Heaven?

I went to the store to pharmacy to pick up a prescription for my wife recently when I overheard a conversation. One employee asking another "What do you believe about heaven?" The other employee proceeded to launch into a very fundamentalist interpretation of heaven- about the importance of "being saved," and that once someone is saved everything is okay and the promise of heaven is sure.

This conversation troubled me in a number of ways. While I also believe in some form of an afterlife as a Christian, my belief certainly does not include a once-and-done concept of being "saved."

Yes I believe in heaven, but I believe when we fixate on it, we can get distracted from the opportunities all around us.

It got me asking a few questions: 1) Why so much focus on the afterlife, when God is present with us in the here and now? 2) Does not fixating on heaven and eternity in a "me and Jesus" kind of way call away from a proper focus on social justice and the importance of Christian community? 3) Is it not arrogance and spiritual pride to assume that what is the answer for me is or should be the answer for everyone? 4) There is so much talk about hell for people who do not believe in the same way as these fundamentalist Christians, yet Jesus' example was clearly one of inclusion rather than exclusion and elitism- is this not hypocrisy on the part of conservative fundamentalists?

I have been wrestling with these questions a bit recently. Especially with hearing the news of Billy Graham's recent "crusade" in New York, that may well be his last. Graham is one of the most widely recognized religious figures in the world next to the pope. Yet, Graham preaches a very fundamentalist-literalist interpretation of scripture. He has also been known to make anti-semetic remarks, some of them infamously captured on the Nixon tapes (which, in all fairness, Graham later apologized about very contritely).

Still, despite all his charisma, communicating skills and winsome personality, Rev. Graham preaches a gospel of literalism and exclusivism- ie. accept a very literalistic, narrow, fundamentalist interpretation of scripture and be "saved" according to very conservative guidelines, or be damned to eternal punishment in hell.

The reason I mentioned Billy Graham, because he is a leading proponent of Christian fundamentalism that fixates on instantaneous experiences of "being saved" and on heaven while, at the same time, neglecting to adequately address important matters of social justice, and life in the here and now.

I believe that as people of faith we are called to focus on loving our neighbors compassionately in the here and now, and accepting the gifts of the Spirit in our lives. The other-worldly focus of heaven and "being saved" distracts from ministering to others in fulfillment of the great commandment, and wrongly places the focus back on the "me and Jesus" approach that lacks authenticity and accountability in Christian community.

Heaven is a real hope- don't get me wrong. I have visited dying friends and loved ones and they find great comfort in the hope of heaven. When our work here on earth is done and we are transitioning, then looking forward to heaven is a great source of inspiration.

So while I believe this fixation on the afterlife distracts from our calling to discipleship here in this life, allow me to offer a perceptual alternative: Let us focus on living in the Holy Spirit here in this life- through serving others, sharing compassion, and living lives that bring social justice to others and live out the essence of Christian community.

Sure, individual faith experience and personal journey are both important. However, may we never allow our focus to turn away from our calling to share God's love and compassion with the least and the lost in this world. This can be done in an inclusive and inviting way that accepts each person for who they are, and affirms them on their spiritual journey, wherever they may be on that journey. The temptation in focusing on the eternal hereafter is that we allow ourselves to become blind or desensitized to the needs and opportunities for ministry that are all around us.

Peace,


John