If you do not go to Church are you going to Hell?

[happygal]

You have skimmed across that 2000 years of discussion in regard to free-will and God’s supreme knowledge. "God already decided who will go heaven… " is probably the major point of contention between Catholics and Protestants, especially Calvinism and its various forms of thought.

If anyone on this earth knows who will go heaven, we don’t even need God. God is God of all almighty…he already knows and decided who will have a place in heaven, the only this is WE ALL DON’T KNOW…we just have to walk according to his will that shall we know if we will go heaven…Spending time worrying about whether if i sin against this or did not do this, i won’t go heaven…blar…blar…will not help to develop your spiritual walk, we hope “YES” that we can qualify a place in heaven, but not worrying about if we can go heaven anot…

 

[saint_rafael]

I starting reading this thread and for Catholics going to Mass on Sundays falls under the third commandment.

The penalty for missing Mass (excluding grave reasons) falls under mortal sin. It is enough for God to send a person to hell. God takes his Church very seriously. This has always been taught by the Church and is infallible. This is objective law and not subject to a person’s subjective feelings.

Faluire to attend Mass needs to be confessed to restore grace.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

One’s soul is not in danger because one choses not to participate in a religious service. One’s soul is in danger for much more serious reasons than not walking through a meeting house door and sitting on a bench for an hour or so.

How would you possibly know that? Arrogance, “hubris” is a sin. Hebrews 10:25 might make for good reading.

CDL

 

[He_Man]

One’s soul is not in danger because one choses not to participate in a religious service. One’s soul is in danger for much more serious reasons than not walking through a meeting house door and sitting on a bench for an hour or so.

As others have said, you didn’t answer the question.

How do you know this?

If it is divine revelation, or you have documents to prove this, please share. Otherwise, where does your notion come from???

 

[Publisher]

As others have said, you didn’t answer the question.

How do you know this?

If it is divine revelation, or you have documents to prove this, please share. Otherwise, where does your notion come from???

“For I was hungry…I was thirsty…I was alone and in prison…I was naked…and you did not…”

 

[MarcoPolo]

see that you are little Christ walking on earth

I agree with you completely…we should walk in imitation of Christ, follow Him as best as we can and be examples of the faith to which He has called us. That’s why I am Catholic.

I like your cartoon signature by the way…I’ve never grown too old for cartoons!! :bounce:

 

[jmcrae]

“For I was hungry…I was thirsty…I was alone and in prison…I was naked…and you did not…”

Where does it say that this is instead of giving worship to God? (Or that we are supposed to do all of these things all by ourselves, without any assistance from others?)

 

[Publisher]

Where does it say that this is instead of giving worship to God? (Or that we are supposed to do all of these things all by ourselves, without any assistance from others?)

As I said before, simply not entering into a meeting house door and sitting on a bench for and hour or so has no bearing on one’s eternal soul…worshiping God is a much deeper and broader act than attending “church”.

If you believe your soul is in jeapordy by not attending “church” than by all means, please don’t “forsake the assemblying of yourselves together”…I have no such understanding…the “sacraments” that provide “means of grace” for me are housed in “earthern vessels” not buildings of stone and mortar.

A Friendly heretic.

 

[agr4028]

Take a peek at Luke 2:49…Jesus is pretty clear that he is to be found “in his Father’s house”.

Ponder that verse for a bit, maybe it will help.

 

[rinnie]

No one can say if you are going to hell or not. Only God can answer that. But he was asked how to we get into heaven and he gave us the Ten Commandments. And one of them is go to church. So figure it out for yourself. For me do i think we need to go to church yes, why because Jesus said so. Why do we go to church? For me to be close to God. that is where he is. In communion. Do i want to receive him, oh yes, as much as i can. I need the graces he give me in Mass. But do you need Gods Grace? Only you can answer that. God gave us all the right to accept his commandments or reject them. His house is open to all, Just like his blessings. All we have to do is ask, pray, and he will listen.

 

[He_Man]

“For I was hungry…I was thirsty…I was alone and in prison…I was naked…and you did not…”

I don’t see where he mentions not going to Hell in that part, can you bold it for me?

Unless you are trying to be intentionally obtuse and evasive, and in which case, just simply type the words “I made that up.”

 

[He_Man]

As I said before, simply not entering into a meeting house door and sitting on a bench for and hour or so has no bearing on one’s eternal soul…worshiping God is a much deeper and broader act than attending “church”.

If you believe your soul is in jeapordy by not attending “church” than by all means, please don’t “forsake the assemblying of yourselves together”…I have no such understanding…the “sacraments” that provide “means of grace” for me are housed in “earthern vessels” not buildings of stone and mortar.

A Friendly heretic.

This still doesn’t provide us any proof of your original claim.

Why don’t just admit you don’t have any proof or backing and that what you believe is simply your own opinion? It isn’t as though we don’t already know that anyway.

 

[jmcrae]

As I said before, simply not entering into a meeting house door and sitting on a bench for and hour or so has no bearing on one’s eternal soul.

Well, if all you’re doing is sitting there on the bench daydreaming or something, then I would agree.

worshiping God is a much deeper and broader act than attending “church”.

Again, we agree. The Mass is much more than just “sitting on a bench” - we pray, we offer sacrifices, we hear the Word of God, and we praise God with music and song.

