Are You Going To Heaven?

<h1>Are You Going To Heaven?</h1>Author: <a title="Ernie Fitzpatrick" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/ernie-fitzpatrick/39281.htm">Ernie Fitzpatrick</a> The BIG QUESTION used to be \"Do you know what will happen to you if you were to be hit by a meteorite (I\'m bringing a little modernity into the question) tonight\"? In other words, are you GOING to heaven as though heaven was a PLACE. Of course how else could one have thought differently since those worship songs promised us a mansion in the sky along streets of gold.  There are basically two ways to approach any religion. The most common approach is the OUTER method and the second is an inner, esoteric approach. The outer approach is whatis. What was used by the very Pharisees that we condemn today without realizing that much of what we\'re doing is the same thing as they did back then. The thinking was that a person could enter the heavenly abode if they observed enough certain RULES here on earth. Do this and God will do that. Don\'t do this and God won\'t do that. Let\'s list a few just in case you won the lottery that allowed you to move to step two without stopping for a lecture on step number one. 1-Believe in the right (my denomination) doctrines. 2-Interpret the Scriptures under the best hermeneutical standards (Spiros Zodhiates) possible embracing his notes and lexical aid (since Spiros was Greek). 3-Exegete the Scriptures (your way) by following Dr. James Strongs\' exhaustive cross-reference that he adopted while at Drew University in the 1800\'s. 4-Belong to the right denomination (Baptist) which follows the rituals (can you say immersion?) and of course embrace only the right number of Sacraments or Ordinances (5 of course). 5-Ad nauseum!museum! The bottom line is that heaven is achieved and one is saved by performance! Woo-hoo! Oh yes, and Jesus was returning soon, and he was going to meet me somewhere in the Easterly sky in 1972, which got changed to 1980, then 1988 (remember that book). The good news is that I got LEFT BEHIND so I could have some time to really work on BEING.  :-) I can do that and I did dodid that for decades. I used the names above (individuals and denominations) not to embarrass, but because they are the ones I embraced. In fact, I am greatly indebted to Spiros Zodhiates who came along in the formative years of my Christian walk and gave me a great place to start: not a good place to end.  For you see the Kingdom of God isn\'t OUT THERE somewhere. The Kingdom of God is WITHIN, and it is AHORA (now)! You can\'t enter the Kingdom by observing outer rules and following such doctrines: at least not here in the third dimension. Let me not place any fear in your heart (love removes all fear) and reminds you that we\'re ALL going back homehomes to our Source from whence we came. But, don\'t miss this local journey that we on here at Gaia Place! Are you there- HERE?About the Author: As a spiritual-futurist, I interpret current events in light of possible macro-universal forces at play leading up to 2012, but not limited to it.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/are-you-going-to-heaven-779464.html" title="Are You Going To Heaven?">Are You Going To Heaven?</a>

The BIG QUESTION used to be "Do you know what will happen to you if you were to be hit by a meteorite (I'm bringing a little modernity into the question) tonight"? In other words, are you GOING to heaven as though heaven was a PLACE. Of course how else could one have thought differently since those worship songs promised us a mansion in the sky along streets of gold.

There are basically two ways to approach any religion. The most common approach is the OUTER method and the second is an inner, esoteric approach.

The outer approach is whatis. What was used by the very Pharisees that we condemn today without realizing that much of what we're doing is the same thing as they did back then. The thinking was that a person could enter the heavenly abode if they observed enough certain RULES here on earth. Do this and God will do that. Don't do this and God won't do that. Let's list a few just in case you won the lottery that allowed you to move to step two without stopping for a lecture on step number one.

1-Believe in the right (my denomination) doctrines.
2-Interpret the Scriptures under the best hermeneutical standards (Spiros Zodhiates) possible embracing his notes and lexical aid (since Spiros was Greek).
3-Exegete the Scriptures (your way) by following Dr. James Strongs' exhaustive cross-reference that he adopted while at Drew University in the 1800's.
4-Belong to the right denomination (Baptist) which follows the rituals (can you say immersion?) and of course embrace only the right number of Sacraments or Ordinances (5 of course).
5-Ad nauseum!museum!

The bottom line is that heaven is achieved and one is saved by performance! Woo-hoo!

Oh yes, and Jesus was returning soon, and he was going to meet me somewhere in the Easterly sky in 1972, which got changed to 1980, then 1988 (remember that book). The good news is that I got LEFT BEHIND so I could have some time to really work on BEING. :-)

I can do that and I did dodid that for decades. I used the names above (individuals and denominations) not to embarrass, but because they are the ones I embraced. In fact, I am greatly indebted to Spiros Zodhiates who came along in the formative years of my Christian walk and gave me a great place to start: not a good place to end.

For you see the Kingdom of God isn't OUT THERE somewhere. The Kingdom of God is WITHIN, and it is AHORA (now)! You can't enter the Kingdom by observing outer rules and following such doctrines: at least not here in the third dimension. Let me not place any fear in your heart (love removes all fear) and reminds you that we're ALL going back homehomes to our Source from whence we came. But, don't miss this local journey that we on here at Gaia Place!

Are you there- HERE?

As a spiritual-futurist, I interpret current events in light of possible macro-universal forces at play leading up to 2012, but not limited to it.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/are-you-going-to-heaven-779464.html

Article Tags: Pharisees, Baptist, Sacraments, Are You Going To Heaven, The Outer Method, Rules Here On Earth

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