Anytime I have overexposure to my family of original I am bombarded by memories of my past and an overwhelming feeling of life repeating itself. What I learned then is still envogue. Repeated and revered by today's young.
Take for example the idea of heaven. I was raised to believe heaven awaited only those who had a definite moment of conversion. Where they committed their life to Jesus and clung to this date as proof they'd be ensured a future after-life mansion. A relative talks about this fact in their blog, where its clearly stated "I believe salvation buys us a home in heaven filled with delights. To not accept Jesus as your savior guarantees death and eternal damnation."
OK, I think, I will accept Jesus because who doesn't want a home in heaven? But its not that simple. I often hear or see the phrase "I believe (so and so) is really saved." Like, now that one person has accepted Christ, they naturally have gained a truth magnifying glass and can tell when someone is faking conversion.
The conversion experience must be matched with a life lived by clear, scriptural principles. (The guidebook Bible says so, literally interpretating a book barely reflecting original manuscripts with authors named who didn't themselves write the books and traditions such as stoning, multiple wives, and murdering nations.) So by believing in literal translation, we know certain things.
Like heaven, the place this conversion guarantees. We aren't supposed to have solid bodies, frail human frames which give way to suffering and eventual death. Our revised selves will walk gold paved streets leading to our new homes. We do good here, we have a great place in the afterlife, complete with maid service, many rooms, and an olympic sized pool. We don't. we end up in a roach filled apartment which smells of fried foot odor.
The problem I've experienced with those who claim a great heaven for good works is questionable motivation. If I do X & Y I will have a great place to stay with God. If I only do 1/2 of X I will have a so-so place to stay in heaven. So what's the motivation here? Seems selfish.
Not to cast stones, but I've met folks claiming Christian status who seem to act as if they've been saved and don't care to do good now. They've got their pass and they're going to ride it to the end, roach motel or not.
I think to live life as if no afterlife (good or bad) existed is a better choice. A motivation to improve THIS life one of greater impact. To help ease another's suffering by listening. To use one's talent to build low-income housing. To mentor a teen who's struggling with drug and alcohol use. Isn't an immediate impact here and now better than a life-after-death bonanza?
Sure, we could say "what's the point" and go crawl in a hole and starve ourselves to death. We could do nothing. Or choose to do as much damage as possible before we end in blankness. We could choose this option knowing we were saved but not caring. We want the roach motel, right? But isn't that a version of hell? Being a miserable bastard who cares nothing for no one? Who is lonely and not cared for? Who wrecks everything and everyone they touch?
I choose to live for doing good now and the rest will fall into place. As for the whole conversion process, I believe we have a lifetime of acting like Jesus in service to others, finding riches in the smiles and impact we leave behind. Not a momentary flash of Jesus-ness followed by banking on eternal riches.
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