There is a lot of talk these days about heaven and hell. Recently a handful of best-selling books have been published on this topic (23 Minutes in Hell, Erasing Hell, Heaven is for Real, God Wins). Some of these are in direct response to Rob Bell’s book Love Wins (incidentally and ironically a book almost entirely concerned with this life, not the next one).
As a Christian who believes in the Bible and Jesus, I have found the intensity and certainty of the debate all very bizarre. It’s strange that so much passion and ink has been spilled over something that is all speculation.
Here’s what I mean: If you died, took pictures, and came back to life again, then you would know with certainty what happens after death. Of course you would only know what happens to you, not everyone else. But if you haven’t died, you can only speculate about what happens to you and everyone else.
This speculation is perfectly fine. As long as we recognize these are only our beliefs. And beliefs by nature are not certain, they are faith based assumptions. That’s what makes them beliefs, once you can prove them they are no longer beliefs, they become a kind of knowing. And the funny thing is, once you know, you don’t need to debate anymore.
I have never died, so I don’t have a theological position on heaven or hell, I can only entertain theological possibilities. There is a big difference.
I take a position when I know something with certainty. Almost always through direct experience. If someone pinches me, I don’t believe they pinched me. I know it. I experienced it. It doesn’t reside somewhere in my head. Nothing to debate. It happened.
I consider a possibility when it’s something I don’t know. This is something I merely believe. Either because someone I trust told me, or the Bible seems to say it, or reason supports it. But until I’ve experienced it, this is only something I believe– a possibility. And possibilities should be held with an open hand, perhaps with some humility and even humor. Who knows, I could be wrong about what I believe?
Now having said this, I’m only aware of one person who died, and I mean really died, like three days dead, and came back to life again. His name was Jesus. Upon his return from the dead, he didn’t believe anymore, now he knew. So if I wanted some indication about what happens after I die I should probably pay attention to what he said after he came back from the dead.
Here’s what he said about heaven and hell after his resurrection. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
What did he talk about? Here’s just a sampling: He tells his disciples to make students of Him (Mt 28:16), to share the good news of liberation in this life (Mk 16:9-20). He says “peace be with you,” and “I’m hungry” (Lk 24:36-41). He says “receive the holy breath, now you can forgive sins” (Jn 20:22). He says “It’s me, really, touch my side.” (Jn 20:27), and “the fishing is better on the right side of the boat.” (Jn 21:6). He says “let’s eat” (Jn 21), “feed my sheep, now follow me” (Jn21:18-20), and “stop worrying about the future and the fate of other people, just follow me” (Jn 21:22; Acts 1:7-8).
Not exactly a systematic theology of the afterlife. Mostly it’s a repeated invitation to trust and follow him and not worry about the future. Apparently he is also hungry a lot. If anyone had the authority and credibility to provide a coherent-once-and-for-all description of exactly what happens after you die it would be Jesus upon his return from beyond the beyond. But he didn’t. He didn’t even seem all that interested.
If it were important to him, you’d think he would have written a book about it. Or preached a sermon or two. But he didn’t. After Jesus rose from the dead, he spends his time talking about this life.
It would seem Jesus is more concerned with this life than the next? Perhaps we should be too.
We only get one, and it’s short.
20 Responses to “Heaven, Hell, and the One Who Knows
Well said.
Very eloquently put.
Since Love Wins came out in March, I have been approached by many people, have been sent many reviews, blogposts, and other such writings on this subject, and I have to admit, this is probably my favorite out of all. Your focus on the here and now, in relation to what happens later on, is what I think the focus should be whenever this subject is brought up.
Thanks for writing this.
or the focus when anything about anything is brought up
I appreciate your insights here. I am a college student and have had many people approach me about reading Love Wins. Most of the time they ask, “What did you think?” and in those moments I can imagine what Jesus must have thought when He was being “trapped” by the pharisees. I don’t feel as though people want to have a conversation about the book, but more as though they want to have a conversion of my soul. The most disappointing aspect of these conversations is that the people I talk with will probably never read the book. Their hearts and minds are closed to opinions different from their own.
Now I feel like I have a place to point some people when they ask my for my thoughts. Again, thank you for your thoughts.
I have a similar interrogating experience as a working professional.
Shane thank you so much for your words and your work. I listen to the Mars Hill podcasts every week and have learned so much. You say it so well “It would seem Jesus is more concerned with this life than the next? Perhaps we should be too.”
