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Dr Cathy Northrup
The Reverend Doctor Cathy Northrup was born in Ft. Meade, MD, and was raised in a variety of places in the United State and Germany, as her father was in Counter Intelligence with the Army. She graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, with a double major in English and Religion. She graduated from Georgetown Law Center in Washington, DC, and practiced law with the Federal Reserve Board for a number of years before attending Union Theological Seminaryin Richmond, VA. She graduated from Union, and served several churches in North and South Carolina, at the same time obtaining her Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. Dr. Northrup is currently the Pastor/Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church, Wichita, KS. She is married and has two black Labrador dogs who were rescued from abusive situations. You can contact Dr. Northrup at cnorthrup@firstpresbywichita.org or by phone at (316) 263-0248, ext. 26.
Religion
2011-05-01 11:25:00
Requirements for heaven’s entry
Answer: Presbyterians believe, as stated in our Westminster Catechism, that the “righteous” shall be received into heaven. We also believe that no human being is “righteous” on his or her own, however; we believe that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to sinful humanity, and it is only by grace that we are given eternal life in heaven. Even faith itself is a gift of God’s grace; we are justified by grace through faith. Across the wide spectrum of Presbyterian belief, there are those who hold variant understandings of who might be in heaven. Some believe that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to all people; thus, they are called Universalists and believe heaven is open to all. Some believe that Christ’s righteousness is imputed only to those who are elect; thus, heaven is not open to all. I trust in God’s grace and leave this mystery to Him. You ask if there are different “requirements” for heaven for people of different “religious persuasions.” I cannot speak for other faiths, nor should I speak for other Christians, Catholic or Protestant. I do know that the major points of difference between the Protestant denominations are on one or both of these two issues: polity (or governance) and the understanding of the sacraments. Yet there are theological differences as well; I would want you to seek your answer with someone in each denomination to be sure.
 
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