Catholic's Question

Indoctrination Defined

YOUR INDOCTRINATION

Indoctrination often carries a sinister implication, but that depends on its purpose. We indoctrinate children as parents in terms of very important things for them to mimic especially when they are very young in things related to safety in the house, near streets and it is important for them to live these messages. Parents also can negatively influence children by their language and habits. We might say these are bad examples and not so much intended indoctrination, but nonetheless influence. Frequently, children are indoctrinated into the belief system of their parents and this can be casual and informative or rigid and threatening. The vast majority of religious believers were indoctrinated from childhood. Those brought up in a rigid and threatening manner such as Islam are seldom converts, just Muslims from childhood. The rigid and threatening nature of Islam does not relent with maturity. Catholicism was this way for many centuries and still count on the early indoctrination of children in Catholic families to produce Catholics for life. The Catholic indoctrination is less effective today because large numbers of Catholics see the inconsistency in doctrine compared to the word of God. They see the murderous history and today they see the immorality. Also, the often doubting parents do not provide a continuum of indoctrination to their children. Additionally, large number of Catholics are very sporadic in their participation or leave the church completely. Those who leave Catholicism are seldom removed from the official roles of the Catholic church and thus their numbers are not correctly deflated. Protestants, like all religions raise up their children by indoctrinating them into the parents belief system. The retention of children in their system is much higher than that of Catholics because they do not have the awful history and have ALWAYS used the scriptures. The more distant a religion is from the truth the more severe their methods of maintaining their members. Islam uses the most severe means to build and maintain their members. Leaving Islam has many penalties including death. Nations practicing Sharia Law (or a close facsimile) require the apostate to be killed. Yes, their religion is very, very far from the truth and very, very much evil throughout. Religion should include a search for truth, but for most is something associated with indoctrination and fear of persons within the religion. I am a Muslim because I was raised a Muslim. I am a Catholic because I was raised a Catholic. I am Protestant because I was raised a Protestant. Of course, all religions are involved in making converts of those not raised in their beliefs.
To be clear, in a world filled with things not true especially in relation to religion, God has not left humankind without the truth. The truth will just be referred to at this point as “THE TRUTH.”
A child raised in THE TRUTH is of course indoctrinated in THE TRUTH. What is the difference if they are taught something different? Religion only has eternal value if it is THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH is available to all, but is only found by those who seek THE TRUTH and will be satisfied with nothing less. THE TRUTH is infinitely elusive to all those who seek to verify they already have the truth or seek the truth that aligns with something that will be acceptable to their life or lifestyle. They undoubtedly will find what they are looking for and it could be called THEIR TRUTH.
The scriptures point out there is truth and there is error and Jesus told the Jews of their futility in the area of making converts to Judaism. The law from God had been replaced by the traditions of the Jews and Jesus told them in Matthew:

Matthew 15:3

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Note: The word “tradition” is used in a positive sense when it is consistent with the word of God and negatively in the verse above and the verse below (Colossians 2.8) when in opposition to the will of God.

Matthew 15.9

9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

The doctrines of men are of no value in worship of God. Worship MUST BE in spirit and TRUTH (John 4.24).

Colossians 2.8

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 

It is not some idle, casual thing to follow after human wisdom instead of following God, but involves our success or failure in life.

Matthew 23.15

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Jesus was always serious and the Jews in their proselytizing someone were converting them to error. They were just growing the numbers of those who would likewise be condemned.

Note: “THE TRUTH” is a reference to the fact that there is TRUTH, very singular. We live in a world that thinks what they believe does not matter. One religion is as good as another and quite often “no religion at all” is better than any religion. The “world” however, does not know. How could they possibly know? The scriptures point to one God, one truth and one way to heaven. Like so many things the comfortable, pleasant way to view religion is from a very casual viewpoint. It seems that acceptance of all beliefs shows your kind heart, your benevolent attitude and surely something God would find favorable in your attitude. It turns out there is nothing more seriously wrong than to think and act as though you have the answers to how God “sees things.” God has revealed His will and your adherence to His commands are the only way to please Him. It is the only way for people to be united, to believe the same thing, to know and live “THE TRUTH.”
Paul faced this in Athens and clarified their “unknown God” by declaring GOD NEEDS NOTHING. So men and women invent all sorts of things (religions) “to please God” and the message from scripture is that the only way to please Him is through obedience.

Acts 17.24,25

24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 
25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 

Every person in the Lord’s church (THE TRUTH) is challenged to understand what they believe, never any coercion, but obviously they are influenced. THE TRUTH is so radically different than human-devised doctrine that it does not have the same issues with people remaining in the faith. That does not mean, some, a few will leave, but when they do they are not heretics. Every child raised in THE TRUTH has to make their own “adult” decision to become a child of God and remain one. The fundamental difference is that THE TRUTH is spiritual and God only wants those who choose Him, obey Him and stay faithful to Him. The religions of humankind are concerned in growing and keeping their members – it is truly their power-base. So depending on the religion they coerce or threaten or bring hardship on “member” lives – very, very much an human idea of the need to control. In the Lord’s church there is encouragement to remain faithful and just like the Lord adds you to His spiritual body via your obedience, so does your disobedience remove you (normally invisibly) from His body. You can effectively recover that relationship. As a child of God you can go to the Father through your advocate (Jesus) and repent that your sin MIGHT be covered. So there is no coercing or threatening to remain part of a physical body, but helping you to grow in grace and knowledge that encourages you to live faithfully.

Indoctrination is everywhere and what we believe (even being an Atheist) has undoubtedly come from being indoctrinated. Of course, we all know that, but seldom admit to the extent we have been influenced. Again, it is likely that we do not fully recognize the influences that have shaped our beliefs or the motives behind those who have influenced us. YOU may be indoctrinated, but not ME – so we think. God is very much aware of the dangers and warns those “In Christ” of being cheated of the goal they so desire (Colossians 2.8). Jesus knows there is truth and error and the devastating results of accepting error on your eternal soul.

Matthew 7:15

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

These are some of the things that mislead, that are used to indoctrinate. Man-made philosophy, empty deceit, traditions, false teachers and all aligned with the world (opposition to God). They are in opposition to the doctrine of Christ. There is no way you can have Christ and God unless you have the doctrine of Christ.

2 John 1.9

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. 

