Are Church Goers More Likely to Go to Heaven?

thepossiblepolice wrote:I don't think that what people are doing at church is necessarily any more "spending time with God" than what anyone else might be doing, whether they are going for a walk, meditating, volunteering...I personally don't watch football but who am I to judge?

Speaking from my church, it is as close to spending time with God you can get without dropping dead. lol Are people really meditating or volunteering instead of going to church? Unlikely. The problem with the idea that you don't spend time with God in Church is that it's really just an excuse to not go. People don't want to bother to go to Church for an hour every Sunday. Isn't that really it? Nobody is saying that church buys you a ticket into heaven, but if you never go, how do you argue that you really care about God? Just seems to be a weak argument.

There are other ways to worship or study His word without going to church. Granted, not a lot of people do it, but some do. Things such as independent Bible study groups serve for people who take issue with organized religion but believe 100% in God.

That said, I think churches are full of people who are there for the wrong reasons: keeping up appearances,networking, being "made to" by parent or spouse, so no, just going isn't getting a person a ticket to anywhere!

Forgiveness_Man wrote:

thepossiblepolice wrote:I don't think that what people are doing at church is necessarily any more "spending time with God" than what anyone else might be doing, whether they are going for a walk, meditating, volunteering...I personally don't watch football but who am I to judge?

Speaking from my church, it is as close to spending time with God you can get without dropping dead. lol Are people really meditating or volunteering instead of going to church? Unlikely. The problem with the idea that you don't spend time with God in Church is that it's really just an excuse to not go. People don't want to bother to go to Church for an hour every Sunday. Isn't that really it? Nobody is saying that church buys you a ticket into heaven, but if you never go, how do you argue that you really care about God? Just seems to be a weak argument.

I know many, many people who are very spiritual and feel that they spend time with God every day, who like me have difficulty with organized religion. Just because you don't go to what someone else SAYS is "church" that doesn't say ANYTHING about your relationship with God.

I think it says a lot. I think being angry at church is an excuse. I think you can't have a good relationship with God if you make him conform to your terms. It just all seems like you wanna make the rules and remember God when it's convenient.

Heaven is a Disco, the Lord is the DJ and the Angels are the waiters.

Tony Marino wrote:Heaven is a Disco, the Lord is the DJ and the Angels are the waiters.

Close the thread, we have a winner!