Love it, love it, love it. The word “brave” is surely too strong, especially considering the borderline heroic antics of Mr Bell earlier this year, but I do love it when someone has the strength to just come out and call a spade a spade.
Someone in church prayer group yesterday day, in reply to my wife’s and my earnest views on feeding the poor, per Jesus instructions, said, “yes, but when you read about the poor being fed and the blind eyes opened, etc, you have to think of that as spiritual, rather than physical”.
My friend only offers that response because that’s what she’s always been taught by her church.
But I’m seeing more and more that Jesus was painfully focussed on the physical realities of the hear and now. Including the hunger in his own belly, it would seem.
So, keep up the great work. Keep on challenging us to stop being so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good.
And thanks.
Wow, direct quote? Sounds like something I would have said ten years ago!
So, how do you know that Jesus dies? You weren’t there you did not experience it. Belief that Jesus died and came back from the dead is really just a faith based assumption.
Hi Shane,
I appreciate this article, but like thommcquire, I’m a bit confused by your logic. If you can only “know” something with certainty or take a theological position on something that you have directly experienced, then how can you “know” that Jesus died or came back to life? If the Bible or reason support something–like the death and resurrection of Jesus–it’s merely a belief or assumption according to your line of thought. Perhaps you could clear this up…
Thanks.
Ah yes, thanks for the observation. A poor word choice on my part, I ammended the post above, hope this clarifies.
Shane, isn’t the problem that doctrines and dogmas have been created out of people believing that Jesus was talking about heaven and hell in places like Matthew 25 and John 14. To accept the biblical research that perhaps he was not stating a doctrine or fact about life after death undermines the faith and goal they have staked their lives on. It is a process every disciple needs to go through but it is scary for people to really read and study the Bible in context instead of just accepting the same old doctrines. They need mentors as they take those steps in their journey. Scripture comes alive when read and studied in context but it is a life long pursuit and many American Christians are just too lazy for that.
A decent perspective, but incomplete in argument. Jesus isn’t recorded speaking about forgiving our enemies, for example, after His resurrection. And yet this is such a unique piece of His message – yet he says nothing about it. Nada. Zero.
So… it must not be important to him?
Is this the argument?
And we know this for sure?
This conversation here is pleasant to read. Great to see Shane even responding in the thread although I am going to have to report it to the technological authorities and say a prayer for him while I am at it. I have been enjoying (kind-of) chatting with Craig from MHBC and the G.R. located Jeremy on his blog here as well: http://bit.ly/pbl8R6
I continue to be challenged, encouraged and edified by this ongoing discussion of the expanding and ever-so-hope-inspiring gospel of Jesus even in our present day and beyond. Keep up the great work, team. It blesses my soul in real-time.
…you hit it right on the head…Great.
@tonymyles – I don’t think that what you’re presenting is valid because Jesus taught about this subject quite extensively before he died. After he came back he didn’t need to discuss it because it was talked about so frequently prior to death.
His life after resurrection wasn’t about ministry. It seems that he wanted to highlight that it’s all about this life and the transformation in his disciples lives that his ministry would have birthed.
He was only around for 40 days after he came back. Had he stayed for another 3 years then perhaps he would have preached and talked about forgiving enemies.
I believe you have at least one major oversight. Since Jesus created all things (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16), He intimately knows all things. His experience is real, not just because He died and rose again, but because He created everything that exists. So when you look at His teachings you must understand that He is the only one with full knowledge of all things and speaks as the authority, both before His death and after His resurrection.
The risen Jesus may not have spoken about heaven and hell but he did speak about judgement. In Acts 10v42 Peter reveals what Jesus said to the disciples after his resurrection: “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead”. Surely that provides thebackdrop for his call to preach the gospel and make disciples.
@Josh Gould: Tony Myles’ point about Shane’s argument being incomplete (the fact that Jesus didn’t talk about Hell after his resurrection) is valid. His point is that there are lots of things Jesus DIDN’T talk about after his resurrection (e.g. forgiving your enemies) but that doesn’t mean he didn’t think they weren’t important. As you say, he didn’t need to talk about them because he talked about them so frequently BEFORE his death.
He also talked about hell quite a bit BEFORE his death. So, just because he DIDN’T talk about hell AFTER his resurrection, doesn’t mean he didn’t think it was important, which is what Shane’s post seems to imply. That was all Tony was trying to say.
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