Some years ago, I stopped at an office
supply place to pick up some office supplies. I headed over to the check out
and after the clerk had rung me up, I handed him my credit card (no tap and pay
in those days) as he looked at the card he noticed that I was a Reverend. “So
you’re a pastor?” he asked. “Yes, I am”.
“Well, praise be” he exclaimed. “God is
great, right Pastor”. “I suppose she is” I said. Now, right about here is when
I have a choice. I can just agree with my erstwhile clerk, pay for my supplies
or I can engage a bit further. Knowing full by now, that by a further
engagement, I could be there for a while.
It being a quiet day, I chose the later.
“Well,” he said “I was saved just last year. I can’t wait to get to heaven to
see my mother, she just died just last month.” I said, “I hope you aren’t
leaving us to soon, I am sure your family down here would miss you.” He thought
about that for a moment and said “I suppose so. Anyway, thank you for sharing
the Good News.” “Which Good News?” I asked, knowing full well that this would
lead us down a path I may have a hard time getting off. “Well, that we are
saved by Jesus of course!” I couldn’t
resist “Saved from what?” “From the hell fires of eternity. Isn’t that right
Reverend?”
Now I really could have broken this off at
this point but just couldn’t resist. “Well, actually, I don’t believe in hell.
If there is an afterlife, I imagine that everyone goes to heaven, whatever that
is.” I could see confusion spreading across his face. “I don’t understand”. He
said “what do you mean? Only those who are saved in Christ Jesus can avoid
hell. Isn’t that what the bible teaches?”
Really, I thought to myself, just pay for
your supplies and get going. But noooo, I had to go on. “The bible says a lot
of things, many of them contradict one another. And actually, hell only shows
up in the Gospel of John, not the other three. I don’t believe Jesus, who
taught that God is Love, would condemn anyone of us to everlasting damnation.”
Good solid Universalist Theology, I thought to myself.
“But what about someone who got away with
murder!?” he exclaimed. “How does God punish those who try to get away from
their sins?” “Well” I said, “my church teaches that life is hell enough, even
for those who got away with murder. Even if they did, the guilt and darkness of
that life would be more than enough to punish them. Our Good News is that all
people have worth even if they do terrible things.”
I think he must have had enough of me and
my less than good news at that point. There was a line behind me and none of
those good folks were particularly interested in the theological debate
happening at the register. He rung me up and handed me my card and receipt.
“There you go, Reverend” he said with just a hint of disdain.
Even now in the apocalypse, I remain a
pretty optimistic. Overall, I still tend to look for the Good in people.
While our government is descending into the dark side, I still believe that
most people are basically good. I still believe that communities of neighbors, activists and congregations can make a difference in the world. I still believe joy is the antidote for despair.
But that alone is not enough to invite grace into our lives. We also have to do some good work; tending to those who need care, standing up for those who are being persecuted and speaking truth to power. Even in the midst of heartbreak, we can be the ones who make a difference, no matter how small.
With Grace and Grit, John
