Q: Is it possible to really know you’ll go to heaven when you die? I’ve always tried to be a good person, but I worry about whether or not I’ve been good enough to get into heaven. How can I know? — C.R.
A: I addressed this same topic last Friday. Many Christians believe that they will go to heaven only if they believe that Jesus died for them. This is what Billy Graham says in response to this question:
Our salvation doesn’t depend on us and our good works!
…
Don’t trust yourself and your goodness for your salvation. Instead, trust Christ and His goodness — for He alone is God’s way of salvation.
I think this is a lazy way for many to feel moral and righteous, since their actions don’t seem to matter, only their belief in a fictitious deity. When I was in college, I had many friends that were Christian, but treated other people (especially non-believers) poorly. I couldn’t resolve this apparent contradiction until I learned their beliefs about salvation. Then every thing made sense. I feel this attitude can lead to immoral behavior. I think we should threat each other with fairness and respect just because it feels like the right thing to do.
As I pointed out in yesterday’s answer, all aspects of Christianity are human inventions. Therefore, I would suggest that you reject your irrational Christian beliefs and adopt your own personal moral code to guide your actions. This will make you a more valuable member of your society.
Feel free to leave your answer to this question in the comments.