We like to think we are independent and make decisions for ourselves – not easily influenced. We are the way we are because after considerable observation and study we make the best choices. This is almost never the the case. The things we believe come from our environment (which includes our indoctrination) and is tilted by what we want, by the way we think it should be. The people who influenced us can be quite proficient in convincing and if necessary quite flexible in aligning their doctrine with what we want. THE TRUTH is not flexible. An important defense against following error is to think on your own and consider seriously the influences in your life. Consider how you came to believe what you believe.

Where and When And To What Extent Have I been Influenced
Is This The Real Reason I Believe, What I Believe

Consider the sources of influence in your life and how they have affected your current beliefs. Have I really reached the truth, do I really understand what I believe? These are reasonable questions for one who loves the truth.

Generally, we have multiple influences on any one subject and at times they are pulling in different directions. All too frequently most or all of these influences on the left (above) are pulling in the same direction and you are overwhelmed. Logically, the volume of opinion, teaching and its intensity must be right – BUT this is not true. It is important that we care, are serious about what we believe or best said that we have a love of the truth. Many people do not care about the truth and this can be the obvious root cause for failing to find it.

Indoctrination Is Everywhere

The media influences much of the world and it is controlled by just a few people who have the power. In Russia during the cold war the Soviet news agency “TASS” was directed by the Russian government. Everything was tilted or spun to convey a message precisely as the government required. Did the Russian people believe the propaganda? Yes, the masses believed the messages they received. Tass remains the largest Russian news agency today. The best short definition of Communism remains: “Hatred of God and all forms of religion.” In the United States there was a time when there was more fairness, but gradually the ideology of the mass media imparted their twist on everything. The cornerstone of the Russian media, of the USA media is godlessness. A God-directed media cares about lying, is concerned with accuracy. Those things are not compatible with the majority of modern media. A nation follows the indoctrination of the media and over time supports the evil that becomes an accepted part of their daily lives. There is a continuing, never ending presentation of godless philosophies. Media power over people is highly efficient and much different than the time when the media REPORTED the news. Now, these un-elected media moguls along with their financial supporters are CREATING the news, interpreting the news in order to promote their beliefs. It is a powerful indoctrination and especially young people believe they are receiving the truth. They are being manipulated and often being proud, they are exceedingly vulnerable to external forces as opposed to understanding for themselves. Tass provides the Russian version of the news and the American media for the most part is largely owned and manipulated by one political party. So much for unbiased news and unfortunately for having the truth reported.
There are certain characteristics of effective mass indoctrination that have so many blinded by error.

• Lying and deceit that is so extreme that many think it must be true
• Consistently presenting the same lies, wearing down the target audience
• A logical or seemingly logical story
• A campaign of attacking dissenters by indicating “everyone knows this is true” – but without evidence, of belittling disbelievers – character assassination, innuendos
• The number of people who support the belief and this may indeed be a huge number of people or frequently a highly exaggerated number IS THE EVIDENCE
• Support from respected persons or from famous persons

None of these things or all of them together makes something true. One thing that happens with proponents of error is that they (or their organizations) become intimately associated with the error and will do whatever it takes to defend the teaching. Like the old saying that lies require more lies to continually cover the earlier lies.

Heaven Coach Is About The TRUTH and
People Making Free Will Choices
The Emphasis Is Overcoming YOUR Indoctrination and
Gaining An Understanding Of What You Believe

Heaven Coach is not interested in politics even though there is sadness whenever there is strong “evil” prejudice designed to control minds – effectively indoctrinating the masses. When you combine the media with the educational system that supports the same godless agenda it spells horror for future generations. Indoctrination cannot be underestimated – it rules the weak-minded, the selfish and harm is done to its victims.
Once again, although the deceitful pattern of indoctrination in worldly matters is devastating, it is ultimately not the problem leading to failed lives. The exceptions are: 1) The teaching that God does not exist and the futile, misleading explanations of how life began and 2) The acceptance and promotion of sinful things, including sinful, wanton lifestyles, which damage many lives and often from an early age.

The godless indoctrination (well conceived) is always associated with human logic and frequently explanations coming from poor science. Interestingly, science fails because it abandons the scientific method of evaluation and teaches theory as reality. The media likes the world without God, as that means a world without rules, allowing immorality, indecency. In the godless world there is no punishment after death as non-existence is the suggested final state. In that world, deceit, the hallmark of the modern media is only problematic if they are caught (in lies) and then often only with minor consequences.

Heaven Coach is concerned about the indoctrination of people by humankind’s invented religions that lead to a CERTAIN failure in life. When I was very immature in the knowledge of God there was one thing that I held as logical and it was that if the spiritual teaching was from men/women, it was not of any value. There needed to be a connection with God for it to be true – how else could it be true?
If you look at the really big picture you will see “worldly-life” as a continuous battle to get all you can. Accumulating “stuff,” pleasure, relationships, power, admiration and so-on. This for many is what life is all about. Even living the unselfish life, providing kindness at every turn although more fulfilling than the hedonist lifestyle still ends in failure.
One reason indoctrination is often so insidious is simply that you are unaware of its influence on how you live and that often means you do not care. Some indoctrination has value as we need to include certain things in our life that are beneficial to our present existence. In that framework, we are not brainwashed, but just instructed and we feel no pressure to continue to follow what we were taught. Indoctrination that brainwashes is the sinister, devious influence that affects our success in the next life. One component of its effectiveness is how we have gradually come to accept the teaching or philosophy without understanding the true source or motives of those doing the indoctrination. The indoctrination keeping people from the truth includes three basic elements.
1) A godless promotion that is supported by media, science, and education
2) The acceptance and promotion of immorality, of things that God refers to as sin
3) The religions invented by humankind that make up the vast majority of people who acknowledge God

You might wonder why people do not flock to the simple truth and it is the indoctrination mentioned just above. Yet, you can succeed in life (heaven) if you want to badly enough. You need to seek the truth and overcome the indoctrination to which you have likely been exposed.

The scriptures contain warnings for those “in Christ” that are valid for every person seeking the truth. God is aware of the influence of evil persons manipulating others to their way of thinking.

Ephesians 4.14,15

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ

Isn’t it interesting, how God warns us of the pending danger of deceit and its cure – speaking the truth in love. God has placed the answer men and women need in His word and realizes the enemy of your soul is the trickery and cunning of people who would teach in opposition to His word.

The Seriousness of Life

Life is about the soul and nothing else and it would be good to understand that now instead of on the day you pass from this life. Now, you can do something to get on the “right track.” That is, on a path to eternal life. The visual below is exceedingly blunt, to the point, to the “end game” and provides the perspective you need in view of the religious inventions of humankind. The religions of the world provide a place of comfort. Unfortunately, unless it is THE TRUTH it is only temporarily a comfort. In the end God will be found true and you need to be aligned with Him.

