How would you feel?

[Billy Cox]

How would you feel, if in heaven you were to see someone whom you were certain deserved to be in hell?

[Mark Metcalfe]

Surprised.

[Sharon Isley]

I sincerely hope that when I'm in heaven, I will be thinking more about seeing Jesus than caring about who else is there. There are people that have done horrible things, that I know are now Christians, and I'm believing that though right now I struggle with the idea of them being in heaven, when we get there, I won't.

[Dave McClung]

How would you feel, if in heaven you were to see someone whom you were certain deserved to be in hell?

There is a problem with your question. The Bible clearly tells us not to judge others, so if we do so will we be in heaven?

[Stan Hall]

I would be pleased. It would indicate that they have repented and found Jesus! Praise!

[Billy Cox]

I considered framing the question as a statement: "If there is anyone whose presence in heaven would make us angry, it's likely that we won't be there."

[Paul Whitaker]

On the other hand, are there going to be souls in heaven who thought they had commited 'sin' according to the rules of the church but now those rules have been changed?

[Billy Cox]

On the other hand, are there going to be souls in heaven who thought they had commited 'sin' according to the rules of the church but now those rules have been changed?

I'm prepared to be surprised by some of the people who I see in heaven...

I'm also prepared for others to be surprised when they see me in heaven.

[Dennis McClung]

I get depressed when non-Christians I admire die. I would be very pleased to see them in Heaven. I guess part of the hurt is that no one succeeded in reaching them in time. Here are a few losses that hurt me deeply:

Spaulding Gray- Gray was an incredibly gifted writer and orator. I know he wasn't a Christian. The circumstances of his recent death disturbed me deeply.

Warren Zevon- I don't know for certain that Zevon wasn't a Christian, but I think it's a safe bet. He died recently of lung cancer. His song "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" is among the best music ever written.

Hunter S. Thompson- So brilliant, but so lost.

George Harrison- A deeply spiritual, but misguided person.

[Hans Deventer]

I get depressed when non-Christians I admire die. I would be very pleased to see them in Heaven.

Perhaps Aslan is right about serving him and serving Tash?

[Dennis McClung]

Perhaps Aslan is right about serving him and serving Tash?
That aspect of The Last Battle challenges me a bit, although I think it's the most beautiful book in the series. I wish Lewis were around so I could ask him to clarify his thoughts. The series is more than just a fairy tell, but less than theology.

[Hans Deventer]

That aspect of The Last Battle challenges me a bit, although I think it's the most beautiful book in the series. I wish Lewis were around so I could ask him to clarify his thoughts. The series is more than just a fairy tell, but less than theology.

I don't know. It allways surprises me how much theology the New Testament takes from the Psalms, for instance. Not quite a source one would pick first.

I have no problem aligning Lewis' words here with Matthew 25:31-46 or with the Sermon on the Mount. I really think that we created a problem by equating faith with correct belief. The Bible may hint in that direction but it is not expressed strongly. What IS expressed strongly is that there certainly is no faith if you don't live up to it.

In short, I think Lewis was right.

[Ian Gentles]

I would be overjoyed!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

There is a problem with your question. The Bible clearly tells us not to judge others, so if we do so will we be in heaven?

Dave,

The Bible does not clearly say never to judge others.

We judge others all the time. We judge people by allowing them to be in certain positions in the church. We judge people when we hire them for jobs. We judge people by considering whether we will let our children spend the night in their homes.

Perhaps the Bible means not to trod upon others with judgmental attitudes, but judging as a matter of discerning is certainly promoted in the Bible.

Unfortunately, many take the word to mean never-ever-ever and it's rather silly. It's one of those things we fall back on when we don't have any other argument in a good debate. If we had a defense, we wouldn't say "well, God says not to judge." If we didn't judge others, we would let child-molesters in our nurseries, bigamists in our pulpits, Satanists as our teachers, and certain types of people who might harm themselves or others as Naznet posters.

Now that I've made that point, however, in heaven, we supposedly will be changed creatures. Hopefully, we will truly know the mind of Christ at that point, and understand the grace that brought us there--along with the person we might think (now) should not be there. And that judging (not judgmental attitude) will discern the true nature of God's forgiveness.

Wanda

[Marsha Lynn]

How would you feel, if in heaven you were to see someone whom you were certain deserved to be in hell?

I have a British recording that combines music about heaven with the poetry of Adrian Plass. One of the poems is about a playground in heaven. It ends:

"... If I am too large
Tell the angel in charge
To let me bow down and come in."

If I knew for sure that certain people had made it to heaven (the situation you propose), I think my response would be pleased wonder that they had bowed down enough to enter that blessed place. Who'da thought it? It won't be because God doesn't have the discernment to see how unworthy certain people are of heaven. It will be because each person there has humbled themselves in the presence of God Almighty and is prepared to serve Him and Him only. My surprise won't be that God's grace suspended the requirements for them but that they were willing to comply with the requirements.

Marsha
(heavily influenced on this topic by The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis where everyone has the option of going to heaven but few are willing to "bow down and come in")

[BobHunt]

I think we can be surprised without being a judge. I know some people who we have known a long time, who are good Cathlocs and we just figured that they wouldnt be there, but maybe some of them will be! We tend to go by outward appearances, but God knows their hearts! Some people mean well but on the outside dont seem to be able to show it. I have enough trouble with this guy without trying to go after other people and tell them what their doing wrong. I will leave that up to the still small voice of God!