Who's going where ?
In the third part of this series, I’m looking at the question we’re all dying to answer: “Who’s going where?”. We all would love to point out a specific group and say “They are going to hell!”. And then pat ourselves on the shoulder “But we, we’re going to heaven!”. In the first article I asked whether we are obsessed by hell, but honestly, the question should read “Are we obsessed by who’s going to hell?”. So let’s go and see if I can help you think about that question.
When I talk to people, including Christians, about the afterlife, they don’t seem to be all that worried about getting a solid understanding of our fate after this earthly life has passed. Witness the many stories about clouds, harps, eternal praising that sounds like an eternal church service, etc. I tried to clear some of the nature of heaven up in part II and I’ll elaborate more in part IV. But we all sure have opinions about who is going where.
Once again, let me invite you to read the first article of this series to get a framework of what I am trying to do. This is not a dogmatic statement, but an attempt at providing some questions or ideas to make you think and grow in your faith. Or perhaps come to faith in Christ if you haven’t. Second, let me mention the opening of Francis Chan’s book “Erasing Hell”:
If you are excited to read this book, you have issues.
Do you understand the weight of what we are about to consider ? We are exploring the possibility that you and I may end up being tormented in hell. (1)
I would say that if you’ve read this series this far, you have issues. The fact that I am writing this series undoubtedly means I have issues. We are trying to figure something out that is really, truly and scripturally one of the things that is entirely at God’s only discretion. “For now we see in a mirror dimly”. (1Cor 13:12)
Those disclaimers out of the way, let’s dive in. On this journey I’ve asked myself two main questions:
- Do we know from Scripture who will be spending time in the new creation and who won’t
- If we do and it is a choice, then when do we need to make that choice ? Or simply put, is there a second or multiple chances.
Who
So first up, who’s going where.
This is actually the easier question to answer. There are quite clear Scripture passages that should leave us with no reason to doubt. But let’s try to work backwards from Revelation.
In Revelation we read about the people being judged and that “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (rev 20:15). We also read there is someone sitting on the judgment seat aka white throne. Who is that? Who is sitting on this judgement seat? Reading Matthew, we find that:
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matt 11:27)
Note that the word “handed over” here comes from the Greek word paradidomi, which means “handed over”, “delivered” or “surrendered to”. Indicating that the Father has “surrendered” all things to the Son. We’ll come back to that in a bit.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
A more difficult passage that only appears in the gospel of John. But quite clear. All things were surrendered to Christ and He is the only way. The only way to what?
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
Same here. the word salvation is soteria, meaning “rescue” or “safety”; the last word saved is the Greek word sozo, meaning “preserve” or “make whole”.
So let’s try to put these things together. There’s a book or list by which we shall be judged, it appears from Matthew that Christ is the judge. From John and Acts, it appears that only Christ can save us or make us whole again. Does it make sense then to indicate that the only way to be in the book that Christ will use to judge those worthy to spend eternity in the new creation, the only way to get on that “list” is by putting your trust in Him? Could that be true? From what I have read and studied over the years, I have had no other choice than to accept that conclusion. Whether I like it or not is completely besides the point. I love what Francis Chan said about this difficult topic:
Could you believe in a God who decides to punish people who don’t believe in Jesus ? […] these two questions – do you want to? versus could you? – are actually miles apart. (2)
I don’t want to, but what I’ve read and reasoned through has led me to say “I could”. Whether the statement that “God decides to punish people who don’t believe in Jesus” sounds exclusive or arrogant is unfortunately not something I can do anything about. Fire is hot. It’s pretty and I want to touch it and play with it. But it’s hot and it burns. I don’t have to like it, but it’s a reality. The exclusivist nature of the Christian faith is something I struggle with, but it’s also what I have found to be the only logical conclusion. In the vernacular this exclusive act is called “accepting Christ” and for arguments’ sake I will use that phrase going forward in this post.
Almost all the authors and pastors I have read and/or listened to, seem to agree with that exclusive nature of Christianity as well. I already mentioned Francis Chan. James MacDonald adheres to this position as well. As do Tim Keller, Marc Driscoll and many others. Rob Bell then, although he is more vague on what it means to “accept Christ” and seems to indicate it is more a process of “responding to God’s love”, does confirm the divine nature of Christ:
The point then, as it is now, is Jesus. The divine in flesh and blood. He’s where the life is (3)
Although in Chapter 6 Rob does mention that there are many rocks, that “people come to Jesus in all sorts of ways” (4) and that “Jesus is bigger than any one religion” (5). Interesting proposal, but rather universalist at first glance. I don’t think I can follow Rob here. But that may be because I don’t fully understand what he is advocating. I know other people have asked Rob to clarify his position on this. Or perhaps he’s just working through the consequences just like I am. I’d be in good company if he were 😉
C.S.Lewis then, in the “Great Divorce”, has several images of men that are talking to the protagonist on his journey and invite him, or others around him, to follow them. But more clearly perhaps is this statement he wrote in “God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics”:
Your sins, all of them, are wiped out, I can do that. I am Re-birth, I am Life. Eat Me, drink Me, I am your Food. And finally, do not be afraid, I have overcome the whole Universe. (6)
So who is going to heaven? For me, the only answer to that question is “Those that call upon the name of Jesus Christ”. Those who realize that there is no other way, not works, not status, not reasoning, not pleading. But a humble admission that He is the Judge and we are not.