Romans 3.4

4 ….. let God be true but every man a liar ……

God has nothing to do with the religions below, He never did with the exception of the Jews. They were His people used to bring Christ and the first ones to receive the gospel message. They have fulfilled their purpose in bringing Christ through the lineage. Albeit, they were largely a disobedient people, eventually murdering their Messiah. The apostles followed and obeyed Jesus as did many other Jews during the first century – they would be the first Christians. Judaism continues to this day, but it is not of God. All the other religions were invented and never had any spiritual value. The only way to grasp this is to realize that God is serious about what He says, about what He has delivered as truth.

Those in the red circle are saying I believe this form of religion, of worship and I follow those men/women who created it. Of course, they believe their “religion” is from God through certain persons. They ought to understand that these religions are not what God’s word describes in terms of what is needed for salvation. They are not consistent with the truth in any way and thus at some point PEOPLE created the doctrines they now follow. God wants those who love the truth (green circle) and not those persons (red circle) who love what they were taught – there is quite a difference!

Again and again, God has showed for our learning, His seriousness. He demonstrated that by destroying those in the days of Noah – firmly dealing with their evil hearts. Some people estimate the number of people destroyed by water at many millions, some have said over a billion. Shortly after Moses brought the Israelite’s from Egyptian captivity some began to worship the golden calf and they were all destroyed. Nadab and Abihu were priests serving God and determined to do things their own way and God brought fire and destroyed them. The Jews in the time of Elijah were worshiping Baal and/or Asherah (each with 450 priests) and God demonstrated He was God and the priests of Baal were executed. Humankind, in their self-righteousness looks at what God has done and wants nothing to do with the God of the bible. Yet, God is the perfect absence of evil. You do not understand God and yet you judge Him with your very imperfect judgment. It might help to read, “God Revealed1” and “God Revealed II” as well as other places at Heaven Coach before you “settle in” to your very costly position. God makes it clear who He is in relation to humankind – SO YOU WILL KNOW.

Isaiah 55.9

9 “For the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

In your mind, there may be many conflicting things about God as the God of the bible and those who never take the truth seriously will miss out on the only thing that really matters. Very importantly, God is not man, but perfect in every way and you can understand God and grow in that knowledge IF YOU WANT TO! It is not God that keeps you from the truth for He is perfect in love, justice and all things, but it is you and what you want and what you want to believe. This is EXACTLY how God planned to separate those for success (heaven) and failure. That is, their free-will choice that is motivated by a love of the truth or a love of the world.

Again and again God demonstrated the seriousness of following His ways and today those in the red circle are following in the way of so many before – in fact similar to Baal. In many cases, these people appear to be religious in a belief of God – but it is not the truth. It is an obvious conclusion from the scriptures that there is God’s way and the way of humankind in relation to truth, in relation to worship, in relation to salvation and God will never accept “man’s” way. It seems humankind is much more tolerant than God inasmuch as they accept any and all SOURCES of belief. Yet, it is on this basis (truth) that God will have those who succeed in life – not a trivial thing to God, but at the center of His purpose. You need to leave the red circle and thus leave the masses doomed to miss heaven. God wants all to succeed, but will not accept those who reject His Son and that is what you do if you are not following the doctrine of Christ.

2 John 1.9

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.

It is sadly interesting that ALL those in the red circle do not in their belief system come into Christ. They never obey the gospel even though many claim a relationship with Christ.
Most of the seven things God says He hates are associated with deceit and specifically in relation to the truth and this deceit is what is found in the groups in the red circle. Paul said it this way in relation to changing the gospel.

Galatians 1.6-9

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

There were many false god’s / religions before Paul wrote this and many after and Paul was just indicating in Galatians that the truth was no sooner revealed than it was being changed. A person might think how can God not want any to fail and yet not accept the many apparent legitimate attempts of worshiping, serving Him. We just pointed out how God hates lies and deceit and the reason is that these are the things that mislead a person into the “red circle.” Perhaps the most significant failure in the varying logic processes of humankind is to see God as a person versus Deity. People frequently say this is how God should treat this matter or perhaps they assume God who is perfect in love will look past the things He has revealed in the scripture. If you think this way, it is likely you will never understand God, but in your pride fail in life. In dealing with God, we are dealing with perfection and the complete absence of evil. There are those who can humble themselves in obedience to God and those who will question everything about God. God provides answers in His word and it is all we need to succeed. There will be questions that to your way of thinking are not answered or cannot be answered. An example would be difficult questions about the judgment of people in certain cases. The problem is that a person cannot accept the apparent answer from the scriptures or cannot see a solution to this or that problem. Yet, for the child of God here is the answer, “God can perfectly handle your concerns.” God is perfect in Love and in Justice.

Atheists are dragged down by pride, superiority and ignorance (of the scriptures). They have been indoctrinated by the groups in the red circle (of which they are a member). In addition to the support of their atheist colleagues they have all the false religions, who they blame for the evil and confusion in the world. They are right, but none of those religions represent God – but He abhors them. If they understood the truth, they would undoubtedly see life differently. Very possibly not differently enough to completely leave Atheism, because prideful persons who want no rules are not the ingredients of faithful persons. Nonetheless, some Atheists have made the transition as THE TRUTH is very powerful.

You can come to the end of your life with confidence that you will succeed only if you follow God and not “man.” It does not matter how many people believe like you, or how strong and devout you are in that belief, but are you in Christ? God did not provide a hundred different ways to salvation, but just one. Do you really believe God will go against the ONE’s He put in place and become a liar, going against His very purpose for His creation.

Ephesians 4.4-6

4 There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called in ONE hope of your calling; 
5 ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; 
6 ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Do you think you can hide behind the banner of “God’s love” that exists in YOUR wisdom and believe all will turn out well? You see, God being the perfect absence of evil, cannot spend eternity with you because there is sin (evil). So, He provided a singular path for sins to be forgiven and it was costly. Along comes many people who have a different path and they reside under various names in the red circle. Can you make this most critical distinction in your life between truth and error?

