Common Misunderstandings

Listed below are some of the most common misunderstandings -

1. “ Only ‘Good’ people go to Heaven.” This is a lie used by manipulative parents to try to get children to behave themselves. The truth is that we are all bad, to some extent or other, and there is no way that can we earn our way into Heaven by trying to balance out the ‘bad’ by doing more ‘good’ The Eternal Life is a ‘gift’, offered to everybody, and received by those who have taken the ‘fundamental option’ and learnt to trust in God’s unconditional love. If it could be earned then it would no longer be a gift.

2. “ When we die, God will decide whether or not to let us into Heaven”. This is not true, we are in charge of our own destiny from the freewill choices we make while still alive here on Earth. Look at it this way - when we meet God face to face, he will have one of two things to say. Either,’ My will be done’ or ‘Your will be done’

3. “Christianity is an ‘Exclusive Group’ of people and only Christians will go to Heaven.”

Jesus is quoted by St John as saying “I am the Way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John Chapter 14 Verse 6 NIV Bible)

In the interpretation of what Jesus meant by what he said has many possibilities. Note that he didn’t say that ‘My teaching is the way’ although this can be implied. Much emphasis has been placed up the ‘I’ in terms of ‘who Jesus is’ rather than ‘what he is’. We need to remember that Jesus lived in the Heavens with God the Father before he became a human baby here on earth. But, in this taking on of ‘human nature’ he remained ‘Divine’ . So when he said the above quote he was both Human and Divine at the same time. This is the ‘way’ he wants us to understand and become.

Our task in life is to connect with God and allow his divinity to grow within us. When anybody take the ‘Fundamental Option’ they are, often without realising it, inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit into their hearts. Jesus needs to be invited (See Revelation Ch 3 verses 20) but the Holy Spirit blows where he wills (See John Ch 3 verses 7 and 8).

4. “God’s love has to be earned” Unfortunately, some children have had a flawed upbringing from parents who wrongly withheld or traded their ‘love’ like some sort of commodity that had to be earned. God’s love is not like that, it’s unconditional, he loves us, not because we are good, but because he is good !

5. “We will reap what we sow” This does not appear to be true in this world in many cases but everyone will have to give an account of their lives when they meet God face to face. The question here reader is will you plead Guilty or Not Guilty? Will you have worthless excuses to try to explain the mistakes you have made and wrong things you have knowingly done. Me, I’m going to plead Guilty but forgiven and ask for Mercy paid for by Jesus when he suffered and died on the Cross.

Christians certainly do have a duty to try to make amends for any wrong they have done to other people. But God doesn’t work this way he offers the Mercy that Jesus won for us all though suffering and death on the cross.

6. “I know who I am” This is a common misunderstanding that needs to be explored further by clicking here and reading ‘Who am I?’

Alternatively, Click here to return to the ‘Home Page’