Forgotten Truths, Part Two: Heaven is Not a Civil Right
By Adam Graham (07/09/06)
Belief in the exclusive claims of the Bible, that only those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior may enter Heaven has caused some problems for some politicians. George W. Bush encountered the issue in Texas when he stated his belief. He’s since learned to be more circumspect.
However, the issue comes up from time to time. In my mind, it has no place in our politics. It is at best a red herring, at worst a religious attack. The issue of how salvation is obtained is one of the key differences between Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, and the Jewish Community. It is also the one that has the least to do with our nation’s political struggle.
The way this issue is treated in the press, shows three fatal flaws. The status of general admittance to Heaven is assumed to be an issue that is under the control of politicians and the membership of a church. They can just change the rules to suit our more egalitarian times. While some churches and ministers will take to revising the doctrines of salvation to fit their convenience, those who have true faith and base their beliefs on the idea of an eternal cannot merely undo the scripture to suit modern whims. John 14:6 says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by me” and to get around it, a series of theological gymnastics must be practiced.
The second point that goes along with that is that even if they do change their minds, it really changes nothing. What is going to be after the death will not change regardless of what any religious leader says. What comes out of the Vatican, Salt Lake City, Canterbury, or the Southern Baptist Convention will not change one iota what God has planned on judgment day.
The third point is that your status in the hereafter has little to do with the government you receive in the here and now. Do I ever worry that my State’s Junior Senator believes that he and fellow LDS members will go to the Celestial Kingdom while the rest of humanity is confined to either Terrestrial or Tellestial realms. No, I hope that he votes right on immigration.
There are no federally guaranteed civil rights in the afterlife (if there were the ACLU would have already sued the Almighty), and believing someone will not receive the same outcome as you on judgment day is not discrimination, it is theology. As long as someone understands that, “Salvation belongs to the government” is nowhere in any text, than we should allow people to believe according to the dictates of their faith and conscience without political attacks.
The current approach to this issue shows a lack of respect for God and the ultimate arrogance of humanism in the public square. “We’ll tell God, according to our modern standards how he is to govern His Kingdom.” Indeed! Regardless, next time this issue is raised in a campaign, the answer of us all should be simple. “Heaven is not a civil right.”
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