"You don't sing to get to the end of the song." (Alan Watts)
Generations of Christians have been trained to focus on salvation as something that gets us into heaven when we die. It's like fire insurance. When I was a child, a lot of the focus of the church was on the "end times." This continues today in the form of the extremely popular "Left Behind" series of books.
I think all of this focus on the future does something to our sense of "the now." We have trouble understanding what anything here on earth has to do with the life we will spend, someday, in heaven. The only thing of lasting worth, to many Christians, is "getting people saved." This is so that they, too, can go to heaven...someday.
But I submit to you that following Christ is not all about someday. We are not in some sort of holding pen, just waiting to experience the real Christian life. As Jesus began his ministry on earth, he said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." When Jesus came to earth, he brought the kingdom of God with him. The "kingdom of heaven" that Matthew talks about again and again has perhaps been misleading to many:
This phrase "refers to the rule of heaven, that is, of God, being brought to bear in the present world. Thy kingdom come, said Jesus, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (N.T. Wright, The Challenge of Jesus, 36-37)
Jesus' "good news" or "gospel" was not about a someday. It was about something that has come near; something that is "at hand," as another translation puts it. When Jesus asked his followers to repent, he was essentially asking them to change their gameplan for life. He asked them to believe in his plan instead.
I would like to suggest that his plan was not just for us to get into heaven someday. His plan is for us to be a part of his kingdom today! I found the quote above, from philosopher Alan Watts, helpful on this matter. I don't, or at least I shouldn't, sing in order to get to the end of a song. In the same way, I am not a Christian, a walker with Christ, so that I can get to the end of the journey. As a matter of fact, I'm told that this journey I've signed on for is neverending!
Let us sing for the joy of singing and walk with Christ for the joy of walking with Christ! Amen?
Excellent post. Thanks. I want people at my blog to read this!
Posted by: Bob | January 31, 2005 at 12:38 PM
Wow...thanks for that this morning. I needed that. The whole illustration about singing to get to the end of the song was very helpful to me.
Posted by: Kevin | February 01, 2005 at 07:46 AM
Cool. I'm a fan of the phrase, "saved for a purpose." Not just to wait until I die to get to heaven, but to live life in the way of Christ.
Posted by: Aaron O. | February 01, 2005 at 11:24 AM