Wow- what a topic! Just to add my 2 cents- make that 2.2 cents with my tighe (lol).
There is one main thing that set Christians apart from JW or Mormons. That i sthe belief in the bible in it's entirety (is that a word?). The JW do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God- ney God himself in flesh. And the Mormons have added to the bible. Both will end you in Hell.
When the question is asked- If I believe Jesus is the Son of God and the the only through him can I reach Heaven, no matter what else i do, how can this be true? What if I kill people in cold blood? I will always answer with this question- Is there anything that a human can do or say that is Greater than the love of God? My answer is a resounding no. Does this excuse us from being good people? Nope. I also beleive in diffent levels of Heaven. The "higher" the level the closer to God, the better the person on Earth.
The tighe issue. The bible tells us that we are to give 10%. This is the minimum standard set. It does not say to give less and it does not say to only give 10%. The bible is also not limit what is to be given. Can that be 10% of your time, works, money?
Sorry for jumping so late on this topic- to be honest, it is the first time I have been in this forum. I will check it out some more I am sure.
But what makes God great, is the fact that I can talk to him anytime I want, I can tell him anything I want, I can ask him for anything I want and he will always give me what I deserve. Not always the same thing as what I want. But in the end, I will be basking in the light of Jesus' face and all of this will be forgotten.
Gray.