Monday 26 October 2009

We will continue in the section called "Damned" in William Willimon's book, "Who Will Be Saved."

...it seems to me that valid objections can be raised against Augustinian claims of eternal, widespread damnation and a crowded hell. One objection is that 'eternal' is not something that is a possession of humans, be they damned or blessed. "Eternal" is a gift of a living God who raises the dead. To ascribe immortal, everlasting life to the damned seems odd. Second, advocates of this eternal, penal, irrevocable misery must surely contend with the Savior as depicted in Scripture. Jesus the Judge must be held in tension with Jesus the Savior, the Evangel, the one who was criticized, not for having too strict a standard of justice, but rather for seeking, inviting, and saving the lost.
Jesus is the Judge who is also our Advocate
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

"Eternal is a gift of a living God who raise the dead." Would it be a gift if it was something with a hellish "forever?" I don't think so. And yet, we are very willing to keep wanting to make much of "eternal life" that is spent in a gift-less state. Unfortunately, as long as the gift of life eternal is spent wondering about what will be after we die, we will continue to speculate by writing in the air. Eternal life rarely is placed within the context of now. We are invited and handed the eternal life that is the Reign of God...and it is handed to us now...for now. Our Advocate is already on the job changing us in the midst of life and changing the world as we are alive within the Reign of God even as we are walking and living within the ordinary brutality of today. Better to live anew than wonder about what if...this....or...that.

Connection: We must remember to keep our eyes on the life that is already before us as we enter today established within the Reign of God. It would be good if we would think less about hell and more about "leaving a bit of heaven around" (Cornel West).

When you bring us life, O God, it is for now and forever. We give you thanks for the many ways you invite us to share the life of your Reign as a part of our own. Praise to you, O God. Amen.