements last week that those who “do good” will go to heaven, regardless of faith or lack thereof, the Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesman, has corrected his boss, saying those who know about the Catholic Church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.” So that’s pretty clear, we guess. There’s only one way to settle this: Thunderdome. Two high-ranking church officials enter; one high-ranking church official leaves.
We don’t need a fist fight or Thunderdome styled wrestling match (though that would be entertaining for our pagan and Atheist friends). The question on who will go to Heaven is the big question that every one of us must ask ourselves during our pilgrimage on this earth.
This is a common question that people usually ask. I like the answer that Got Questions? features:
Answer: The Bible does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets/animals have “souls” or whether pets/animals will be in heaven. However, we can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15, 22) have the breath of life. The primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not. Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God, capable of spirituality, with mind, emotion, and will, and they have a part of their being that continues after death. If pets/animals do have a “soul” or immaterial aspect, it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality.” This difference possibly means that pet/animal “souls” do not continue in existence after death. …Read More!
Recently we have lost a couple of friends and church members through sudden tragedy and disease. In fact this week we will be going for a funeral of a family friend. I hope these thoughts on Heaven will encourage you the way they have lifted my spirits.
If You and I really saw Heaven people often say, “Here’s the revelation that God has given us, but why is ther so little about heaven?” They would like to know what it is like there, what we are to look forward to. Dear me, they should not be troubled; they should thank God that we are told so little. Do you know why? Heaven – the glory – is so wonderful that if our lord had described it in our language and our categories, his words would have detracted from it. Our language is fallen; it is utterly inadequate. So the Bible gives us pictures; it gives us symbols. People often become obscurantist about these or literalize them and take a stand on them. That is not the way. These are pictures, representations. We are told that we only see now “through a glass darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12); we see “as in a glass the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). We could not stand anything more. If you and I really saw heaven, we would be blinded; it might even kill us – we could not take it.
~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones (The Secret Things of God)
HT Martyn Lloyd Jones on Facebook.
Nothing can be as fatal as holding wrong theology. Nothing is as worrisome as being caught with faulty theology by heathens and pagans. Apparently Cher has been listening to a few celebrity “Christian pastors” and she is irked by their lack of Biblical knowledge in basic Christianity!
A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 