Does your choice of religion matter to God?

[Xeno.of.athens]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

 

[Lukaris]

I believe the Lord will judge in with mercy and justice to many by their disposition and actions. Scripture like Matthew 12:30-36, attests to this I believe, but only God knows who.

 

[th1bill]

Actually, as I read it any religion will send us to the Eternal Lake of Fire. Yeshua stated He had not come to establish another religion. Christianity has divided itself into two basic forms, as nearly as I can tell, after some 35 years of study.

The Ministry of Yeshua was to the faithful observer of the Law, the Jew, well, a few Jews. Yeshua sought and seeks a relationship with you and the name Christian, used first at Antioch meant Little Christ and was meant as an insult.

 

[bling]

God judges the hearts of people. Now, if you are part of a "religion" to get something selfish from it, then you need to change.

 

[d taylor]

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Sure especially from born again believers, as they should be teaching God's word correctly. A born again believer can not tell an unbeliever how to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation. If they have fallen into Biblical error.

 

[JonasDaniels]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

There will be a great number of people welcomed into Gods Kingdom, who were not expected to be, by those who did expect to be, and were not.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

There will be a great number of people welcomed into Gods Kingdom, who were not expected to be, by those who did expect to be, and were not.

All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it! (Matthew 7:12-14 DRB)

Jesus does not seem as confident as your post about a great number who will travel the road to heaven.

 

[JonasDaniels]

All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it! (Matthew 7:12-14 DRB)

Jesus does not seem as confident as your post about a great number who will travel the road to heaven.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."

The Revelation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Chapter 7

"And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."

The Revelation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Chapter 7

Nevertheless, the gate is narrow and the road difficult that leads to eternal life, and few find it.

 

[godisagardener]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

You say "choice of religion" in your heading, but then in your comment you mention "many denominations". Which do you mean?

There are more than 4,000 religions in the world. Christianity (one of those religions) has a number (maybe 6-9?) of main denominations and thousands of offshoots of those denominations. Hopefully all those offshoots hold the Bible sacred.

What does Christ tell us?

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." These are the words of Jesus in John 14:6.

"NO ONE comes to the Father except THROUGH ME." That should answer your question.

 

[JonasDaniels]

Nevertheless, the gate is narrow and the road difficult that leads to eternal life, and few find it.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

 

[com7fy8]

What does Christ tell us?

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." These are the words of Jesus in John 14:6.

"NO ONE comes to the Father except THROUGH ME." That should answer your question.

And > "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (in Acts 4:12)

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29)

But ones can mature in Jesus while in a denomination, then reach to others. As we grow in Jesus we test in prayer >

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

And we get wise to "things" but then can do what is good and be good examples >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

You say "choice of religion" in your heading, but then in your comment you mention "many denominations". Which do you mean?

Denomination and religion are synonyms within the confines of Christianity.

 

[BobRyan]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

At the time of Christ - the two major groups in Christianity were Sadducees and Pharisees.

So then years after having been converted to Christianity - Paul says :

Acts 23"6 But Paul, perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in the Council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9 And a great uproar occurred; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when a great dissension occurred, ....

Apparently Christian Jews identified with the Pharisees to a large extent.

But they did not identify has Hindus, Buddhists, Greek pagans etc.

Even so they were calling Jews out of the traditions of the Jews whether Pharisee or Sadducee as Christ points out in Mark 7:6-13. Christ pointed them to the old testament Gospel "New Covenant" as Paul says in Heb 8 --- the one found in Jer 31:31-34.

 

[Palmfever]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

Seems clear to me.
John 14:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

[JEBofChristTheLord]

Precisely. "Choice of religion" is irrelevant in the face of God. Relevant, is whether or not one denies oneself, takes up the burdens the Father has given, and follows that which the Son has said, done, and discussed.

 

[ARBITER01]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God?

Yes, to some degree. People are good liars.

Our truth is suppose to come directly from GOD, not people.

 

[KevinT]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

Great conversation starter.

If we are God's children, then we are all ignorant and wrong(*) in our beliefs and understandings. So it doesn't matter where we start from; instead, what will matter is how we follow Christ as God leads us unto truth. And for those who were not born into Christian teaching, God and the Holy Spirit are still reaching out to them as well, to all seekers of a better way.

Having said that, I think doctrine does matter, and we should strive to follow sound reasoning and trustworthy principles for realizing and understanding the light already given to us. We should take a hard look at everything we believe, and then periodically come back and look at it all over again.

I feel that loss of salvation comes when we turn away from God, not when He turns us away.

Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Best wishes and Merry Christmas,

Kevin

Edit: by “wrong”, I mean not 100% correct, just as early theories of the atom were later replaced by better models—only to subsequently supplanted by ones even better.

 

[BobRyan]

According to the Bible - bad doctrine "matters" and pure doctrine "matters"

For example

1. Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

1. Titus 2:7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

1. Titus 2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

1. Hebrews 6:2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

1. Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

1. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

1. 2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

1. 2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

1. Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

1. Revelation 2:15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

1. Revelation 2:24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

 

[ozso]

There are many denominations, and some differ from others in rather profound ways but does the religion that you choose matter to God? Will God hold you accountable for your choice, and what if you get it profoundly wrong, will God reject you at the gates of heaven because you chose a religion that God rejects?

The way I see it is Christ and not religion is what matters. Even if one belongs to the religion God most approves of, but does not have Christ as their Lord and Savior, they will parish.