A Reasonable Conclusion From The Word of God

God is continually pointing to the seriousness of life and living it correctly. Although the message is easily understood, few will give up what they want to live God’s way. Additionally, there is a great deal of indoctrination to overcome. Page after page of the scriptures God is pointing out how a person must live. The “world” views the next life on a comparative basis – that is, how have I done on the average. Have I done better than the average (person) or not? The scriptures indicate there are certain things that qualify you for heaven and these things MUST be achieved. If you examine them they are the kind of things that point to an extraordinarily good person. God will be spending eternity with those who are reconciled (sins covered). They are the ones obedient to the Son and indeed by the propitiation have been set aside for God. They are “this extraordinary good person” inasmuch as they WERE NOT this good person, but faced up to their sins, found the truth and obeyed the gospel. This is why the proud will fail in life and why it takes a humble person to see themselves in sin and submit to God. These people look good to God in overcoming the the world, the indoctrination and are drawn to God through His Son on the cross. 1 Peter 5.5-7 describes the kind of person God wants and these will be exalted. It seems to me that people do not want to be around the proud, self-seeking people in the present existence and God will not be spending eternity with them. Why will they fail? Simply because they will not humble themselves and obey the Son nor do they have the time in pursuit of their selfish goals.

1 Peter 5.5-7

5 ……………. “God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

A humble person can look at how God defines sin and accept those things as sinful. The proud person will say, no one tells me what to do and how to live. Indeed, God will get those individuals who see beyond their own desires to something much better. They see God as offering a wonderful eternity in their future and says for now, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

The world seems to think God (if they believe in God) is going to be considerably more lenient, considerably more accepting. However, God is going to judge exactly as He has indicated! If you look at the world in terms of what God says about sin and face up to the fact that THESE will not succeed (1 Corinthians 6.9-11) and realize God cannot lie, then taking life “seriously different” than you presently do should be a very high priority.

1 Corinthians 6.9-11

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Also, if you understand God, you would not want to be one that supports such sins. Even further, Jesus would say that you can commit sins in your mind by lust or anger without doing the act. Even further again, God tells us that to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to this one it is sin. A great deal of the world in the present time mirrors the sins God mentions here and supports them in one way or another? Thus, will future generations be better or worse in terms of achieving the desired goal God has in mind for each person? It is hard to say about the future because the world has always been full of pathetic influences. Directionally, the world’s current situation is once again moving from sin’s acceptability to even deeper depravity. Many parents want the best for their children in terms of education, experiences and so-on, but the best thing to give a child is the truth. Consider humility as a valued virtue and a love of the truth as something with lasting value.

Religion’s Same Error Over and Over

If you look at what the world’s religions teach about salvation compared to the word of God there is a huge gap. There is deceit, lies and all sorts of false teachings that indicate a road to heaven where you live both in the graces of God and with one foot in the world. Some religions even provide a means to pay the price after your death.
The religions (including Atheism) in the red circle all have a common denominator and it is the same error that resulted in the Jews failing to see Jesus as the Messiah. If you can understand this one point you can make the distinction that the red circle offers nothing, but eternal grief and the green circle offers eternal life. The point is all in the red circle have a physical religion (belief system) and Jesus brought a solution to a spiritual problem, namely sin. The war is not in any way an earthly encounter, but a spiritual warfare very personally between you and sin. God’s children fight that war with the weapons provided in Ephesians Chapter 6.

Ephesians 6.14-17

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The religions of humankind all focus on the physical in terms of membership, organization, worship, and various worldly activities and programs and they represent the opposite of THE TRUTH. The real war for your soul is fought to free you from sin and can only be won by obeying the gospel. Those weapons just mentioned are for God’s children (those added to the church by the Lord) to help them remain faithful.

The rules are not man-made and changing (as seen in the religions of humankind), but delivered by the Holy Spirit and confirmed – the word of God. The communication was overseen by God’s Holy Spirit resulting in a physical, literal book, the bible. Those pronouncements/instructions are written on the hearts of God’s children – not literally, but they have made God’s message part of their lives inasmuch as they live by the word of God. There are no earthly headquarters and becoming part of the church is done by Christ as HE ADDS the obedient to His body. There is the Lord’s supper each first day of the week, which is a simple remembrance of the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. There is singing with melody being made in the heart and there is giving as one purposes in his/her heart. Worship of God must be in spirit and truth. All the thousands of things created by those in the red circle are physical: rule-making, buildings, musical instruments/entertaining, tithing, ceremonies and on and on with at best hints of the spiritual. What a mess humankind has made and often in an effort to display their prowess – very enticing manifestations of their religion. What is wrong with all these “things” that are enticing, even entertaining and can help bring people to God. First, none of these groups teach what people need to be successful. Second, the reason they have invented all these practices is the same reason they do not have the truth. God is clear about everything from His purpose to His plan, salvation is clear, worship is clear and the judgment is clear. There is not a lot of earthly benefit in the word of God and consequently men and women began changing it and it has never stopped. Nonetheless, there is truth. While the truth is simple, the error is clearly error and requires a lot of defending.

These “religions” provide all sorts of formal religious education including university theological degrees producing sophisticated teachers of their doctrines. Your indoctrination consists of all these inventions, their history and their apologists, which you now believe. Because they are physical institutions they provide no spiritual solution to the only thing that matters. God describes the value of the spiritual versus the physical by giving them their real meaning, namely spiritual (unseen things) are eternal, and physical (seen things) are temporary.

2 Corinthians 4.18

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The truth is each person has a lot to overcome and face up to and then come humbly to the Savior and find forgiveness – His way. You can become those considered the best, free from sin and added to the kingdom – His body, the church that Jesus built and remain faithful. All is possible even if you have not lived acceptably to this point in your life.
Here is the reasonable conclusion consistent throughout the scriptures and with an observation of the world today and throughout history. Namely, very few will succeed and achieve heaven. The reason this is important is because you should know. The world points to many succeeding and with all kinds of beliefs, all kinds of lifestyles and quite often all under the blanket (they define) as God’s love. Others are taught that being a member of this or that religion and following their rules you will be assured of heaven.

It is reasonable that God would want the best. God is perfect and Christ lived the perfect life without sin and in the process covered the past sins of those who obey Him (Hebrews 5.9). He also became the advocate for those in Him, that is “in Christ.” The “world” is considered by God as the enemy and you come out of the world when your sins are forgiven. People who live in the world and its ways and die in the world are not saved. Jesus, being God, revealed that few would be saved in Matthew.

Matthew 7.13,14

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A few were saved through water in the days of Noah, a few were taken out of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, in 70 AD there was a judgment that Jesus described on the Jews and except for some who escaped from the city the masses were destroyed. None of this is what God wants and He repeatedly makes this clear, yet people choose to ignore God and His word – but not all!

1 Peter 3.20,21

20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Heaven Coach – Is It Indoctrination?

