Anyone else catch the Barbara Walters Heaven show?

[elenasmom]

There are a lot of comments on this board about heaven and without pushing my personal beliefs on anyone, I was a little dazed and confused with the show that was on tonight. A Barbara Walters show entitled Heaven -
there seemed to be so many conflicting views, theories, and opinions as to what, where, and how heaven is. Anyone else find the whole thing troubling?
It seemed to be just that, religious opinions on what heaven is all about. Not one preacher, minister, or "holy" man used the bible or any particular source to back their beliefs, unless that came in the second hour. I only watched the first hour. I'm not being critical, just curious. Any thoughts?

[pamela]

Elena's mOm,

I did watch it also, but only the first hour also. I found myself asking "How do they know"? I like you thought that there were many conflicting messages.

It did make me think a lot though.....they really did stress that we had to have a relationship with Jesus or we don't go there. I'm scared now...I don't have that relationship, don't know if I ever will.....

Do children make it in automatically??

One thing that really hit me was the same question was asked that I always have on my mind...Why if heaven is so wonderful, don't we just choose to go there now......

Interesting show and confusing at the same time..wish I could have seen the whole show....

Pam

[danielle]

I did not watch it and glad I did not. My priest told me that little ones that are before the age of accountability go to Heaven automatically. He also told me that we must have a relationship with our heavenly father and his son Jesus to go to heaven. We can't choose to go there, because God takes us when it is our time. We have things to do here on Earth,even though sometimes we really don't want to be here. If we take our own lives we will not go to heaven. You are committing murder of yourself, Therefore breaking a commandment. Since you would be dead, there would be no way to reconcile your sins. No way to ask for forgiveness for what you have done. I believe that my little boy is in heaven, as is all of our little ones. I did not watch the show because I did not want someone who had a different idea of what I have of heaven confuse me. Besides you know how the media is. They despise God, or so it would seem. I think whatever you feel in your heart is the right thing about heaven. God gave you these feelings. You should trust him.

[heidiforever]

It all depends on a person's religion, really, the denomination. I am Presbyterian and my friend is Baptist, and she was weird around me after my son died, and finally I confronted her and she said it was sad he was in h*ll. In the Bible, there is a description of Heaven, but I think mostly we believe what we want to believe, you know? I agree in the beliefs that if you take your own life, you will go to h*ll. It is true that none of us have ever gone to Heaven or h*ll, so we can't really report on it. I believe our babies are all there. Mine were both baptized, but it doesn't make me think that mine are better than anyone else's children.

Anyway, I didn't watch the show, but I think that like most things on TV, you have the choice to believe what you see. You also have the choice to believe what is in your heart.

[Teeny's Mom]

I watched it and it was conflicting. I believe in a God that loves us all and welcomes us into heaven when our journey here is done. I cannot believe that an all powerful being would put restrictions on his love. What about the tribes in South America or anywhere else who have never know Western religion? There are so many people and so many religions. Is only one right? I don't think so. I think that THIS is h*ll. Living here is as bad as it gets. I don't believe that our Father could banish his child no matter what. A parent cannot say to a child that he is free to make his own choices and then punish him for those choices. Especially when he may not know what is "right" and "wrong". Then it is not free will. Life does not come with rules. The only "rule" is that whatever you do to another, you are doing to yourself. If you want love, give it away and it will come back to you tenfold. I see heaven as a most glorious place where we all will see our children. No matter what, I believe that we will be there when it is our time. We have a journey to complete here and when our journey is done, we will see our babies. It will seem like the blink of an eye. But for now, it hurts to be here without them. I have to believe it God the way I do, or life just wouldn't make sense.

[judiann]

Cindee,

You have such a lovely way with words My thoughts & beliefs are much like yours.

I watched part of the show & it was conflicting, but I think the bottom line is.....they don't know either.

judiann

[davidsmom]

I didn't bother to watch it. For no reason other than I wasn't really interested. I have my beliefs.

But I do have to comment on the belief that if one commits suicide they go to h*ll. I strongly disagree. With my heart and soul I disagree. Why would God, our loving father send someone to h*ll who was sick? Because of a depression, or a mental illness someone takes there life...why because they didn't get meds, or help...or whatever was needed. Why would God punish such a person? Not my God. I don't believe it for an instant.

Furthermore, I heard that was made up back in the midevil days because preachers kept preaching about heaven and how glorious it was, and peasants and beggars who were living horrible lives...did just that..commited suicide to get to heaven. So to stop this - they told people suicide leads you to h*ll. Of course, whose to say this is true? But I believe this over somone going to h*ll for being depressed.

