Often in Christian circles the question arises of who is and who is not going to heaven. While I believe this question should only be left to God, I do have thoughts on the subject. At our best, we pray that a God who went to such great lengths as to put on our skin and allow our systems and sinfulness to kill him for our own salvation would not allow our failing witness and humanity’s injured mindsets and distorted views of him be what keeps anyone from him eternally. At the same time, we acknowledge humanity’s broken state, its failing history and the tremendous grace he has shown humanity in his sacrifice.
My picture of heaven is that it is the place where God’s will is done. My understanding is that in and through Jesus, God created and sustains all things on heaven and earth and He is in the process of one day reconciling the two. On that day heaven will crash into the earth, forming a (re)newed heaven and earth.
In this picture, everything that is good (love, mercy, forgiveness, joy, laughter, hope, etc) and every thing that we aspire to and enjoy are found, founded and upheld in God.
At the same time, in no sense does God completely withdraw Himself from those on earth who haven’t come to faith in Him. As Jesus says, God allows His sun to rise on good and evil and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. What is important here is not that we determine who is evil and who is good, or that we judge who is righteous and who is not. What is important is that God blesses everyone.
The images of sun and rain may have provoked thoughts of provision from the gods. At that time, people were living under the assumptions that if they pleased the gods through their actions, blessing would be sent down on their crop. Jesus presents the more radical idea that God’s love and provision reaches everyone. At least for present, everyone is experiencing God’s loving attempts to re-enter into relationship with them.
Thus, in the gospel, we are invited to enter God’s kingdom, become his disciple and friend, orient our will around His and enter into the life of heaven now, though only in part. It also appears the flipside of this is true; people can be living and entering into the lifestyle of hell now, but not fully.
It appears to me that God does not force himself upon anyone. He did not in the garden, does not on earth and I believe he will not in heaven either, not in the way we understand forcing. In this idea, hell is not a place God sends bad people to be flogged and tortured. Hell is the absence of God, the absence of everything good, reserved for those who reject Him.
Imagine now if everything good was no longer attainable.
In this understanding, I do not follow God out of fear of losing what is good, any more than I love my wife out of fear of her leaving me. On the contrary, I follow God because I desire Him, His kingdom, and His goodness. I follow God because I’m attracted to His way of life. I follow because forgiveness is greater than bitterness. Because mercy is greater than revenge. Because hope is better than cynicism. Because love is greater than hate. Because desire is greater than fear. Maybe a better question than who is going to hell is, who would really want to?