If you believe your soul is in jeapordy by not attending “church” than by all means, please don’t “forsake the assemblying of yourselves together”…I have no such understanding…the “sacraments” that provide “means of grace” for me are housed in “earthern vessels” not buildings of stone and mortar.

The “buildings of stone and mortar” keep the rain off the “earthen vessels,” though, do they not?

A Friendly heretic.

(Recovering ex-heretic.)

 

[Publisher]

I don’t see where he mentions not going to Hell in that part, can you bold it for me?

Unless you are trying to be intentionally obtuse and evasive, and in which case, just simply type the words “I made that up.”

You may want to read the whole passage in Matthew 25 to get the full “gist” of the quote. I wasn’t trying to be “obtuse” and “evasive”.

From what I read the ‘welfare’ of one’s soul is not in our religious expressions but in how we treat our neighbor and care for those who are “the least of these”, for they wear the face of Christ.

The “weighty” things that truly impact us the most is not found in ritual and rites, but in caring for others…to offer water to someone thirsty is of far more infinite value than our other “holy obligations.”
And I may be 100% wrong on the matter, but I’d rather stand in the Presence and be be told I gave Him water and food and be taken by surprise on the matter, than try to explain to Him that I was in “church” when He had asked for water.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive of one another of course, but I think I anwered the question to my satisfaction.

 

[jmcrae]

The “weighty” things that truly impact us the most is not found in ritual and rites, but in caring for others…to offer water to someone thirsty is of far more infinite value than our other “holy obligations.”
And I may be 100% wrong on the matter, but I’d rather stand in the Presence and be be told I gave Him water and food and be taken by surprise on the matter, than try to explain to Him that I was in “church” when He had asked for water.

Those who need water go to the Church to seek out the people who will give it to them. How do you give water to those who need it, if you are not to be found in the place where they go looking for people to help them? Or do you expect them to go canvassing from house to house seeking out Christians who will help them?

 

[Publisher]

Those who need water go to the Church to seek out the people who will give it to them. How do you give water to those who need it, if you are not to be found in the place where they go looking for people to help them? Or do you expect them to go canvassing from house to house seeking out Christians who will help them?

Sadly, I’ve seen far more people downtown looking for food on a Sunday morning, than waiting outside the doors of most churches…as I said, I might be 100% wrong on the matter, but I’ll live with the error of my ways.

 

[jmcrae]

Sadly, I’ve seen far more people downtown looking for food on a Sunday morning, than waiting outside the doors of most churches…as I said, I might be 100% wrong on the matter, but I’ll live with the error of my ways.

It’s Church-sponsored organizations that provide the food that they get downtown - as I’m sure you already know.

I have also never met a volunteer who helps the poor, who was not a regular Church-goer.

 

[Publisher]

It’s Church-sponsored organizations that provide the food that they get downtown - as I’m sure you already know.

I** have also never met a volunteer who helps the poor, who was not** a regular Church-goer.

I guess we move in different circles.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

As I said before, simply not entering into a meeting house door and sitting on a bench for and hour or so has no bearing on one’s eternal soul…worshiping God is a much deeper and broader act than attending “church”.

If you believe your soul is in jeapordy by not attending “church” than by all means, please don’t “forsake the assemblying of yourselves together”…I have no such understanding…the “sacraments” that provide “means of grace” for me are housed in “earthern vessels” not buildings of stone and mortar.

A Friendly heretic.

Publisher,

Although I am absolutely sure it was not your intention, I was offended by your description of the holy sacrifice of the Mass as “sitting on a bench for an hour or so.” I do not ask you to agree with the Catholic teaching about the Mass, but I humbly ask you to be aware that Catholics view it as so much more than sitting in a pew.

The Mass is a representation of the sacrifice of God who by His crucifixion redeemed the world. Participants include God, all Catholics on the earth, the Orthodox as well as all the saints and angels in heaven (who outnumber us by the way). It is a preview of heaven where all the saved will be joined together forever. We, as Catholics, are required (within reason) to be part of the communal worship that is the Mass. And while we are there, we watch as the Lord makes Himself bread and feeds us.

I hope that my description will communicate how central the Mass is to the faith of Catholics as well as how much I love the Lord and want to please Him through my attendance at His Mass. The Lord in a special way in my life has invited me to attend daily Mass, and I intend to answer “yes.”

God bless you.

 

[Ghoti]

**Matthew 26: **[sup]6[/sup]While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, [sup]7[/sup]a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

[sup]8[/sup]When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. [sup]9[/sup]“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

[sup]10[/sup]Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [sup]11[/sup]The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. [sup]12[/sup]When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. [sup]13[/sup]I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

**Luke 10: ** [sup]38[/sup]As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. [sup]39[/sup]She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. [sup]40[/sup]But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

[sup]41[/sup]“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, [sup]42[/sup]but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Matthew 26: [sup]36[/sup]Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” [sup]37[/sup]He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [sup]38[/sup]Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

[sup]39[/sup]Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

[sup]40[/sup]Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.

Mass is about an hour long; once per week, plus a few holy days of obligation – here in Canada, two (Christmas and New Year’s). That’s 54 hours a year. I worked that per week in my first job here. It’s not a lot, to keep watch with the Lord and get the better portion; can we not keep watch for just one hour?