Верующий в Него не судится

18 Верующий в Него не судится, а неверующий уже осужден, потому что не уверовал во имя Единородного Сына Божия.
(Иоан.3:18)

Как спастись? Достаточно ли по-креститься и носить крестик?
Или достаточно сказать, что не атеист, а веришь в Бога?
Или достаточно ходить в церковь?
Можно ли считать себя верующим и при этом злословить ближнего?
Достаточно ли верить Бога на словах? Нет.

Вот, что пишет апостол Христа:

14 Что пользы, братия мои, если кто говорит, что он имеет веру, а дел не имеет? может ли эта вера спасти его?
15 Если брат или сестра наги и не имеют дневного пропитания,
16 а кто-нибудь из вас скажет им: "идите с миром, грейтесь и питайтесь", но не даст им потребного для тела: что пользы?
17 Так и вера, если не имеет дел, мертва сама по себе.
(Иак.2:14-17)

Итак, вера без дел мертва. Многие думают, что они делают то, что нужно.
Но задумайтесь, для кого вы делаете добро? Для себя.
За кого вы переживаете? За себя (максимум, ещё за родственников).
И многим при этом насрать на коллег, соседей и др. (даже если они
ничего плохого вам не сделали).

Но никогда не стоит забывать, что:

9 Уже и секира при корне дерев лежит:
всякое дерево, не приносящее доброго плода,
срубают и бросают в огонь.
(Лук.3:9)

А решение простое:

10 И спрашивал его народ: что же нам делать?
11 Он сказал им в ответ: у кого две одежды, тот дай неимущему, и у кого есть пища, делай то же.
12 Пришли и мытари креститься, и сказали ему: учитель! что нам делать?
13 Он отвечал им: ничего не требуйте более определенного вам.
14 Спрашивали его также и воины: а нам что делать? И сказал им:
никого не обижайте, не клевещите, и довольствуйтесь своим жалованьем.
(Лук.3:10-14)

About Children

You mustn't treat your children like to your property. They are children of the living God. Parents, teachers and others bring up children, communicate with them, explain what is good what is bad. They are actually doing two things - they provide  to children emotionally charged information and physical care, but do not give the growth. Let me explain. Figuratively speaking, we can plant a plant, water it, fertilize, but we can not give any growth or maturation or flowering. The same is with people. Is it thanks to our strength exists cell division or baby's brain is developing or the bones are strengthened?

It is thanks to not our own strength, but thanks to power of the Living God. We can only have influence on this growth to some extent, that is allowed. Almost any parent knows how to physically care for the child, but how bring up children properly?

One line of the New Testament:
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Eph.6:4)
And one of the Old Testament:
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. (1Sa.3:13)
(in russian)
Don't believe in yourself, it is reckless. Belive in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Idolatry

Are there any idols in the civilized world? Of course, we do not take into account some obvious facts of idolatry, which are easily identifiable. Elvis Presley, for example, is an idol or not? Clearly, this depends on the mind of the individual. But, again, as to relate to the worship of icons or a cross?

There are very much questions. And it's very sad that people are coming to church and do not receive an answer to these questions.
 
The answer is one. This can be illustrated by the example of money. People aspire to wealth anyway. It does not matter - whether a man is rich or poor. Why is this happening? Wealth simply gives an illusory confidence in the future, reliability, freedom. A man looks forward to his wealth that he has or he want to have. But this hope is illusory. We do not walk away for examples. If you are still looking for money or for their amount, remember the man who knows what it is - losing a quarter of a billion dollars per year. Steve Jobs. He had the opportunity to hire the best doctors in the world, take better drugs in the world, all the best to defeat the disease. But money cannot not save.

 
Here is what the Apostle says: 

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Col.3:5)

So, if a person hopes for the money -  it is idolatry. After all, the basic relation of man to the golden calf is based on his faith in that is artificial thing, for example, saves from famine, drought, protects a person from harm. In other words, they hope. If a person looks forward to all sorts of totems, talismans, amulets, talismans, or to the exam comes only with lucky pen or wear lucky shirt, etc., it's idolatry.

Hope is not on the Lord. Thereby any idols are different to icons and crosses. Idols are sitting in men's heads. If you like to put a figure on the table just for beauty, there is nothing from idols in it. Same, If you simply like the way Elvis sings gospel music. But on the other hand, if a men wear a cross, hoping in it some magical properties, and assuming that it protects him (the demons are afraid), it is idolatry. 

Indeed, a cross - it is a sign, a reminder, a symbol, witness. And nothing more. And also with the icons. Icon or cross can not save a man, but only the Lord. 

Worship to the Lord. Hope in the Lord.