Weird Question...

[HoosierCanuck]

I've always wondered about this: Any thoughts, verses, etc.. would be very helpful.

I know of a few people who are supposedly Christian that I cannot stand to be the in the same room with. How am I going to deal with spending eternity in heaven with these people? Is my feelings toward them going to keep me out of heaven?

 

[Olga]

Actually, I asked that quesion to G-d before. And He said that I should learn how to love those people. Your feelings gonna change as soon as you pass your test.

 

[skylark1]

1 John 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2 Corinthians 3
18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


We are being changed, and will be changed. I don't think that we will take all of our sinful ways and annoying habits with us, just as those who suffer from physical problems will not suffer with them for eternity.

 

[helmikaarina]

You have a very interesting question which I don't have any answers. But it made me think about loving each other. I know that e.g. loving my kids means not that I should always give them everything they want, many times quite the opposite. I have to make and keep some rules with them etc. So I thought what would loving each other mean when I'm dealing with people which are very difficult to me to deal with. And I had to ask: Would it be loving them if I tried to avoid them when it's possible. It would be good for both.

Then I remembered a story about St. Thérèse of Jesus Child who had this same question. She said

I ought to seek the company of those Sisters who according to nature please me least. I ought to fulfill in their regard the office of the Good Samaritan. A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.

and she began to act so too. She chose a Sister who pleased her least and begin to do her all those things which she would have done to the Sister she liked most. It was very difficult spiritual training, so difficult that sometimes she had to go away from this Sister she didn't like.

But she tells also

I feel that when I am charitable it is Jesus alone who acts in me; the more I am united to Him the more do I love all my Sisters. If, when I desire to increase this love in my heart, the demon tries to set before my eyes the faults of one or other of the Sisters, I hasten to call to mind her virtues, her good desires; I say to myself that if I had seen her fall once, she may well have gained many victories which she conceals through humility; and that even what appears to me a fault may in truth be an act of virtue by reason of the intention.

So it's not a question of eternity but a question of our life here in this world. How could I love those people who please me least? I think that the first thing is to want to love them, the other one is pray for wisdom, strength, love and the third one is pray for them and then begin to act as you pray. It changes things between you and the other person if you have prayed for him/her. It's more difficult not to stand him/her.

OK. This became a sermon to me. There are people who are difficult for me to stand and there is very little I can(want?)to do with it. Maybe that's why I cannot be compared e.g. with St. Thérèse.

Bless you ... and me

 

[TheMainException]

No, your feelings towards them will not keep you from heaven. But I suggest that you get more in touch with the love God has for you. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean anything...no one ever said that you had to like them, you just have to love them...serve them as Christ served all those, great and small, pains and good friends...he was a friend to all...and that's how you should be, but you don't have to hang out with them all the time or anything...just love them. I also suggest that you get your hands on a book called "Abba's Child" by Brennan Manning. It goes into detail the love of Christ.

 

[DMA]

if heaven is in fact real, when you get there, you wont be the same person you are now.. this is all annotated in the bible. By time you get to heaven, you will have the necessary love for everyone. Do you think the lions will eat you alive? no... you will most likely be playing with them in your backyard.
have you read your bible? I am not sure where you are in your christian experience, but these queries are the most simplest questions that are the easiest to answer.

 

[Mea Culpa]

I've always wondered about this: Any thoughts, verses, etc.. would be very helpful.

I know of a few people who are supposedly Christian that I cannot stand to be the in the same room with. How am I going to deal with spending eternity in heaven with these people? Is my feelings toward them going to keep me out of heaven?

I have a similar problem, due to earthly conflicts that I won't discuss here.

I know that I may very well spend eternity with them, and others who I may have a personality conflict with.

When we go Home, we are going to be pure, all sin will be GONE (amen!) and our focus will be on Him, not on us. All the **** that we feel and think, all those sinful things in our minds and hearts will be gone.

So though we struggle here, look forward to release there!!

 

[shawn_h76]

I've always wondered about this: Any thoughts, verses, etc.. would be very helpful.

