do you have to be Catholic to get into Heaven??

[distracted]

wow, 350 posts later

we may find out some catholic beliefs on the answer to the OP
does a person need to belong to the RCC, at the time of their death, for God to accept that person into heaven?

no that is not the question…

you don’t have to belong to the Church to get to Heaven… it just helps TREMENDOUSLY!!!

And you can look around and see that we sinners in The Year of our Lord 2009 need ALL the help we can get… and then some…

As that person once said, you may not be Catholic in this life… but when you get into the next life, you will be…

(you will realize that being Catholic is a good thing… a very very good thing as long as you disregard all the bad Catholics in the Church… )

 

[MelanieAnne]

hi Chris, based on your scenario,

I was baptized
I am subject to God
I participate in communion, but I do not believe I am eating the body of Jesus Christ…

Do you believe God will accept me into heaven if I die believing as I do now?

God bless

If you receive communion in another church, you aren’t receiving the Precious Body of Jesus Christ, whether you believe you are or not.

 

[distracted]

Yes, you have to be Catholic. That’s defined Catholic Dogma from the very beginning.

The sin of Adam and Eve caused the whole human race (them) to be expelled from paradise, and it wasn’t until Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that the human race could be admitted into the heavenly paradise, but with certain conditions:

Humans have to be baptized, eat the body of Christ (the victim) and be subject to the Holy Father. We are either on the ark or drowning outside of it. That’s just how it is.

but the unbaptized don’t necessarily go to Hell… they just don’t probably go to Heaven…

which only makes sense because … why would God make something that could be inaccessible to us necessaary for salvation… If a child dies before he can be baptized… He may not have parents who even wanted him baptized or realized its importance…

God is perfectly just… so i guess we dont’ have to worry about it…

 

[mpjw2]

If you receive communion in another church, you aren’t receiving the Precious Body of Jesus Christ, whether you believe you are or not.

in due respect, i never said I believed I was receiving the body of Jesus when I participate in communion,

That Is one reason why I am not returning to the RCC

If I didthen I would have to believe someting I do not believe in…

I do not believe God wants me to live a lie within myself.

God bless

 

[MelanieAnne]

in due respect, i never said I believed I was receiving the body of Jesus when I participate in communion,

That Is one reason why I am not returning to the RCC

If I didthen I would have to believe someting I do not believe in…

I do not believe God wants me to live a lie within myself.

God bless

I don’t think you understood my point. There is no reason to be offended. You made a statement in a previous post where you hypothesized a scenario where you participated in communion but did not believe it was the body of Jesus Christ.

I merely pointed out that, outside of any Church that believes in the Real Presence, the Eucharistic elements would be a symbol anyway, so were to you believe it wasn’t the body of Jesus Christ, you would be correct in your assessment of the situation.

No reason for you to get all huffy about it.

 

[mpjw]

I don’t think you understood my point. There is no reason to be offended. You made a statement in a previous post where you hypothesized a scenario where you participated in communion but did not believe it was the body of Jesus Christ.

I merely pointed out that, outside of any Church that believes in the Real Presence, the Eucharistic elements would be a symbol anyway, so were to you believe it wasn’t the body of Jesus Christ, you would be correct in your assessment of the situation.

No reason for you to get all huffy about it.

Before this gets out of hand melanie I apologize for not understanding you and/or a making myself clear, I did not understand why you used…

whether you believe you are or not

it came across a bit sarcastic
my sincere apologies again…lets put it behind us …ok??

God bless

mpjw

 

[MelanieAnne]

Before this gets out of hand melanie I apologize for not understanding you and/or a making myself clear, I did not understand why you used…

it came across a bit sarcastic
my sincere apologies again…lets put it behind us …ok??

God bless

mpjw

I’m not sarcastic, as a general rule, and I do not take kindly to people abusing me, verbally or otherwise. Apology accepted. Don’t do it again.

Should I choose to be sarcastic, you wouldn’t have wonder whether I were or not. It would not be “a bit”.

 

[tweetymom]

I’m not sarcastic, as a general rule, and I do not take kindly to people abusing me, verbally or otherwise. Apology accepted. Don’t do it again.

Should I choose to be sarcastic, you wouldn’t have wonder whether I were or not. It would not be “a bit”.

don’t do it do it again thats a cool and loving response God Bless you Melanie

 

[mpjw]

I’m not sarcastic, as a general rule, and I do not take kindly to people abusing me, verbally or otherwise. Apology accepted.

thank you, you have a kind forgiving heart…something a follower of Jesus, as you are, would do

Don’t do it again.

I promise I try my hardest not too

Should I choose to be sarcastic, you wouldn’t have wonder whether I were or not.

I will gladly take your word on that

God bless

 

[MelanieAnne]

don’t do it do it again thats a cool and loving response God Bless you Melanie

I guess you didn’t get the humor.

Now I guess I’ll roll MY eyes.

 

[MelanieAnne]

thank you, you have a kind forgiving heart…something a follower of Jesus, as you are, would do

I promise I try my hardest not too

I will gladly take your word on that

God bless

I guess TweetyMom, didn’t get it, but I’m glad you did.