But here is a word of caution. I cannot say who is in that category and who is not. And neither should you. Matthew 7:1-2 just tells me not to. I don’t want to be judged by the measure by which I judge others. Way too scary since I know my judgment is deeply flawed. It will be His call and His call only. Granted, there are some clues one can glean from someone’s lifestyle, but we’ll get to that in the last part of the series.
And to be completely honest, sometimes, just sometimes, I find myself doubting. Have I really put all my trust in Him? Have I really surrendered to His mercy? Or do I on occasion try to work things out myself. And all I can do during those times, is turn back to Him in prayer and refocus that it’s not thanks to me, but in spite of me and thanks to Him that I have any assurance.
So now what about those who don’t come to the same conclusion in this life. What about those that don’t hear about Christ. What about the heart wrenching stories of children and babies. Because those are usually the arguments against the exclusivist nature of our faith.
When
So second, when does one need to put their trust in Christ?
I’m not going to discuss the “How” of this “Accepting Christ” process all that much. And yes I believe most commonly and for most people it is a process not a single event – although they do exist, but that’s perhaps food for another post. I believe “accepting Christ” is a personal decision. There is no magic prayer like in Islam. There is no clear guidance on whether one should be baptized by immersion or sprinkling. There is not even a clear argument to make that it’s the act of baptism that is the “trick that saves”. However one comes to the realization that there is a God, that there will be a judgment in which God will make the creation right and restore it the way He intended it to be, and that there is nothing you can do to earn the right to participate in that creation, but that Christ is the only one who will ultimately judge all of us, and that only by His mercy and grace we will enjoy a presence with Him and our fellow man forever and ever, however you come to that conclusion and profess this as truth and ask Him to help you, however you do that, is really up to you. Your life after that confession should become living proof of that. But we’re jumping ahead to part IV.
Back to the when question. Are there second chances for those that have heard this message before and have decided to reject it? I don’t know. I can’t find any scriptural evidence for it.
Paul makes some interesting statements in his writings that seem to indicate all people with be reconciled. For instance in the letter to the Church in Corinth Paul writes that: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.“ (1Cor 15:22). This phrase is often used as a suggestion for a universalist approach. However the next verse says that “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.“ (1Cor 15:23). In context, it seems to me that the “all” in verse 22 refers to those being addressed by the letter. Somewhat like saying: “Tomorrow we are all going to the movies”. That doesn’t mean all 6.9 billion of us. It means all of those that you’re addressing. Since Paul wrote to the Christian community in this letter, I feel comfortable reading the “all” in 1Cor 15:22 as “all Christians”. In addition, in the same letter, we find this mention of “being baptized for the dead” (1Cor 15:29). An interesting quote indicating perhaps a commitment to Christ after death?
Frankly, I find there is too much at stake to speculate here. According to Rob Bell, ultimately everyone will respond to the love of God in some shape form or fashion, even after death. For him, that is the essence of the good news. I’m also conflicted about what C.S.Lewis really thought about second chances. After all, “The Great Divorce” clearly is a dream story about people after death and how they are invited again and again to make a choice. James MacDonald and Francis Chan are more unequivocally advocating there is no second chance. It’s the here and now, in this lifetime. No second chances. And if that is true, it’s frightening. What we do with that truth, we’ll cover in part IV in a couple of days. But if there is the slightest possibility of that truth, it should make us think quite hard and it should impact our lives, our witness and what we say and do quite dramatically. Based on that, I agree with Francis Chan and James MacDonald. If you have heard this gospel, if you have heard this good news, now is the time. In this lifetime. Not bet on second chances, not hope on another spin on the merry-go-round. Nothing should stop you from “accepting Christ” now. Unless you reject this news you just heard.
Which leaves the one remaining question. What about all those that have never heard this news and have never had the chance to profess this faith, this “accepting Christ” process or event. The answer there is plain and simple, I don’t know. It goes back to a God who is both a just and merciful judge. Some people try to explain it away and give the arguments that “God is everywhere”, that the “imago Dei” is in all of us and that all people have a “sensus divinitatis” by which they either do justice and live righteously, or not. Frankly, I think that’s grasping at straws to come up with human reasoning for something that is God’s. And as Paul said “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13).
Work out your own salvation. Don’t go hide behind others and their fate. Let that rest in the hands of God. Have you ever had your kids say “But Johnny across the street gets to do this”. And what is your usual answer as a parent? “Go live over there” or “Johnny doesn’t live here” or “We have our rules in our house“, etc.. So if we are teaching our children that what they do and think matters, why don’t we apply that to our own faith and decisions? “But what about those that never hear the gospel?”. I don’t know. But you have heard this gospel message. So now what do you do with it?
And that question is our next question. What do we do with this message? How does this notion of a new creation and the fact that some of us will be there and some of us won’t, impact our daily lives? We’ll cover that in part IV.
References: For copyright, publishing and ISBN information, see Part I
- Francis Chan in “Erasing Hell”, p 11
- Ibid., p.15
- Rob Bell in “Love Wins”, p. 65
- Ibid. p. 79
- Ibid. p. 76
- C.S.Lewis: “God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics”, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 1994), ISBN: 978-0802808684