The good thing about hopping from one Blog to another on the Internet is that I learn something new everyday - well almost!
The problem though, is to know whether what I have learnt is true, or just someone's opinion.
For example, I learnt the other day that when we get to Heaven our
"rewards" will not be the same, but will be commensurate with how well
we responded to God's grace when here on earth.
I'll admit this confused me somewhat. I never realised there were
rewards as such in Heaven. I thought that once there that was reward
enough; if reward is the right word to use in this context.
I doubt very much that if Heaven was a mansion with many rooms, some
Saint or other would have the top penthouse apartment facing whatever
one faces when looking out of Heaven's window, and I would have a dingy
cupboard space somewhere deep in the bowels of said mansion.
Have any of you heard of the notion of unequal rewards in Heaven?
I understand this was at one time Catholic dogma originating from the Council of Florence many years ago.
I asked a priest about it. Here's what he wrote:
"The Council of Florence was in the 15th century. One of the most important principles in the study of theology, sacred scripture and church history (including the general councils) is that we always seek to understand them within the context of their own time.
The visualisation of Heaven as some kind of an hierarchical body was very common in the middle ages, for the simple reason that the whole of society worked in that way. They had no concept of social mobility or equality as we would have these days, and it would’ve seemed unthinkable to them that people in Heaven would be as it were outside of their own social circle!
We almost certainly are not bound to believe that there is any kind of hierarchical or social structure in Heaven. What we are promised is that each and every one of us will have all that is necessary for our personal bliss."
So there you have it; it is no longer Catholic belief that there's a hierarchy in Heaven amongst those souls there.
But how about your Church and your beliefs?
Have you ever heard about unequal rewards in Heaven?
...truth here on earth is becoming murky.
ReplyDeleteGood question, since I got old my thoughts are as you said:
ReplyDelete.....I thought that once there that was reward enough;......
Yes for years I heard of rewards in heaven in my area of Christianity. Once I reached adulthood I could not understand many approaches of bigger, or more rewards, etc.
How could one deserve more rewards than those slaughtered for Entertainement in ancient Rome? ETC
No matter, I just want to make it..... As always, you brought up another good one. THANKS for all. Love from this side.
Thank you Jack. I had heard of this "rewards in Heaven" from a Blog I visited. I was surprised to learn it was Catholic teachings. We were never taught this at school. So I asked a priest. His explanation seems feasible. At the time of the Council of Florence in the 1400s life was hierarchical. So they assumed so would Heaven be.
DeletePersonally, I believe Heaven is reward enough.
God bless you Jack, and Sherry. Thank you for your friendship.
Revelation 21:4 tells us there will be no tears, no sorrow, and nothing but pure joy in seeing our Father face to face. This is the truth that sets us free!
ReplyDeleteAmen Debby. Amen indeed.
DeleteGod bless you.
I've never thought of that concept before, Victor, so I guess I learned something, too, today. I'm trusting only in Jesus' promise that we will dwell in joy with Him when we pass from this life. He told the thief on the cross who believed that he would be in paradise with Him that very day. Have a blessed Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI only found that out by visiting another Blog. So I checked with a priest I know. I did not even know it was catholic teaching at one time. I asked the priest whether I'd be put in a broom cupboard somewhere rather than in a top apartment in God's mansion. (He did not reply).
DeleteGod bless you, Martha.
I have believed some people will get more (or bigger?) rewards than others but that when all is said and done, we will all be content with Heaven in every respect. I'm thinking some Believers will have more crowns to lay at the feet of Jesus than others.... I really don't know. It's an interesting thought.
ReplyDeleteI never knew of all this, Barbara, until I read it in a Blog. I agree with your view that we will all be content in Heaven in every respect.
DeleteGod bless always.
My church believes that we will all receive crowns for the work we've done on earth so some will have more than others BUT
ReplyDeletewe will lay them all at HIS feet because He gets all the glory.
Thank you so much K for this information. I did not know about that.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
I never heard about rewards, it's new to me.
ReplyDeleteYes, new to me too, Bill. God bless.
DeleteLike Bill, I've not heard about rewards.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I just found out about it by visiting a Blog.
DeleteGod bless, Jan.
This first image/meme certainly speaks to me!
ReplyDeleteAs others have mentioned, this concept has never occurred to me before. Simply, Abundance would be finding myself in His presence without any thought to comparison.
So well said, Mevely. Why bother with comparisons when we are with God for eternity. Well said and Amen.
DeleteGod bless you.
Víctor, nunca leí nada de recompensas, pero creo que cuando morimos todos somos iguales y allí en el Cielo no habrá diferencias, todos somos hijos de Dios por eso todos seremos tratados de igual manera , con amor.
ReplyDeleteBesos
TRANSLATION: Victor, I've never read anything about rewards, but I believe that when we die we are all equal and there in Heaven there will be no differences. We are all children of God, so we will all be treated equally, with love. Kisses.
DeleteThank you Momentos. Yes, you are right, we are all children of God and we will be treated with justice, mercy and love.
God bless you always.
Even Jesus said He would "reward each person according to what they have done," in Matthew 16:27. He also talked about storing up for ourselves treasures in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteSt. Paul talked about how our work will be tested by fire. If it burns up, we will be saved, but those whose work doesn't burn seem to get some kind of extra reward.
Of course, as you and others have already noted, being there is the big reward and we will all be perfectly happy and content, so I think these passages are a way to stir us on to love and good works, just as we're supposed to do for each other.
Thank you, Mimi, for a thoughtful comment. Being in Heaven will be reward enough for eternity.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
I have heard about rewards in Heaven, and I always tell God, Heaven will be enough of a reward for me.
ReplyDeleteAmen Sandie. True, Heaven will be enough reward.
DeleteGod bless you always.