Heaven.....How will we get on with each other there???

[Ian Gentles]

One thing I have become very aware of in this life is, We christians dont always get on well with each other.
In fact, on occasions we are downright nasty to each other.
But we are told, when we die, get to Heaven, we will be perfect, so will dwell together in harmony.

OK, but surely it is we, as we are spiritualy, who will pass into God's presence? Will that change be so drastic that all nastiness will be forgotten?

God tells us to "Forgive, "love" but lets be honest, its very hard!

Sooo, can we get to Heaven as we are? What must we be like to get there? As we in our normal christian life good enough for Heaven?

Is to say, "We will be perfect then" enough?

I find myself thinking of meeting folks who have wronged me, will the wrong be completely gone?...forgotten in some way?

Are we useing idea of some sort of perfection in reaching Heaven as our "Get out of jail free card"? Or is it a case of, if we dont get it right here, we simply wont be going to Heaven?

OK, my thinking in this subject isnt fully thought out....Sooo over to you folks.

[Jim Chabot]

I'm thinking that at present we are urged by the Spirit within us to get along. And I'm thinking that this "urging" will become literally larger than life when we are actually in His presence. We are changed while we are wandering around down here on this old ball of dirt, We will be changed in a big way in our new environ!

[David Graham]

I am thinking along these lines: As Christians, "We are sanctified", "We are being Sanctified" and "we will be Sanctified".

On earth we are prevented from perfect action by our human frailties while in our earthly bodies; in heaven such an impediment will be removed by our obtaining new "spiritual" bodies. Also in Heaven will there be room for disagreement when absolute truth and knowledge are apparent all around us? And if we didn't know about something, we could simply go to God and ask. Mind you, we could do that here and now and solve a few arguements! (Personal pride and perceptions could still get in the way however)

[John Reilly]

The very best ever wine will be served.

[Hans Deventer]

Well, we won't have theological arguments anymore. Nobody is right or needs to be right. The Truth Himself is there => Heaven.

[Nate Pruitt]

The unity in the Spirit will truly be significant!

Also, I don't believe there will be discussion boards in Heaven. That should help.

[John Kennedy]

Well, we won't have theological arguments anymore. Nobody is right or needs to be right. The Truth Himself is there => Heaven.

So in heaven, we won't have no theology? We'll jes' preach the Bible?

That's gonna' be mighty empty for some.

[Hans Deventer]

So in heaven, we won't have no theology? We'll jes' preach the Bible?

That's gonna' be mighty empty for some.

I don't think we will preach at all.

"No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest."
(Hebr 8:11)

[Benjamin Burch]

I don't think we will preach at all.

"No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest."
(Hebr 8:11)

Praise be to the one who loved me, yes, even me.

[John Kennedy]

I don't think we will preach at all.

"No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest."
(Hebr 8:11)

I think's that's gonna' be even more disappointing to some.

[Nate Pruitt]

I think's that's gonna' be even more disappointing to some.

They may not be there. <Intentional lack of smiley here.>

[David Graham]

So in heaven, we won't have no theology? We'll jes' preach the Bible?

That's gonna' be mighty empty for some.

C.S. Lewis deals with this very issue in his Novel "the Great Divorce" with the attitude of the Apostate Bishop.

[Hans Deventer]

I think's that's gonna' be even more disappointing to some.

And exactly that is heaven for others!

[Ian Gentles]

I'm thinking, the work of Sanctification is important in preparing us for Heaven. It says in scripture, "If I have not love I am nothing". What does it mean here "Am nothing"? Is lack of love, always attacking others, a sign we are as "nothing", that God is not working in our lives, as He desires too?

[David Graham]

I'm thinking, the work of Sanctification is important in preparing us for Heaven. It says in scripture, "If I have not love I am nothing". What does it mean here "Am nothing"? Is lack of love, always attacking others, a sign we are as "nothing", that God is not working in our lives, as He desires too?

John puts it pretty bluntly by saying that if we hate our brother we don't know God but walk in darkness! (1 John 2: 9, 11 & 1 John 4: 8) In fact we cannot love God and yet hate our brother...... if we say otherwise we lie. (1 John 4: 20)

But love can be perfected in us. (1 John 4: 12-19) It's all about knowing God, obeying God and walking in his light as close to him as possible. Or if you like, our deliberately soaking up of God's love to the extent that nothing else but love remains in us.