Characteristically it is not. That is:

• It is singular inasmuch as there is no supporting infrastructure – except the scriptures. Indoctrination, which in effect places you in the red circle is typically continuous from various sources, sort of bombarding you in a way to limit or make alternatives look unlikely.
• There is no pressure applied, just a presentation of information that you are strongly encouraged to question. You MUST understand what you believe.
• There is nothing to be gained by the author except the satisfaction of helping people to understand life and most importantly to have a successful life.
• Is it God’s desire to indoctrinate us in some SINISTER way? No, but the opposite inasmuch as He only wants and only accepts people who make a free will choice to follow Him. God would be defeating His purpose if in any way He was forcing us to believe THE TRUTH. Thus, this teaching of truth, gaining understanding and free will decision-making must be the pattern for instructing.
• So the question is, “Is Heaven Coach the truth?” It is as long as it is consistent with God’s truth.
• The recommendation is, “Search the Scriptures to see if these things are true.”

Acts 17.11

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Indoctrination Varies Greatly With Religions

On one extreme you have the methods of Islam, similar to the methods of early Catholicism. The indoctrination was from “birth” through childhood and continues throughout a person’s life with no alternatives allowed. Certainly as a child they learned it was “dangerous” to believe differently. Fear has a way of impressing young minds by “osmosis” or personal experience from their teachers or families. The maintenance of belief/participation is physical fear that could be anywhere from disassociation from community, disgrace brought to families or frequently included torture and murder.
At the other extreme is a religion that provides inner peace and people seek out the simple life. This would be a religion like Buddhism.
In between you have evangelical Protestants who aggressively seek people to convert and often bring a variety of physical inducements, but primarily offer heaven. If they only taught the truth their approach to conversion would be correct, except for offering inducements. The message is the reason a person is to be converted. If there are special needs, finding solutions to those things are not the reason to be converted. Indeed, as a child of God you help each other and do everything possible to assist your brothers and sisters in the faith with their problems.

Note: As a child of God you must respond to all the truly needy persons – it is mandatory (Matthew 25.35-45)

Indoctrination Into A Man-Made Religion Has Many Attractive Incentives

We think of indoctrination into a belief system as an adult seeking truth to consist primarily of the teaching, the doctrine. However, very little of the “conversion” is left to the teaching alone. The potential convert is looking for a variety of different amenities, for some agreement with of their existing philosophies. Of course, many of the modern human created religions are about designing their religion to provide what people want. Some typical things people may want are:

• A sense of community
• Access to the leaders of the organization
• Then a long list of things that are requirements for the doctrine, such as:
  Acceptance of “homosexuals,” no preaching on drinking / drugs / immorality, and certain programs for the needy of the world and the list can be quite long and varied. Basically, you do not want any interference or censorship or diminishing of any person’s rights to live like they want and also want to feel good about helping others. The thing not on the list is a requirement for truth. Truth for many, many people is something not attainable and surely God would agree with your fairness and desire to help others. Once again, this is why we have all these religions as people define the way it should be and miss the single most important point, namely God is pleased, worshiped when you submit to Him. The opposite, the condemnation is essentially telling God that, “you know best.”

Of course, religions like Islam and early Catholicism did not need to be concerned about offering inducements or satisfying “member’s” desires/requirements. They grew and maintained their numbers by using real life fear, really terror from their leaders. God’s requirement is that a person seek Him and make choices to follow Him of their own free will. So we have religions who create incentives even bending their rules to get converts and we have religions that “bend people” forcing their compliance. Then we have THE TRUTH where people respond to the message from God. It is an unchangeable message that requires a person to change their life and live for Christ and the gospel. That message contains no special earthly inducements, which a person might desire or require. The incentive is the hope of heaven via a relationship with God’s Son and access to God through Jesus. These are spiritual incentives and in prayer many things are possible. Your requests are for unselfish things that help you stay on track and help you, help others. As a child of God you can have a peace of mind that cannot be achieved by “things” the world offers. That peace of God is something described as “surpassing all understanding.”

Philippians 4.6,7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Heaven Coach is not a religion, just a help to get you to the truth. The religion of God is defined in the scriptures and no place else. It is easily understood and heaven coach only serves to point out error and on this page, the power of indoctrination. There exist local churches (groups of those in Christ) that are defined by God in organization and purpose. They consist of those added by the Lord as a result of their obedience to the gospel. This spiritual church is the one Jesus said He would build, which is the body of Christ. There is one body, a spiritual body whose members work together in the local churches. So, the church that is critical to your salvation is not some building and in fact it is in no way physical. The human-made religious organizations exist physically, create their own rules and organizations, while providing their members a false hope of heaven, but really guaranteeing them a failed life.

The Defenders of Indoctrination – Apologists

Religious Apologists Are Needed To Justify The Belief System
Often In View Of Very Apparent Difficulties

God, and we might say TRUTH requires no apologists – they are “all” liars.
All you need is the word of God – it is perfect in converting the soul.
Heaven Coach does not follow the pattern of the apologists.
Heaven Coach points you to the scriptures for answers.
Heaven Coach says do not believe Heaven Coach – understand for yourself.
Heaven Coach does deep dives into the scriptures making sure everything fits together so you have God’s meaning and still, you decide!
Apologists say believe them and in that manner defend the teachings that are clearly invented by men and/or women.

Note: There are apologists for everything, the reference here is in relation to God, religions and not the many different social and political apologists.

I doubt apologists think of themselves as evil, but just doing their job. Like a “hit man” who says he is just doing his job. Jesus, would say to fear him who can destroy both body and soul and apologists can fit into that category, but most certainly fit into the more serious part of destroying the soul. A person ought to consider the condemnation given in Revelation that All Liars will have their part in the lake that burns with fire. Every apologist is trained, learning how to defend the beliefs of their “faith.” Then they became the instructors supporting the doctrine, misleading souls. There is quite a disturbing distinction between a person who searches the scriptures for truth and one who sets out to defend a doctrine of their beliefs. One searches for truth and the other begins with the doctrine and looks for ways to support it. If you do the latter you will be successful, but it will not be the truth. Liars have their association and it is with evil and never associated with God who cannot lie.

Titus 1.2

2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began

The fact that God cannot lie should be very sobering to those who know something of the bible – all will come to pass!

Revelation 21.8

8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Jesus called Satan the father of lies.

John 8:44

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

The hallmark of all man-made religions is lying because they are in opposition to the truth of the scriptures.
Two major religions also allow lying as part of their doctrine. They associate approved lying with either answering questions that are troublesome or anything needed to support their growth.