MPW, there is a kernel of seriousness there, and that is that in a thread that is filled with controversy, it’s still not accurate to paint everyone with the same broad brush. I have a hard time being described as the person who was the “only one” who cared to express sympathy for NLMs loss and then a few posts later, being treated to the reflexive “sarcastic” label. It doesn’t make any sense, at least not to me, and I daresay not to you either.

Still waiting for that answer to the question I asked, when you’re not too busy.

 

[tweetymom]

I guess you didn’t get the humor.

Now I guess I’ll roll MY eyes.

Cool and God Bless

 

[PRmerger]

interesting and thank you for letting me know, PRmerger what the RCC teaches.

So please tell me what you believe…

When you ask me that, I feel like you’re saying, “Thanks for letting me know what Jesus teaches, but now tell me what you believe.” Of course I’m going to just say, "I believe what HE said (pointing to my Master )

If I die and I have not willingly accepted and believe in ALL the teachings of the RCC…

and

even though I confess my sins before the Lord as previosly posted…

Do you believe God will not accept me into His heaven?

I have supreme confidence in your love for God and I also have assurance of His mercy, and those two things make me quite hopeful that I’ll see you in heaven.

 

[PRmerger]

Please tell me where I made a wrong judgement

Ok…so you do agree that we are to make judgements, and I’m certain that you do it everyday. Like I said earlier.

 

[mpjw2]

Hi distracted …

I want to apologize to you for two offenses…

1. for not replying back to you right away
2. for what I said and/or suggested about you in my other thread…

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=376665

I said

distracted or anyone else who believes this way, in due respect, if you believe Jesus wanted to offend people and you want to follow in His footsteps and you want to offend people just the same …please stick around nlm or MelanieAnne or tweetymon and I believe they will do their best to illustrate the love of Jesus to you

the reason was my reaction to what you said about Jesus in #269

yes Jesus offended just about everyone…
and i am following in his footsteps…

I ask your forgiveness.

I did not at first realize it was you that also said…

I’ve had it happen NUMEROUS times in my life that i will feel “pure” and like i am “in good:” w/ God… then i will enter the Catholic Church…

I feel u/conditional Love There… but also Perfect Purity… and some other things i have never been able to adequately describe.

Looking back when I first posted to you, i was responding to your question to nlm in #266…

nlm said

I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, if I died tonight I would go to heaven.

you repled

you have absolutely no way of knowing such a hting …
why do you claim to know what only God knows??

shame on me…it did not make sense to me that these posts were by the same person.

then i was pleasantly surprised when you answered my most recent post to you with a little of your personal experience

I posted…

I here what you are saying…

you replied

you hear part of what i am saying… but you can never u/stand all of it until you spend time in the Real Presence… There is nothing on Earth like it… Christians who dont’ do that are only get half (at best) of wht Jesus wants for them… if that… I didnt’ know about it when i was younger either even thogh i am a cradle Catholic… Thank God i once had an excellent priest who told me about it… It was the greatest Gift i have ever been given and that is syaing something…

you are right. I can not comprehend or hear your experience. I enjoyed you sharing with me your personal time with the Lord.

Jesus can do wonders…

oh yes He can:thumbsup:

I said

It is at this time that I believe God will purify all us christians of all our sins when we make an honest confession before Him. … there is no way I believe He will send you, me or anyone else to hell.

you said

I’v never felt i would go to Hell if i were to die … but i now know that i will also not go directly to Heaven…

but eventually you believe you will go to heaven…in short you believe you are on the road to heaven…correct??

You non-Cathoilcs don’t believe in Purgatory but i KNOW it is real… The Scriptures speak of a cleasning process

scripture talks about a fire testing our works and we will suffer a loss.

as far as sin goes we already been purified by Jesus blood

the “fire” (God) will only give us rewards in heaven for the works we done to honor Him

I do not believe God will reward me for playing cards on the internet, or going bowling,
I do believe I will be reward for encouraging His love among us christians…
Did you see my “Jesus’ church of christian love thread”?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=376693
I said,

That is the reason, should be the only reason, you will hear other christians say, If i die tonight I am going to heaven. We do not believe that the confessonal with a priest is the only place a confession can be said

you said

Catholics don’t either… but it is the place to begin the purging process Many graces come from confession. The Bible says to confess your sins to one antoher… I would much rather confess my sins to a priest (who has heard everything…) than anyone else.

being a former catholic I can understand that

for one thing, no one would probably be all that itnerested

as a catholic I do not recall confiding my sins to anyone but a priest, so you are probably right…but then again I wonder what the response would have been if I confided with another catholic friend about my sins

Christ forgives through the priest…

absolutely:thumbsup:

I certainly hope that’s true because I’ve had a few priests who would probably just as soon i end up in Hell than be forgiven…

oh my I am so sorry to hear you say that…

I’ve confessed so many times, whether in my car or in the confessional that now i don’t even have to really say anthing… God just knows how sorry i am & how repentant…(the true sign being that you don’t do it again).

absolutely agree that God knows your heart:thumbsup:

cont…

 

[mpjw2]

cont…

I haven’t been to confession in a long time…

at least not the physical one,

you just said that God knows how sorry you are, that right there is your testament of your faith anf belief in Him

the confession gives grace.

