Question:  Dear Greg,

            I was brought up in a family with predominantly atheist views and I am in the process of formulating my own views in regards to God, so please excuse my ignorance.  I’m curious about the notions of heaven and hell and the Judgment Day.  How are we judged -- or is that a question only God can answer?  Are there some guidelines in the Bible as to what makes one “fit” for heaven?  Is heaven a reward or a tool for motivation?  Does it matter if people follow Christian principles only in order to gain a place in heaven?

            Nellie

Answer:  Dear Nellie,

            Your ignorance is excused — if you will forgive mine!  In one biblical metaphor God sees us all as his children and in another as his sheep.  In both cases we are dependent, needing him, and without anything that exalts us above one another.

            Heaven and hell.  Much speculation is given within Christianity to the afterlife, but when the Bible is consulted, very little specificity is offered.  Beyond the speculation, it is safe to say that the Bible tells us that heaven is eternity in God’s presence, while hell is eternity apart from God’s presence.  However, such definition doesn’t provide details such as how big our harp will be in heaven, whether we can eat all the food we want without getting fat, whether loved ones in heaven right now can communicate with those still on earth, etc., etc.  Neither does the Bible provide dogmatic information about how hot hell is, whether there are specific compartments for the most evil (like Dante’s “Inferno”), etc.

            As far as the question you pose—what makes one “fit” for heaven—once again, this is a question with enormous controversy within Christianity.  Many Christians, not to mention those who are not Christians, believe that a favorable eternal destination depends upon our goodness and good deeds performed in this life.  But the Bible says nothing of the kind.

            The Bible teaches that God’s kingdom of heaven is given to those who are saved by God’s grace—not by any of their deeds or works.  The “condition” for being saved is simply accepting God’s free gift and relinquishing any claim that we humans are in control of our eternal destiny because of the righteousness we produce.  According to the Bible, it is possible to refuse God’s free gift and to refuse heaven—that would be the primary “route” to hell rather than the idea that we receive a “get out of hell free” card because of our careful avoidance of doing bad things on earth.

            The Bible tells us that God is judge—that there is one name given (the name of Jesus) by which humanity might be saved.  The Bible does not tell us exactly how God reveals himself to every human being, or what tools, methods or means he has used, is using, or will use.  Those details are not given to us.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht