RE: My soul can't be bought with streets of gold! On why I am not attracted to the Christian Heaven.
Alas, your view of Heaven and Hell is over simplified. You are literally reacting to a childish view of Heaven (which, unfortunately most so-called Christians never graduate from). You erect a false strawman, and then you congratulate yourself for efficiently dispatching it. Well, that strawman may deserve to be dispatched, but it is not Biblical Christianity.
Heaven is not a cushy retirement. It is not superficial concepts of wealth. It is not sitting on a cloud in a robe playing a harp. It is becoming a member of God's family and inheriting a role in running the entire universe - where there is a never ending supply of useful and rewarding work to be done.
Revelation 3:21
To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Rather, as it is written: “- No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
It is a literal return to the world God originally created before men rebelled against Him.
Yes, the suffering of this world will be remembered no more, but that's not the Really Big Deal shown in bold below:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. "He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
I thought you were already his children.
So besides running from pain you are also looking to inherit/reign the better world you are promised?
If you are all ruling, who will be ruled?
You want a kingdom all for yourself? How noble! Much grace!
What exactly to do with this inheritance? Whatever I want, or the usual whatever god wants?
Inheriting the world means that you can do without god's supervision, is that what it is?
I have no desire to rule anyone or by the side of anyone. I don't need to feel like I have a father either.
Still, no one can sell heaven to me. You can try ruling the world now, many are doing it, and they don't seem very happy to me. I've never had an inclination to impose my will on others.
If god doesn't like the job you are doing with your inheritance, do you not know he can take it from you? If you deny this then you accept there are things that god can't do.
God's promises are worth nothing, because he is not forced to deliver. He does whatever he wants and no one can stop that.
That's ok. Many are called but few are chosen. If the opportunity to serve God does not appeal to you on its own merits, you are not made of the right stuff. Jesus never went after those who played hard to get.
Giving value to yourself the way a zebra gives value to herself on the Serengeti plain. "I'll make the rules for what the lions can do", she says!
Not playing hard to get but giving value to myself. I deserve better than fear and think all of you do too. I don't need to convince myself that I belong, I know I do, I don't need someone to tell me that I am chosen to feel loved.