One crutch people commonly use to walk away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the accusingly iterated claim that “Christians don’t care about life on earth. All they care about is getting saved so they can go to heaven.”
People can establish whatever they nonchalantly or self-deceptively want to establish. If they choose to allow an unexplored, unexamined and hastily made but long-held conclusion to inhibit further insight, that is their free choice, given to them, coincidentally, by God Himself.
But the barb about heaven, lobbed repeatedly at Christians and thus, at Christ Himself, is simply tiring due to its ignorant theology.
A thorough and consistent reading of Scripture clearly sets the record straight on this stale cheap shot that Christianity is “only about going to heaven.”
Paul, in the very first chapter of Galatians, couldn’t be more direct in the purpose of Christ’s coming, and our blessing in believing:
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5
In case anyone missed it, I will specifically highlight:
“the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age…”
And it’s no coincidence that Paul, in the very next line after this, calls the Galatians to task for either missing (or not missing but deciding to alter), the very Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7.
So, while some denominations, local churches, pastors, teachers and Christians may have emphasized “going to heaven” to the detriment of the entire Gospel of Christ--in fact creating a different gospel--so also have those who emphasize earthly “Christianity," with no care for or acceptance of eternal heaven.
And I must fully disclose that, having attended—for major periods of time—many churches of various denominations, I can count only one church that emphasized one to the exclusion of the other: a liberal PCUSA church that didn’t believe in heaven or hell, but only social justice in the hands of intellectual people under the banner of a church.
Every other church I have attended, be it Baptist, Evangelical, Bible-believing non-denominational, Reformed, or conservative Presbyterian, has emphasized both Jesus’ coming to rescue us from “the present evil age” and the blessing of eternal life in heaven with Christ.
In fact, in being completely honest, I would have to say that the focus of faith-into-action within these latter churches and among Bible-believing Christians is outreach, education, crisis relief, feeding the hungry, addiction recovery, grief support, and small group community-building.
The “going to heaven” part is certainly always there too, as something we can, as born-again believers, rest confident in and take to heart to comfort us—and others—in our present suffering and struggles.
Not to say I haven’t met a Christian or two who evangelize from the premise of “don’t you want to go to heaven when you die?” And truth be told, don’t we all, really, want the assurance that we will go to heaven when we die, and the knowledge of how to gain that assurance?
I personally don’t believe it for a minute when someone says they could care less about what happens after they die. In my opinion, that attitude merely reveals a hardened heart.
Evangelism conducted with a “heaven-only” end game is not true evangelism, and in my experience and observation, it’s not the evangelism I see taking place the majority of the time.
No doubt the fire and brimstone preachers of long ago past, and sometimes present day, have been a detriment at times. If that is the extent of their message, they are the purveyors of a “different gospel” by remaining bent on taking one glorious aspect of the Gospel and ignoring the rest (not to mention the lack of humility, grace and joy in their attempt to instill repentance).
Or maybe it is the “three-step” or “four-step” Bible tracks randomly handed out, or the short “salvation prayer” offered up on behalf of a stranger at a cafe that have given the impression that salvation is a get-out-of-jail free card and now all we have to do is wait for our trip to the gold-paved streets of heaven.
But that is not the Gospel of the Bible. That is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it is not the Gospel that most Bible and Christ-believers live and hold sacred and desire for others to experience.
The true Gospel of Christ, in Scripture, is that yes, we will spend an eternity with Christ in heaven:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
The true Gospel of Christ, in Scripture, is also that yes, Jesus came to rescue us from and in this present age:
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:12-13
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:5-9
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5
Jesus speaking:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30
“And hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17
And when this happens in the lives of believers, increasingly so, the world here and now is indeed a much better and more just place.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is salvation in Him here and now and in heaven after death, eternally.
And everything in between is the outworking of God in the lives of Christians unto spiritual maturity.
The promise of heaven is what allows us to live in freedom from the fear of death; a fear so potent it is what lies behind sinful impulsivity, addiction, dysfunction and anxiety in those who walk the earth. And yet, Jesus came to free us from that fear of death with the promise of heaven in order that we can live joyous ives, in spite of sickness and trouble:
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Hebrews 2:14-15
Without heaven, we are slaves to the fear of death. With heaven, we are free to live in His rescue of us from all that would impede, trouble and sicken us here on earth; to learn and live out His wisdom in loving fellowship with one another.
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 John 1:1-4
copyright Barb Harwood
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