Hi David,
You tell Jennifer, "Jennifer, I do not fit in any of the 10 categories. But there are people who call themselves christians that run around acting like a "south park parody" of what a christian is. I want to make it clear, I believe very much that non-christians do go to heaven."
David, by saying that, you are saying that Jesus Christ lied to us. How else can you explain these Scripture verses?
John 3:3, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"
John 3:5, "Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'"
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
John 5:24, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."
John 6:47, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 6:40, "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'"
David, Jesus tells us over and over again -- that the ONLY WAY to have eternal life with God -- IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. He tells us, "no one comes to the Father but through Me." What does this mean? It means that only those who, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ -- believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9) -- will see heaven.
Next, you tell Jennifer, "There's a quote in the bible that says not to talk about who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, I'll have to post that. I don't like to hear people do that either."
I am very interested in seeing that Scripture verse or passage also. For Jesus speaks quite a bit in the Bible about heaven and hell. And, in the Scripture verses above, He makes it very clear that ONLY those who, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, i.e., Christian believers -- will see heaven.
So, from that we know that those who do not believe, those who reject Jesus Christ, do not go to heaven -- and, this is telling us that those people will go to hell. Those are the only two choices. Receive Him -- go to heaven. Reject Him -- go to hell. Simple as that.
Finally, you ask, "I've never seen anyone speak in tongues. Has anyone actually seen that, other than on a tv documentary?"
Yes, I have. Even though tongues is Biblical, in my church we do not practice this. But, about 8 or 9 years ago, three of the older people in our church went to the pastor for prayer. Since there were three of them, and three of us elders -- the pastor asked us to pray for them. I prayed for a dear older lady, Maggie.
Later, my pastor asked if I noticed that Maggie was praying in tongues as I prayed for her. I had noticed that she was softly speaking something; but, I could not tell what she was saying -- so, I thought she was only praying in agreement with me. And, maybe she was -- but, she was doing it in tongues.
The way I view tongues -- I know it is Biblical -- but, I do not believe it is for everyone. We are told in 1 Corinthians 12:27-30, "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?"
As we are told in this Scripture passage; we each are given different gifts. Tongues is not one of my spiritual gifts. But, as long as a person does not disturb the worship service or distract those who are worshiping and studying God's Word -- then, God bless them, let them speak in tongues. If this makes them feel more spiritual, if it makes them feel closer to God -- why hinder them? Just my feelings.
But, David, I do want to hear more about your understanding that non-believers, people who have rejected Jesus Christ -- will still go to heaven.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill