A year ago today, I married the love of my life. Eternity will not be enough time to spend with this wonderful woman.
I love you, babe. Forever.
-J.W.
A year ago today, I married the love of my life. Eternity will not be enough time to spend with this wonderful woman.
I love you, babe. Forever.
-J.W.
J.W. Wartick - Reconstructing Faith 
What if she is not with you in heaven? I asked a Christian recently what he would do if he were the only one in heaven. He said, “Even then, God’s presence would be enough”. I don’t know if he felt a pang for humanity at such a thought, but I did.
If Christianity is true, we will all have to choose between God and our fellows. If we’re lucky, the people we grieve will be ones we barely know. But few will be that lucky. Almost everyone in heaven will lose someone dear. Forever. Another Christian I met suggested that God, in his mercy, would wipe the memory of her children from her mind.
I sought God and found my neighbor. Jesus said I had to choose. I chose my neighbor.
Posted by donsevers | August 5, 2012, 11:46 AMCan you elaborate, please?
Posted by Thomas Larsen | August 6, 2012, 3:54 AMUnder Christian theism, salvation is not forced on us. Some will not be in heaven for nothing other than being good members of their own religion. This is the same thing Christians do. So, any Christian must accept God’s arrangement. This requires us to choose between God and our fellows. Luke 14:26 and Matt. 5:29 suggest there are hard choices for Christians to make. I’m only pointing out that the First great commandment seems to take precedence over the Second.
Imagine a Christian couple. After some years, the wife has doubts, meets a supportive atheist community and rejects Christianity. The very next day she is killed in a car accident. Never saw it coming. Without knowing the mind of God, it seems possible that this woman, who was a good Christian almost her entire life but fell into error just before she died, will not enter paradise.
Consider another Christian couple. After some years, the wife has doubts, meets a supportive atheist community and rejects Christianity. They divorce and the woman becomes a leader in the atheist community. Many years later, she repents and returns to Christianity. Without knowing the mind of God, it seems possible that this woman, who was a good Christian, then fell into error for much longer than the first woman and caused others to leave Christianity, will enter paradise.
The point is that, to be Christians, we must trust God even in situations like these. If you can, then you can be a Christian. We don’t know who will be in heaven. To be a Christian, we must be prepared to be alone with God in paradise, and to believe that if this happens, that it is a morally sound outcome.
Posted by donsevers | August 6, 2012, 8:59 AMHeartfelt congratulations, J.W., to you and your wife! May our Lord bless your union now and through all the years to come. Peace be with you both. 🙂
Posted by Disciple | August 5, 2012, 7:53 PMThanks, Disciple!
Posted by J.W. Wartick | August 7, 2012, 10:00 PMCongratulations!
Posted by SLIMJIM | August 7, 2012, 12:23 AM