• Muslims lie when it is in their interest to do so and “Allah” will not hold them accountable for lying when it is beneficial to the cause of Islam. They can lie without any guilt or fear of accountability or retribution. A lie in the defense of Islam is approved even applauded in their “holy” books. Muslims are permitted to lie: (1) to save their lives, (2) to reconcile a husband and wife, (3) to persuade a woman into a bedroom and (4) to facilitate one on his journey. Muslims are even permitted to disavow Islam and Mohammed if it is not a genuine heart-felt rejection. Muslims will tell you that concealment of a truth is not an abandonment of that truth if it benefits Islam.
• Catholics have a doctrine called Mental Reservation, which they no longer say is in effect and was misunderstood. The modern version of Catholic lying is in the form of their apologists. Over their history Catholics have not hidden their doctrine of mental reservation (allowing lies without imputing sin) and even as late 1929 they were defining its meaning for Catholics.
  “The following is a quote from a well known Catholic publication of the time in relation to their doctrine of mental reservation. “When impertinent people, either maliciously or stupidly, endeavor to wrest these secrets from us, we are perfectly justified in using mental reservation to meet their rude and ill-bred questioning. Mental reservation is allowable only when you are driven into a corner by captious questions about a matter that we have grave reason and a right to keep ‘secret,’ and when we have no other escape” (Question Box, 1929 ed., 433–434).

Jesus provides an interesting warning in Matthew for those who mislead.

Matthew 18.6,7

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

What do you think about religions that use or have used lies in support of their beliefs? One might think, “is there any truth in this religion?” What association could they possibly have with God, who is the perfect absence of evil? If either of these religions have been part of your indoctrination, why would you believe anything they taught? You would be right if you thought there was ZERO truth in either. They ultimately provide their followers with a failed life.

There are various verses which destroy the use of apologists in “religion.” Apologist’s in effect work against THE TRUTH and it in no way bothers them since it is their job to manipulate around any and everything that might be in opposition to the official doctrines or the positions taken by the hierarchy who compensates them. Besides the obvious command not to add to or take away from the word of God, we are told how to speak.

1 Peter 4.11

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

God’s word is different as it is perfect. God delivered the word of truth and to get it right you need to speak as God spoke (oracles or God-breathed speech) and not filter His word. It is the only way you will get it right. Unfortunately, as men and women speak their ideas we have hundreds of teachings on every subject as each religion dissects the truth as they like.

God brings further clarity to the idea that, “you have your interpretation and I have mine.”

2 Peter 1.20,21

20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 
21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

God could not make this any clearer than by saying the scriptures are not of any private interpretation. Take God for what He says, study yourself, be diligent and rightly divide the word of truth. If you are going to talk about Godly things it has to be from the scriptures. It has to be without a beginning point of prejudice, it has to be unfiltered – taking God for what He says. You have to have a good knowledge of the word of God and very seriously consider the penalty from God if you get it wrong. One way to avoid that is to pray about what is being taught along with making sure that what you teach is perfectly consistent with God’s word. You can do this because God’s word fits perfectly together. Christian (so-called) apologists use the scriptures or as Paul said twist the scriptures to prove some tenant of their belief system. They select a verse from here or there and weave them together to make their point. They become the condemned who add to and/or take away from the word of God.

Private Interpretation Has Created Mass Confusion

There are billions of believers in various religions and we look at them as though they each have some semblance of unity, that they are agreeable within their belief. As it turns out a very small number understand what they believe and even then may disagree on some important points. It is the nature of human-made religions. The experts in each religion are only experts in what they were taught by those of previous generations. The leaders also exercise changes to achieve their goals and almost always one of those goals is the growth of their religion, which usually translates to the growth of their power. Many believers are casual to their beliefs, while a certain number are devout, others still are fanatical or as we might say zealots (or even call themselves terrorists) for the cause. When you get past the hierarchies of each group you would find amazing uncertainty and lack of commitment to truly understanding what they profess. It is like those who fanatically support “Climate Change” meaning humanity is responsible and is able to “fix it.” Their logic is that 97% of the scientists believe this, therefore you, who may not be an expert in science should believe them. The ascent of most every evil into public acceptance has been the result of leveraging its numbers, really exaggerating its acceptance. People believe something all to often because of its popularity or really its claimed popularity. Unfortunately, people who seem honest are just lying. If you look at Climate Change you can easily determine that the claimed 97% is a much smaller number and most supporting “experts” receive some benefit from this doctrine. Professors write books, speak on this subject, media likes the drama surrounding the talk, politicians support it because it is an emotional issue that can be twisted to their advantage and many are just followers because there is fear of opposing the accepted academic view. Stop believing those who support this doctrine and search for yourself. I have my opinion in relation to Climate Change from a science point of view and from the characteristic way it is “marketed,” but it ultimately does not matter. There is this strong parallel between many “earthly matters” and why they are believed and matters related to God, heaven and eternity and why they are believed. There are lies, indoctrination, deceit in the process of winning over your mind. Yet there is truth and there is error.

It can be said in terms of your final success (heaven) or failure (loss of heaven) that:

• If what you believe is the result of indoctrination (only) and you count on others that it is correct – You will fail
• If you seek the truth, find it, truly understand what you believe and act accordingly – You will succeed

Some indoctrination was likely involved in whatever you believe, even “The Truth” with its continual emphasis on understanding. TEST IT by having an on-going, never-ending love of the truth, and always accept nothing less than the truth! God wants you to understand His will and you need to in order to differentiate truth from error and thus Ephesians 5.17, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” The source of faith is the word of God (THE TRUTH) and absolutely no place else and this is the reason that faith is not a mystery. It is the reason that God can say in Hebrews 11.3, “By faith we understand.” The correctness of your faith (belief) is based on your understanding and it is THE TRUTH if it is consistent with the word of God.

The Source of Truth

Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, you CAN study the word of God and understand it correctly. People have used the scriptures, twisted the scriptures into many different belief systems (changing the gospel message as Paul says in Galatians).

