I stumbled upon Craig Duckett’s excellent site a few days ago. Most of the material of interest there pertains to his rejection of Christianity, maintaining there a list of reasons he is not a Christian, and the story that got him to this point.
While I disagree with his conclusions, one of his arguments I find rather perplexing and vital:
- Only if one is a Christian will they enjoy eternal bliss in heaven. Others will suffer eternally in hell.
- A Christian is called to live a life of love, following e.g. Jn 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (ESV)
- Thus an ethical Christian must lay down their eternal life for their condemned friends.
Duckett had such a friend, in fact many, perish in the unsaved state. M was one of his best friends who died in a car crash. His expression of point 3. is this:
Dear Heavenly Father:
Although I am content with the knowledge of You and feel the presence of Your love in my heart, I could never be content in Heaven knowing my friend M was suffering in Hell. I could, however, be content in Hell knowing M was in Heaven. So, God, here’s the deal. Let me take M’s place in Hell. I know Jesus was supposed to do this, but He didn’t do this if M is in Hell. I know what I’m asking and I know precisely what this means. I’m asking this with open eyes. Because, don’t you see, God? How could I accept Heaven with M in Hell? I could not! It would be Hell for me. But I could accept Hell knowing M was in Heaven. I would rather suffer an eternity of physical torture than to live with the mental anguish of knowing my friend was in Hell while I enjoyed the fruits of Heaven. How could I enjoy anything? What kind of person would that make me? And M doesn’t even have to know how it was done, Lord. The deal that was made. He never has to know what I did for him, that I traded places with him, that I took on his punishment. I don’t need acknowledgment or recognition or thanks. I don’t need anything from him. I just want to save him! Please, God! Please! Allow me to take M’s place in Hell! Please take back my Salvation and give it to M!
But he later realizes even this is not enough. He summarizes the argument himself well in his expression of it:
Dear God:
I realize that it isn’t enough that I am willing to take a friend’s place in Hell. As hard a decision as this may be, it is still relatively easy since it is offered on behalf of a friend and loved one.
On the off-chance that all are not saved and that some will be condemned to Hell I must be willing in my heart to take each of their places as well, even that of my worst enemy. Since I am only one person, it is impossible for me to offer to take all their places. If Jesus already accomplished this, if all are saved, then glory! Hallelujah! He is truly the savior of all mankind. If not, then the only ethical thing for me to do is to return my salvation, to reject it on moral grounds, as long as anybody is condemned to Hell. In other words, God, if even one person is damned then consider me damned as well. What kind of person would I be to accept heaven knowing others are suffering in Hell? The only ‘Christian’ thing for me to do is to reject my salvation, to hand it back to You, and forfeit my place in Heaven.
If there is a Hell, then it would be wrong of me to consent to Heaven while others suffer. If there is a Hell, then I want no part of Heaven. If all are not saved, then take back my salvation and send me to Hell with them. It would be immoral and shameful of me to accept Heaven under these conditions. It would be worse then the worst sin imaginable. I would have proven myself the very worst kind of person. No, send me to Hell as well. It would be the only way I could live with myself.
Even though I don’t agree with his interpretation of ethics (as he is essentially wanting to take on God in ethical argument), he has a point, a serious one, that uncovers a paradox:
- If I am a Christian, (at least begin to) love everyone as myself. As a Christian, I am saved into eternal bliss.
- If I love everyone as myself, this includes the unsaved. But in love, their eternal suffering is mine too. Therefore, either:
- I ask to be condemned with them, and if that isn’t granted,
- I am in eternal compassionate anguish even if I am in heaven.
Is there a resolution to this, or am I within the wrong paradigm?
