Does God read the polls?

Though the concept of "heaven" isn't one that comes in only one flavor, divided as it is among believers of world religions to include a warrior's reward, a melding into the Ground of all being, a playground with happy virgins and a reunion with all our friends and loved ones, it does seem that some kind of blessed afterlife is a nearly universal idea; with the not-blessed "bad place" getting somewhat less agreement.

But if we can just limit the conversation to "heaven" as the word is used in Christian doctrine, there is still a variety of opinions about the rules for admission. In a recent poll taken by Baylor University, it was found that "...54% of respondents said at least half of average Americans will make it through the Pearly Gates." And that "half" includes people of religions other than Christianity, to say nothing of different divisions of theology within the Christian religion. Percentage of agreement was highest on the more fortunate half of Christians (72%), but many others were also said to be eligible for heaven's blessings, including Jews (46 percent), Buddhists (37 percent) and Muslims (34 percent).

Does God read these polls? And is He, like our politicians, influenced by them? Or, to infer meaning from these optimistic poll numbers, is heaven a place for "good people", of whatever religious belief they happen to be? You couldn't get such responses based solely on doctrine, unless you're only talking to Universalists. Or maybe Mormons, who see different levels of heaven; the best for the "Saints" and coach accomodations for the rest.

It really comes again to our human ideas of "good enough" to be rewarded in eternity. And humans, as we know by talking to the average person, have their own standards for "good enough." The idea that God would define "good" on His own terms, aside from human effort or self-esteem, has never been popular among the masses who answer poll questions. But if there is truly a heaven, we would only know it through the revealed Word of God, who alone rules heaven, and He alone declares the price of admission, i.e., the blood of Christ.

It all comes again to the Bible: Is it, or is it not the revealed Word of God? It can't be both, and still be taken for what it says of itself. The evidence is steeped in real history for its veracity, unlike other holy books that have only tradition or the word of one prophet or such. Doctrinal wars and disagreements aside, the Bible presents a clear and unequivocal statement of eternal blessedness. "No man comes to the Father but through Me," remains the definitive terms of admission to heaven, regardless of the polls and those who answer them.