I see what you said but I do not know if you mean God gives you grace (forgives you of all your sin) by confessing to Him, which is what i believe

I find much more grace from a devout pries but that just goes w/o saying…

The priest can only confirm what God has already given you, as you said before
“Christ forgives…”

I said

I turn to God and immediately pray for forgiveness and strength that I will not fall again. And only by the blood of Jesus I believe our sins are forgiven

you said

you may be further ahead than some Cahtolics… who have the benefit of the sacrament of reconciliation…

thank you but I feel I struggle just as hard as anyone else…some days are better than others

you said

few Catholics use it… & its getting worse… People go to Communion when they have serious sin on their souls… (should go to confession 1st)
and The Church is getting very liberal… Priests saying things that are unbiblical & against the teachings of the Church, etc…

we have imperfect people in our church too, you are talking with one of the imperfects

Since you love Jesus so much (I presume)… why don’t you join the Roman Catholic Church and help make it a more… dare i say… a more Christian church??

you dare said, with appreciation of your invitation, I will respectfully deny it

distracted, It has been a pleasure conversing with you

as you know Jesus forgives…by His stripes, the blood He shed for you, He has set you free of your sin.

I believe you are getting closer to answering your own question…

why do you claim to know what only God knows??

…about being sure of ones own salvation

my friend you told me you do not believe your going to hell…I do not either
you said “Jesus forgives” and God knows your heart when you are sorry…I believe that too

I believe you are on the road to heaven, I am sure of it should you remain faithful in your belief.

You may believe there will be a tenporary stop in Purgatory, so be it if that is what you believe, after that …you go straight to heaven

distracted a final thaught…

God said the wages of your sin is death(hell), but because of your faith in Him, as I know you have, God’s gift to you is eternal life in Jesus Christ in heaven

I pray in Jesus name that satan does not interfere by trying to distract you from realizing the precious gift God has for you

when spending time in the Real Presence you said…

It was the greatest Gift i have ever been given

that is here on earth

How great would it be if God offered you a Gift to be with Jesus, the Real Presence in heaven?

that is the promise He gave you in Romans 6:23

I believed and received His Gift

how about you?

God bless you

mpjw

 

[mpjw2]

I guess TweetyMom, didn’t get it, but I’m glad you did.

MPW, there is a kernel of seriousness there, and that is that in a thread that is filled with controversy, it’s still not accurate to paint everyone with the same broad brush. I have a hard time being described as the person who was the “only one” who cared to express sympathy for NLMs loss and then a few posts later, being treated to the reflexive “sarcastic” label. It doesn’t make any sense, at least not to me, and I daresay not to you either.

you dared and I stand respectfully corrected and again I ask you to accept my apology…

Still waiting for that answer to the question I asked, when you’re not too busy.

I am sorry …I missed it. thank you for bringing it to my attention

here it is

Do you believe God created the Universe and all that it is in it? Even a “big bang” needs something to set it off, so, do you believe He is the Creator?

absolutely without a shadow of a doubt…I believe God is the creator of all, if not directly, for sure indirectly

God did not create an automobile, but He created man to utilize in time the resources to make all what we have today

first line of Genesis
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

If you do not mind How about you?

thank you and God bless

mpjw

 

[mpjw2]

O Lord in respect to Pmerger’s and melanie’s feelings and all I communicate with frrom this point further I pray to you O God…

may the words of my mouth and meditations of my hearts be pleasing in your sight.
O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer Psalm 19:14

thank you Jesus

 

[MelanieAnne]

I believe God is the creator of all, if not directly, for sure indirectly

God did not create an automobile, but He created man to utilize in time the resources to make all what we have today

first line of Genesis
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

If you do not mind How about you?

thank you and God bless

mpjw

I do believe that God created the Universe. This is why it is easy for me to believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. That’s why I asked you. This may sound like a rather simplistic explanation to some, that doesn’t bother me. But I believe that the God who created the Universe to be very powerful (some would say omnipotent ) For such a being, having created the universe out of nothing, transubstantiation would be mere “child’s play” in comparison.

So that, and the fact that Jesus told us so, in so many words, and I believe it. Both the context and the plain meaning of His words, taken together, can lead to no other conclusion, in my opinion (and that of many others, of course.)

It is hard for me to understand the resistance to this doctrine. Once you believe that God created the Universe, bread and wine becoming the precious Body and Blood of Jesus through the power of God is pretty easy. Bolstered by the plain meaning of the words of Jesus and the context of the Gospel, the conclusion becomes nearly inescapable. Unless, of course, one is determined to believe otherwise.

And yet the vast majority of non-Catholic Christians refuse to believe that the Eucharist can possibly be anything but a symbol. It seems, to me, as if they are denying the power of God, and that troubles me.

 

[PRmerger]

O Lord in respect to Pmerger’s and melanie’s feelings and all I communicate with frrom this point further I pray to you O God…

What feelings do you think I have about you??? I don’t think I’ve communicated any feelings at all about you, mpjw.