I agree with Paul too, that without love, in the end we not only have nothing worthwhile but we are nothing..... just empty shells.

[David Graham]

I conducted a funeral today with the committal service being held at an old historic cemetery in our area. What surprised me was as you entered in through the front gate you saw two signs. The one on the right read: "Anglican", the one of the left read "Presbyterian", while at the back of the cemetery there were another two signs:, on the right read: "Roman Catholic", and on the left "Lutheran". There were no other signs I could see, which indicates that the early pioneers of the area were of one of those persuasions.

Someone said in jest: "So there are divisions in heaven afterall"!
Interesting observation.

As a matter of interest, the son of one of my parishoners whom I buried was placed in a family plot in the "Presbyterian" section.

[Steven Burton]

Well I don't look forward to heaven. I look forward to creation being made new and Heaven coming to earth. And to be fair perfect being described here is a platonic idea and I don't buy into that train of thought. I think prefect would be in that we are doing what God designed us to do. So in essence we can achieve a form of perfect on earth by doing the will of our Father.

[David Graham]

Well I don't look forward to heaven. I look forward to creation being made new and Heaven coming to earth. And to be fair perfect being described here is a platonic idea and I don't buy into that train of thought. I think prefect would be in that we are doing what God designed us to do. So in essence we can achieve a form of perfect on earth by doing the will of our Father.

That may well be the case in the future..... we don't really know for sure do we?

But until then, after I die, I'll be content to be where God is, and so I'm looking forward to heaven, where "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him" A heaven without "denominational" or national or racial divisions.

[John Kennedy]

I conducted a funeral today with the committal service being held at an old historic cemetery in our area. What surprised me was as you entered in through the front gate you saw two signs. The one on the right read: "Anglican", the one of the left read "Presbyterian", while at the back of the cemetery there were another two signs:, on the right read: "Roman Catholic", and on the left "Lutheran". There were no other signs I could see, which indicates that the early pioneers of the area were of one of those persuasions.

Someone said in jest: "So there are divisions in heaven afterall"!
Interesting observation.

As a matter of interest, the son of one of my parishoners whom I buried was placed in a family plot in the "Presbyterian" section.

When I lived in Carthage, SD, in the early 50s the cemetery for this town of 400+ was loated about a mile east of town. When I finally came back for a short visit 45+ years later, I came in from the north. At the outskirts of town there were two cemeteries (one on each side of the road). When I inquired in town, I was told that one was the Norwegian and the other the Swedish cemetery.
When we moved there in the early 50s the Norwegian Lutheran and Swedish Lutheran congregations had merged, reflecting the merger of the respective denominations.
It struck me as somewhat ironic that although they could worship together for time, they had to be dispatched separately for eternity (presumably so the Almighty wouldn't get things mixed up.
God only knows what happened to the Danes. (And no, we will not allow for conjecture)

[Larry Parsons]

One thing I have become very aware of in this life is, We christians dont always get on well with each other.
In fact, on occasions we are downright nasty to each other.
But we are told, when we die, get to Heaven, we will be perfect, so will dwell together in harmony.

OK, but surely it is we, as we are spiritualy, who will pass into God's presence? Will that change be so drastic that all nastiness will be forgotten?

God tells us to "Forgive, "love" but lets be honest, its very hard!

Sooo, can we get to Heaven as we are? What must we be like to get there? As we in our normal christian life good enough for Heaven?

Is to say, "We will be perfect then" enough?

I find myself thinking of meeting folks who have wronged me, will the wrong be completely gone?...forgotten in some way?

Are we useing idea of some sort of perfection in reaching Heaven as our "Get out of jail free card"? Or is it a case of, if we dont get it right here, we simply wont be going to Heaven?

OK, my thinking in this subject isnt fully thought out....Sooo over to you folks.

Here on earth we have personlity conflict. I heard one holiness preacher say there are some poeple would rather pay thier hotel bill for them to stay way. In heaven we wouldn't have any personlity conflict in heaven
Thanks
Larry