It was not long ago that the British Humanist Association made global news with the launch of their bus ad campaign which read, “There probably is no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” As a Christian, I would have altered that slogan to read, “There is a God. Now you may [truly] live.” Despite my tacit dismissal of their theological stance, however, I am forced to confess – they do raise a good point.
For a savior who promises life – and not just life, but abundant life – there are an awful lot of Christians who fail to experience it. In fact, for many Christians, this existence-altering relationship with the creator of the universe is neatly packaged and placed upon a shelf, a theoretical promise of a life to come… but not this life. Salvation, they often contend, is all about avoiding hell and acquiring heaven. In this manner, the Christian life begins and ends with a prayer. If it continues beyond that, it is a matter of tallying our deeds and hoping we “stay true” to Christian behavior. Rather than coming to Christ, weary and heavy-laden to discover rest, we find a hefty weight soundly planted on our shoulders. Thus it is that the bus slogan offers hope. Reject God. Discard the burden. Enjoy your life.
Yet, is this what Jesus really has to offer? In my conversations with such people, I have always found it interesting to ask just what Jesus saves us from. The answer in insightful: hell. Jesus saves us from hell.
Wrong. Hell is a consequence of sin which, left to rule us, results in brokenness and pain. An eternity marked by a community of people consumed with the relationship-shattering, self-absorbing, pain-inflicting effect of sin is, quite simply, an eternity doomed to hell. This, however, is the end result of something much deeper. Jesus saves us from hell not by translocating us in the afterlife, but by redeeming us from our own brokenness. An eternity marked by a community of people transformed into a people of love and selflessness would be quite the opposite. This is the kingdom of God.
Thus it is that we also discover the abundant life. The transformation begins in this life. This is what Jesus does. This is who Jesus is. This is who Jesus wants you to be.
Yes, there is a God. Now you may [truly] live.
Related articles
- Christian Contentment and the Kingdom of God (ofdustandkings.com)
- Cultivating The Soul, p.1 : Discipleship and Spiritual Transformation (ofdustandkings.com)
- The Kingdom of God: Eternity Begins Now (ofdustandkings.com)
New View From Here March 9, 2012 at 3:08 am
Very well written and excellent points. You have a nice site here.
T. E. Hanna March 9, 2012 at 8:56 am
Thank you! I’m glad you came by to visit. I hope you return and become part of the community!
Chrystal March 9, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Love this! This is a topic I’ve been journalling & praying a lot about lately & beginning to publish posts about – being in the wilderness…and brokenness. Don’t you love how God brings it all together? Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning. I had accidentally hit “publish” before I was done so it has been updated a bit now.
Hannah :) March 15, 2012 at 5:02 pm
It is sad when people see salvation as an admission to the heaven that is somewhere out there, when it really is about restoration. It is not surprising that non-Christians misunderstand what Christianity is about when I see many Christians fail to see the true picture of the love of God. Thanks for posting this.
T. E. Hanna March 15, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Hi Hanna! Great name.
I agree, when I finally caught sight of the depth Christianity offers in terms of transformation right here, it changed my life and my faith. Thanks for the comment!
matilde5 March 19, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Hello,
You make very important points. Jesus doesn’t just want to save us from Hell. He wants to save us from the sins of this world that can ultimately lead us to Hell. It is actually interesting because last year a pastor from our congregation gave a sermon on “La voluntad de Dios para su Iglesia” (God’s will for his Church). He gave Palms 28:9 for his starting text from the Bible. There we find three verbs: Save, Bless, Feed or Shepherd, and Lift. Save us from what? From danger like: greed, jealousy, lack of faith, lack of obedience, gossip, addictions, immorality, slander, misuse of our talents, rebellion. After saving us from all this he wants to bless us (Deut. 281-2 &15), feed/shepherd us (1Kings 17-2-4), and lift or exalt us (Palms 91-12-14). Thank you for sharing this blog. It was a great reminder. I hope our Lord Jesus Christ continues to bless you and your family in his righteous path.
-Matilde
Noel March 21, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Beautifully written! Many Christians only focus on the after life, missing what Jesus really taught us to do: love my neighbor as I love myself. Being selfless, serving others, embracing suffering…. This is the Kingdom of Heaven.
remnantreminder March 22, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Wonderfully written … I really enjoy good “soul food” if you catch my meaning.
5 Minute Bible March 24, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Jesus has become my closest companion as I walk through this world. I am so saddened when I see someone who has experienced the remarkable revelation of Christ and then falls back to “I’m saved, that’s done, now back to my life”. In 2007 when I surrendered my life in exchange for His, I truly began to live. He is not just preaching when He says we are new. Thanks for this blog, I have been enjoying it very much.
ansuyo March 31, 2012 at 8:23 pm
I am only beginning to really learn this lesson. There is always that “don’t make God mad” thing hovering over us (a very secular thought indeed). However, that is not from God. He, like a good earthly Father/Mother/Parent LOVES. He might be disappointed in a behavior, but He never stops loving us and does not hold it over our heads for the rest of our life. How sad when we refuse to pull up to the banquet table because we don’t feel worthy, even though we have been invited as special guests. Angie
nelsonpage April 2, 2012 at 10:17 am
Thank you for your site; look forward to following your work.
Planting Potatoes April 5, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I agree! Whether we go to hell or heaven, it is of our own free choice…Jesus was the payment for sin… without which, the whole question would be mute…. and I believe this is the reason that most of the world chooses to ignore God….it’s the whole “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” syndrome….but choosing Jesus doesn’t mean membership in a country club. I am blessed by your words….
T. E. Hanna April 5, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Excellent point. The brilliant pastor I serve under where I am the youth director likens it to asking whether we are on a cruise ship, or a battleship. They both function very differently…
Kristen Joy April 5, 2012 at 10:49 pm
I certainly agree with your point that salvation begins in this life and is not limited to the afterlife. I agree that our salvation delivers us from the bondage of sin in this life. However, I am not exactly sure what you intend to communicate about the afterlife? Do you believe that our souls go to heaven or hell after we die?
As great as it is to experience salvation in this life, honestly, the only thing that gets me through a day as tough as this one is looking forward to an eternity spent with Christ in heaven – not here.
T. E. Hanna April 5, 2012 at 11:06 pm
The image we see in scripture is that of a new heaven and a new earth. This creation, broken and marred by sin (sin mars all of creation, not just human moral agency), is restored. The good news, however, is that this restoration is beginning now. This is why Jesus’ announcement in Mark 1 is that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom is bursting forth into our world all the time; but the fullness of this will not be experienced until we step into eternity.
The point is not that there is no heaven, the point is that heaven is already breaking forth into our world.
Kristen Joy April 5, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Okay, thanks for the clarification on heaven. That makes sense. What about hell?
T. E. Hanna April 5, 2012 at 11:17 pm
I dealt with that a bit here: http://ofdustandkings.com/2012/03/14/hell-doctrine-of-a-loving-god/
Heaven and hell are both eternal realities, and I go into both in this article. Hope that helps!
Kristen Joy April 6, 2012 at 9:13 am
Thanks for the link. That’s a helpful explanation of hell that I’ll keep in mind in my conversations with others.