2 Peter 3:14-16

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Note: Paul said there were some things hard to understand. Some things, but certainly not the gospel message and the road to a successful life. Those things that are hard to understand are only hard for the UNTAUGHT and UNSTABLE people who then without understanding of the first principles will twist the scriptures. This is so true and prevalent today and has been that way for many centuries. When you fail to see God’s purpose, His plan and the resolution (the reconciliation) He planned in Christ the remaining scriptures can be problematic. Of course, you will struggle to understand the things that depend on that knowledge. It turns out that failing to understand the first principles has led to the many strange doctrines and religious organizations.
One example would be the baptism of the Holy Spirit and its purpose. The scriptures are clear on this and easily understood. Getting this wrong has led groups to look for and receive (not really) the baptism of the Holy Spirit today. The work of the Holy Spirit in relation to conversions is also easily understood, but those who fail to understand the scriptures have the Holy Spirit active today in some way different than the work He did in conversion, which has been completed.
Unfortunately, although the gospel message is easily understood there have been substantial efforts to change that message beginning when it was originally being revealed and confirmed in the first century. So, today we have all these religions and even the so-called Christian religions have distorted the simple message – the message needed for salvation. The message needs to be taught just as it was to those in the first century as in the case of the Ethiopian taught by Philip or the many taught by Paul and others. It needs to be taught in the way consistent with the conversions of the New Testament.

You want the truth. You understand the human inventions of religion and thus have wisely discarded Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism and others that are distant from the word of God. Catholicism, Protestantism profess Christ, so for some there may still be some confusion. There are simple ways to sort through the error (the deceit) and arrive at the truth. Hopefully, you have arrived at “God is the God of the bible.” Also, you may have rightly concluded that only God makes the rules – adding to or taking away from the scriptures or we might say changing the gospel message would not be things you should follow. God made what you MUST do and how you MUST live simple to understand, albeit difficult for many to achieve. The difficulty only lies in what you must do, not understanding what you must do. God’s way requires you live differently than you might like. Thus for some this will be very, very difficult and yet for others it will be less of a problem. That is, for those who love the truth, love God and are willing to do what is necessary to achieve heaven then pleasing God, albeit difficult is an honor.

Here is God’s way:

• Seek God with all you heart – you will find Him – be diligent – love the truth
• Do what God says to become a child of God and for the reason He provides
• Begin by recognizing that God’s solution to sin is allegiance to His Son – believe that Jesus is God’s Son
• Repent of your sins and that means making a commitment to sin no more
• Confess Jesus before others and this is a public recognition of Jesus as God’s Son. It is also an on-going willingness to make that confession – never being ashamed of Jesus or His gospel
• Next you must be baptized as this is where God designed your sins to be forgiven. Coming out of the water you have been buried with Christ, died to sin and arose into a new life
• The Lord Himself adds you to His Church, His spiritual body and you are a son of God
• Your life continues and you remain faithful to God’s word – you live your life for Jesus and the gospel

There are things you do to remain faithful and they include associating with others who have been added to the body of Christ in the God defined, God organized local, independent church. God has placed a memorial to His Son to be recalled every first day of the week. It is a remembrance of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and consists of partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine until He comes again. In this life lived for Christ and the gospel you bear fruit by teaching the word of God. In your life sin may creep in and it is serious in relation to your soul and must be handled. Fortunately as a child of God you have an advocate with the Father and you can go to Him in prayer, repenting and seeking forgiveness. God, knowing your heart may forgive you.
God expects you to grow in grace and knowledge and continually show your love to Him by your obedience to His commandments. This is the life every person should live and end up in heaven. In your faithful life, God’s purpose will be fulfilled in you.

Simple Observations of Error
In Human-Made Religion
Helping You To Discern Truth From Error In Religion

Here are a very few things that have been added to or taken away from God’s message. You don’t need the things added and in fact following them will keep you from being successful in life. The things taken away are there for a reason and play a part in God’s plan for humankind.

Deuteronomy 4.2

2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Everything in relation to God’s purpose and plan for a person’s success or failure is associated with this Godly principle. The truth is what you need and acting against you are those who have added to and taken away from God’s word. Sadly, the changed gospel message may be the indoctrination you received as truth and what you are relying on to allow you to receive heaven. This single most important message from God has been made of no effect by the careless, pride-driven disrespectful teachings of humankind. However, the scriptures are still there, the truth is still there.

Revelation 22:18

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

God emphasizes the severity of changing His word and it obviously is costly to those who add to and take away. Since the truth is what makes you free (free from sin) it should be understood that something different than the truth does not set you free from sin.

Added to examples:

• The hundreds of religious ceremonies that are not part of new testament worship. The one thing that might be considered a ceremony, really a command is on the first day of the week remembering the Lords death.
• Priests in the new testament
• Anything and Everything Catholic
• Mourners bench
• Perpetual sacrifice of Christ
• Honor for Mary
• Additional books claimed to be from God
• Access to God that is different than through His Son
• Salvation in some name other than Jesus
• A different plan of salvation
• A different ending of the world and the return of Christ. Namely, different than Christ returning at the end of time, taking the saints to be with Him forever, the destruction of all things physical, and the the judgment
• And Literally many hundreds more “things” have been added

Taken away examples:

The simplicity of God’s plan, of the gospel

The kingdom God put in place after the death of His Son

The clear definition of what God refers to as sin and its consequences

The correct understanding of God’s love

The God defined means to receive forgiveness of past sins

And many hundreds of others

The Irony of Catholicism and Protestantism

These two large religious organizations are deeply involved in a potpourri of different religious and social issues. They fill their physical buildings with people who listen to these many topics and the use of scriptures provides a semblance of value. They listen to the views of their church and often the views of the one speaking or some combination of these things. They have this audience of people who have never heard the gospel message. How can this be? They all think they continually hear the message from God. Often they spend a lifetime listening to no more than the doctrines of humankind. They have people with training in the religions to which they belong and likely with impressive degrees from top religious universities. It is ironic that they are so sure in what they are taught, albeit without UNDERSTANDING its validity. They may call it faith, but faith is never blind or mysterious. Faith is revealed by God’s word (Romans 10.17). You do not see God, but in His word God is revealed and you trust God and act accordingly. You are faithful.
All this effort in attendance, participation in programs and activities and then to fail in life. This is the outcome of following human-devised religions. Indoctrinated into close-mindedness and with fervor and dedication to that which you really do not understand. There is one solid thing and it requires no special education to understand and that is the word of God. If what you believe is not in the scriptures then it is not the truth. All these strange words like Catholicism, Protestantism and all the many doctrines humankind has created are destroying, not saving your soul. God’s whole test is based on doing things God’s way and those who choose to do “religion” their way stand in total opposition to God and will fail.

What Do I Do?
I Would Like To Succeed In Life

Let’s go back a step. Who are you?