I know of a few people who are supposedly Christian that I cannot stand to be the in the same room with. How am I going to deal with spending eternity in heaven with these people? Is my feelings toward them going to keep me out of heaven?

I asked my pastor the same exact question. I also asked my pastor if my relationship with God now, will change in heaven. He gave me an answer I could never forget. "Your stupity wont be with you in heaven"

 

[Crazy Liz]

Jesus said several times in several different ways that if we don't forgive our brothers and sisters, God won't forgive us. I began to imagine being at the Final Judgment. Jesus was separating the sheep from the goats. I see my enemy among the sheep. Jesus tells me a place has been prepared for me in heaven. It is right next door to my enemy. Jesus says, "I have forgiven him, will you?" If I refuse, I must take my place with the goats.

Think about it. This has challenged me.

 

[HoosierCanuck]

Thanks everyone for your posts. They have been a great help. I'm slowly trying to get past some of my hang ups about various people (some Christian, some not). I still know of a few that I haven't been able to bring myself to tolerate. Luckily, I'm not around these people anymore (mostly due to a job change!) but I know that in heaven (assuming I make it) we'll all be there.

Liz, your post is quite interesting. Thanks

 

[cherokeehippie]

I see it this way--there are christians or ministries that I cringe and can't stand to be around---not hatred or unforgiveness sort of thing, just they're aren't my style. (Jan Crouch of TBN, and the type of music, preachers, etc on TBN, etc. for example) I figured it this way, they are just another part of the body--stones that are in the wall of the Temple(His Body) that are over near the window on the other side of me while I'm over near the fireplace, or door, etc. He places us wherever He fits us--and He meant for them to be over in one part of His Building, and me in another. We are all different and He didn't mean for all of us to be all the same. I respect and love and honor them when I can, but they are in one part and I'm in another part of His Body.

 

[kimbot]

Lets see what Christ thought...

" You have heard it was said 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy' But I say to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in heaven.....For if you love those who love you what reward have you? Do no even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your bretheren only what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?" Matt 6:43-47

As Christians we are set apart we have been given the greatest gift of all - Grace- from the creator of the universe. If we are the same as those who have not yet recived this gift (the proverbial tax collectors) what are we telling the world about our Lord? that really we are no different.....

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you that you also love one another." John 13:34

Now theres something. Jesus said 'as I have loved you' How did he love us? Infinately and regardless of our sins - all have fallen short of the Glory of God and therefore are undeserved of such love BUT He loved us anyway....

"...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself."


And there it is again - love you neighbour as yourself. How do we love ourselves? Well I for one love me for the person I am aside from all my unbelievable flaws. In fact the reason I hate my sin so much is because I love the original spirit.

Also it is interesting that Jesus uses the words 'and the second is like it' perhaps the way we love others is meant to be reminescent of the way we love God - I have heard it said that truly we only love our Father as much as the person we love the least.

And one more thing.....Ours is a Gospel of Grace, grace is a gift to those who do not deserve it,it costs the giver everything and the reciever nothing (sounds familiar....) and is the inspiration of love and forgiveness. Grace Is what truly sets us apart As Jesus spent his whole life trying to illustrate. The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:21-35) powerfully remind us of the reality of unlove, unforgivenss and ungrace.

Yours in Christ

 

[Dead Man Walking]

You should love these brothers and sisters anyways, and check out I John 3:2 on the heaven part.

 

[Mea Culpa]

I've always wondered about this: Any thoughts, verses, etc.. would be very helpful.

I know of a few people who are supposedly Christian that I cannot stand to be the in the same room with. How am I going to deal with spending eternity in heaven with these people? Is my feelings toward them going to keep me out of heaven?

All thoughts of self will be gone. You won't have none of those things to struggle with.

Our focus will be on ONE and ONE only. GOD. We will see the face of God, and I think when that day happens the only thing we will be doing is bowing down to HIm, and the rest of the garbage that we have here and that we make ourselves will be gone.

I REALLY want that day to come, I REALLY want Christ to take out the trash! (for clarification, I mean my sin nature, our sin nature, when I say trash. I don't think anyone is really trash!!_