Can short people go to Heaven? This is one of the most interested theological questions I have ever come across. Most people assume short people cannot go to heaven due to their height. But is that what the Bible teaches? We will find out here.
The question was, "Do short people get to Heaven? I'm short and want to go to heaven."
Before I answer the question, let's see some of the funny answers to the question on Quora:
- There’s one of those “you must be at least this tall” signs
at the gate unfortunately. If you aren’t tall enough, you are sent to purgatory
forever while they wait for you to get taller. Sorry.
- The
whole idea of short people not getting in is based on a passage about something
entirely different. People with dwarfism couldn’t be priests, because they were
restricted from performing the or sacrifices. As was anyone with a defect in
their sight, or a rash on their skin, or (ouch) anyone with crushed testicles.
Can’t make this stuff up, it’s all in Leviticus. But again, it’s about being a
priest, not entering heaven.
- No, the stairs to heaven are only built
for tall people. It’s a cruel reality we live in.
- When short people walk up the stairs, they get someone's ass in their face. Short people will not go to heaven because when they open their umbrella, they look like mushrooms. Therefore, short people will not go to heaven.
Do short people go to Heaven?
The answer to the question is ''yes'', short people can go to heaven when they die. There are no heights restrictions on who goes to Heaven.
Height is not a factor that determines a person's salvation in Christianity. Everybody is loved by God regardless of his or her heights.
''So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him'' (Acts 10 : 34-35) ESV.
As you can see, Peter, in his statement confirmed that God does not show partially to anyone.
In Heaven, there are no short or tall or dark people. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord.
In response to the question, one Christian put it this way: ''I wanted to answer this question for the fun of it, because it genuinely made me laugh. But if you are really serious about the question, the let me answer. In Christianity, Height has NOTHING to do with going to heaven. What you do on earth, and how you live your life is what matters. Don't you go to church? If not, I recommend going immediately''.
Did the Bible say short people cannot go to Heaven?
There is no verse in the Bible (Even the apocrypha documents) that says short people cannot go to Heaven.
In fact, no Christian theologian in the history of the Church has ever taught that short people will not go to Heaven. Such evidence is strongly rooted in the Bible.
Believers in Christ are saved whether short or tall, black or white. The Bible said whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
''And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls''. (Joel 2: 32).
What did Jesus say about short people?
Jesus never mentioned anything about being short neither has He inspired the writers of the New Testament Scriptures to say anything about short people. In fact, we don't even know Jesus' height. Some theologians have assumed that the Lord Jesus might be 1.6m or 5.5ft even though this is based on assumption.
Jesus teaches that God loves everyone including sinners.
''That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust'' (Mathew 5:45 KJV)
Where does the idea that short people will not go to Heaven come from?
In
Leviticus, God gave Moses strict rules for priests and actually lists dwarfism
among conditions or defects that could prohibit them not from Heaven, but from
serving in the full capacity of the priesthood.
The verse was about dwarfism. In those days, people with such condition could not be priests because they were not allowed to perform certain rituals or sacrifices. As was anyone who had a defect in their sight, or a rash on their skin, and others.
Let's take a look at what the verse is talking about. We read:
''And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generation who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. For no one who has a blemish should draw near, a man blind or lame, or who has a mutilated face or a limb too long.
''or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scrubs or crushed testicles. No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the LORD'S food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God''. (Leviticus 21: 16-21 GNB)
Many people have assumed that, the dwarf mentioned in the chapter (The New International Reader's Version translated the word dwarf as short) has to do with short people. According to them, being short is a form of deformity and therefore filthy in the eyes of God.
As we can all see, clearly, the verse or chapter is not talking about short people neither does it say short people will not go to Heaven. Even though at first glance the chapter of the Bible may seem harsh to some particular group of people due to their condition, but it does not in anyway say those people are exempted from the kingdom of LORD God.
In the Old Covenant, there was the need to be perfect before dealing with God. It will surprise you that even the animals to be offered sacrifices to the LORD needed to be without fault.
Pastor James Kipo, put it this way, "In those days, the offerings and the priests were a ceremonial reflection of God's purity and holiness, therefore both had strict criteria.
Most scholars have agreed that in ancient Israel, people with certain conditions, such as those mentioned in the chapter above, were restricted from certain aspects of the priesthood, but such regulations had no negative effects on their relationship with the LORD God of Israel.
What are the requirements for salvation according to the Bible?
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved (Romans 10: 19-13 ESV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:12-13 ESV)
Salvation is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Regardless of your condition, if you believe and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Conclusion
We learnt from the Scriptures that anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior will be saved. So do not worry about your height. Salvation has nothing to do with height. The most important thing is you believing in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. Therefore short people can go to Heaven.
Prayer of accepting Christ
If you haven't yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, say this prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death, and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you.
I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my heart as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving ---a person like you. Restore me, Lord. Live in me. Love through me. (Source. Prayers)
Thank you, Lord God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Congratulation! Welcome to the faith.