Marriage and family? A temporary arrangement until we enter heaven and love everyone exactly the same. Sex? An earthly indulgence until we become heavenly eunuchs. Sleep? Just a requirement of our weak earthly bodies. Adventure? Courage? Well, who needs any of that in a peaceful paradise?
I believe this view of heaven is not only wrong but also discourages people from focusing on the eternal. I used to not think of it at all when I held some of these beliefs (acquired through osmosis). But it now seems apparent to me that these beautiful creations of God are not merely pragmatic necessities but the very things we must love if heaven is what we're after.
I don't believe marriage, sex and family is discarded in heaven but made greater, stronger and more loving. I don't believe sleep is tossed aside but more restful, with dreams more astonishing. I don't believe heaven will be a static environment of hand holding, unceasing prayer, or euphoria. And I don’t believe courage is simply a response to a fallen world. There is no creation without it. There must be endless adventure and bravery in the next life.
I believe this view of heaven is not only wrong but also discourages people from focusing on the eternal. I used to not think of it at all when I held some of these beliefs (acquired through osmosis). But it now seems apparent to me that these beautiful creations of God are not merely pragmatic necessities but the very things we must love if heaven is what we're after.
I don't believe marriage, sex and family is discarded in heaven but made greater, stronger and more loving. I don't believe sleep is tossed aside but more restful, with dreams more astonishing. I don't believe heaven will be a static environment of hand holding, unceasing prayer, or euphoria. And I don’t believe courage is simply a response to a fallen world. There is no creation without it. There must be endless adventure and bravery in the next life.
It is impossible to imagine the creator of the earth—with all of it's beasts and wildflowers—would create some sort of eternal worship service, opium den or happy-fun summer camp where no one sleeps. That sounds like a horror novel!
3 comments:
This is excellent, Sean. I'm going to link to it on my blog and add just a couple of observations. Thank you for posting this.
Welcome to the Mormon church. Sean! (Just kidding, kind of.)
We only find what we seek, so clarity of desire is essential. How many conventional Christians secretly sympathize with Sylvia Plath, who wrote, “Eternity bores me, I never wanted it,” and yet still go through the motions of pursuing the bloodless, sexless, motionless “heaven” which is really just nirvana — eternal death — by another name? Dream other dreams, and better!
@S.K. Thank you for the kind words and excellent follow up post—
(https://steepletea.com/2020/09/23/sean-gs-thoughts/)
@Wm I know just enough about the LDS church to know that it has great wisdom and beauty, and that I will not be joining it. "Eternal death" is a good descriptor I hadn't heard. Nirvana sounds dreadful.
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