When my time is done, I do believe I will hold my David...and right now he's being cared for by my friend who commited suicide, and I will say she is taking excellent care of him - he may be passed around to his grandfather and others who I've loved and lost, but in the end, it's her thats keeping my son comforted until I get there, and I will thank her when I see her again.

[elenasmom]

Hi there
We seemed to have hit a mark when it comes to those who have commited suicide and what happens to them. Interestingly enough the show I saw the other night did not satisfactorily answer the question and as I mentioned in my previous post not one man on that show used any sort of authoritative source in their replies. There was no one pointing to a scripture or explaining how they got their beliefs they just spouted them out as if they were fact. I have trouble with this. I would never claim to say as did one man on that show, "I GUARANTEE that if you believe in Jesus you will go to heaven" - I really have an issue with that. Can any human guarantee that I will go to heaven when I die? Really, does any human have that right?
Regardless, I read something that I thought was very logical and it is bible based so I thought I would share it with those who care to read it with regards to this discussion of suicide. I have tried to summaraize it as the whole article though very good would be too long to post
In Part:

"Committing suicide is very tragic, but in each case the assurance is always there that God... will do the right thing. God knows all the circumstances involved, the degree of responsibility, and the possibility of repentance. We can put complete trust in him to apply his mercy to the fullest extent possible in harmony with his will."
Scriptures used were Psalm 103:10-14 - "....has shown mercy to those fearing him. For he himself well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust." It was then stated in this article that only "God can fully understand the role of mental sickness, extreme stress, even genetic defects, in a "suicidal crisis" which is "not a lifetime characteristic but often a matter only of minutes or of hours."
1 Chronicles 28:9 says that God alone searches 'all hearts and every inclination of the thoughts.' But we may be confident that the Judge of all the earth is going to do what is loving, just, and right!

These are just a few points I enjoyed and felt they were very LOGICAL. I also enjoyed how they pointed to the bible which shows how God is judge and he knows us all individually, so he will decide and do what is right. There was a lot more to the article including comments on how the teaching that for those who commit suicide, redemption is impossible and that suicide is wicked deserving only of h*ll. The teaching is quite an old one dating back centuries to the ideas and feelings of two churchmen Aquinas and Augustine.

Well, again, that's just a little research, thought it was interesting, and wanted to share.
Have a good night all.....

[davidsmom]

if you don't mind - where did you find the article? I would be very interested in reading it. Thanks!

[danielle]

I am sorry if I offended anyone with the suicide thing. I was just stating that In my case. Not everyones case. I did not explain myself clearly. Please don't think that I think that everyone who is mentally sick would go to h*ll. I was trying to say that you can't just kill yourself just because you want to go to heaven. If you read the post by pamela, I was giving my take on her question.
"Why if heaven is so wonderful, don't we just choose to go there now......". If you read that combined with my reply, then you will see where I was comming from.

[davidsmom]

I do take that all to heart, but I'm not offended by others beliefs. I do understand what you are saying, now that I've re-read your post. To me, to take your own life, no matter what, you are depressed, and to me that is an illness. We all have different backgrounds, and different beliefs, and thats good...thats what makes the world go round.

No worries here...take care

[heidiforever]

I guess I need to comment on the whole suicide thing, also. My experience with it is this: My husband went out and had an affair with a woman, I left him, he got his girlfriend pregnant, she died when the baby was five months old, and the very next month, my husband murdered my daughter, his other daughter, and then killed himself. My experience with this is that he just commited a sin by killing two people, and then killed himself-so he killed three people. I don't know how he could say that he truly knew Jesus Christ and then go and do these things.

I guess maybe my bitterness is still apparent for this person, so that is how I got my current beliefs in it, but who am I to say what's right or wrong?

[aldensmom]

Just wanted to chime in really quick. Suicide is a definite tragedy and more than likely the person is very confused and in despair. God doesn't punish those who are sick. I know the comment was made that if you commit suicide that you don't get a chance to ask for forgiveness. True, but think about all the sins we commit every day and we don't get to ask forgiveness for our sins. I may not say another prayer to God until right before I go to sleep. I bet I sin another handful of times before then! We'd have to be asking for forgiveness of our sins every second to be reassured we were going to Heaven if that's how God viewed things. This link explains "How to be sure" you are going to Heaven www.eternallifeministries.org/assurance.htm. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ into your life and your heart then the Bible says you aren't assured eternal life. That's just the way it is.
I hope you all who have questions will do some investigating of your own to be assured forever with your loved ones!

[heidiforever]

You make an excellent point!