God created a physical universe in a time domain and locked you in a physical body – but you are a living, intelligent, unique personality that consists of more than your physical shell. You will continue to exist after your body stops functioning. Life is about the soul and you currently focus on all these things that fill your days like family, education, job and plans to do this or that and hundreds of other things. That is all fine, but God’s purpose for you involves living in a way that you can succeed in life.
The reason to believe in God, the God of the bible is that then you will seek Him. There is indeed no hope for those who never come to this realization – they do not even know there is a “race.” A certain number of people are confident about God’s existence, although many “religious” persons deep down have their doubts – thus never seek God in a serious way. Then there are the religious who watch life going by believing they already have the truth – these also are not in “the race.” Then there are those who seek God and truth and with persistence will find the truth and if wise will obey it and live it. These are in “the race.” God characterizes the time of judgment as beginning with those who are of the house of God and compares them to those who did not obey the gospel. Then says, “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

1 Peter 4.17,18

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 
18 Now, “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

The idea that God will take just anybody is nonsense. You need to be in “the race” and living faithfully and even doing all you can, you are scarcely saved. This is a “far cry” from the teachings of many in the “religious world” regarding the ease of achieving heaven.
Who are you? You are the creation of God for the purpose of succeeding in life and spending eternity with God. You can do it if you want heaven badly enough to submit yourself to God. Indeed there is a lot to overcome especially with all the indoctrination. If you realize the difficulty (life’s test), you see this as part of God’s way of getting the best. Specifically, the distinction you need to make is facing up to missing the mark (sin) and having your sins covered by the blood of Christ.

Romans 3.23-26

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Heaven is there for you, all you who have faith in Jesus – Jesus being the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. The failure of Protestantism is in adding to and taking away from the word of God. If this is your problem then read “What Believe Means.” God clarifies faith consistently in His word.

Galatians 3.26-29

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Baptism is where you in Faith come in contact with the blood of Christ and in that process your sins are forgiven. The invented doctrine that baptism is a work and since works cannot save you, it is not necessary is pathetic. First your faith is demonstrated by your works and second how could a command of God, done for the reason God provides be a work in which you could be glorified – how ridiculous! There is a great deal required of you as a child of God and it is a life of faithfulness or as Jesus said living your life for Him and the gospel. Protestants fall into the category of making it easy for you get to heaven and that is very attractive and very much a lie.

So, what must I do to achieve heaven. That has already been described above in the section called, “The Source of Truth.” This is the pattern provided by God and it is consistent with all scripture, with God’s purpose. That pattern will provide God with the ones who are the best by faith, by a life of faith.

The Glue That Holds Indoctrination Together

One might wonder if “THE TRUTH” is so obvious from the scriptures, why are there all these religions? We have suggested that the scriptures are NOT what people want inasmuch as they are very limiting in how we must live. People have a better way – the way God SHOULD SEE this matter or that. However, what keeps the indoctrination alive and thriving? A great deal of the on-going success of indoctrination is the result of being surrounded by those who believe similarly and although we may disagree on some things, on the most fundamental points of belief we are aligned. Time passes and these most fundamental things where the error truly exists are never questioned. Now, we have generations of families with grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandparents and so-on all placing their trust in this doctrine. It is extremely difficult to question the doctrine loved by our families in life and in death. Nonetheless, there is truth and there is error. God’s word is truth, the one and only solid thing on which to base our decisions. This is one of the reasons we ask, “how badly do you want heaven?”
Consider the situation just mentioned with a long time family commitment to some religion, some doctrine. Ask yourself, if any of those family members came across “The Truth,” what would they have done? If you come to a knowledge of “The Truth” you can potentially affect family members now and into the future. Ultimately, our decision is to follow God or men/women in what we believe. God always has it right and He reveals to us the key thing for making decisions in relation our souls is simply, “having a love of the truth.”

Summary

What you believe religiously (if anything) is the result of the quality and quantity of your indoctrination. Important factors are: did you receive this “training” since childhood and was it continued in early life and until this day? This discussion of indoctrination has to do with being fair with ourselves. Do I believe what I believe because I was born into this certain family and why in the world does that make what I believe the truth? It would be an oversight if I did not admit that many people do not care if what they believe is the truth. They love the world. Others love their traditions, for instance their family religious traditions. Both of these things people love instead of the truth are most regrettable.
Overcoming indoctrination begins by you being honest with yourself and loving the truth such that you are diligent, persistent, unwavering in finding it. Hebrews 11.6 indicates pleasing God comes from faith and that is always a result of diligently seeking Him, diligently seeking truth.

God has made having a love of the truth to be a necessary ingredient in your salvation. Yet people walk around aimlessly, content with what they believe as though it really does not matter. People are indoctrinated to believe all there is to life is their present existence – devastating! God is serious in Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 2.10-12

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We are talking about indoctrination in relation to religious beliefs. The significant distinction is truth versus error. Error would be either thinking what we believe does not matter or believing the wrong thing. All this would not matter except the truth is what you need to succeed in life. It is God’s way, it is God’s plan and all involving God’s purpose for creation. You and I may not understand all that God has done and why, but we can know what God has revealed and that is plenty! We can know God’s love and how badly He wants us to succeed and what we must do. Religious indoctrination is mostly the teaching of human-made doctrine and what you need is the will of God. In your lifetime, God wants you to make the best use of your time in relation to coming to an accurate understanding of His will.

Ephesians 5.15-17

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

It will all boil down to how badly do you want to go to heaven. Are you willing to lose your soul due to stubbornness, pride? Do you really understand what you believe when so much is at stake? Do you only have a reasonable understanding of God and His purpose? If so, then you are at risk since it is possible to know with certainty the truth. Yes, YOU, not someone who you trust, but yourself – YOU should understand and become more knowledgeable every day. Faith becomes sight because God’s word has that nature. As you go about life living as God (the God of the bible) directs you will see that fear, which God uses in the process of getting you to Christ and keeping you there can be gradually lessened. In fact, perfect love (seen in consistent obedience) casts out fear.

A summary of the summary might be that what you believe is to some extent, if not entirely a result of your indoctrination. Religiously, the indoctrination is likely into some belief that came from adding to and/or taking away from the word of God. Your success in life (resulting in heaven) will require you to be a humble, persistent, courageous lover of the truth. God has completed His part of the reconciliation. He defined that in Genesis 3.15 and it involved Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s oversight of the message. Now, there is your part and are you willing to seek Him with your whole heart and live for Christ and the gospel? The numbers of people following that path will not convince you, but the love of God in Christ and the word delivered and confirmed by the Holy Spirit will encourage and sustain you.