John 3

Friday, February 15, 2013

John 3

Not long ago, I was driving from San Antonio to Beaumont listening to a podcast of This American Life called "Heretic".  It was about the life of a evangelical preacher who was cast out of his church and from the position of amazing power and influence for the heresy of saying that you do not need to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior to enter heaven.

When he told the story of his conversion to this point of view, I had to pull over because I started sobbing.  It was in relief.  A learned Biblical scholar (he was the real deal, it was clear from the story) came to the same conclusion I had reached mostly by instinct.  I have since been trying to make my way through his book The Gospel of Inclusion so that I can more effectively argue and back up this doctrine.

It was an unspeakable relief and joy to have this position I have long held validated in that way.

Which is why despite the fact the the interactions with both Nicodemus and John the Baptist in this chapter are layered and fascinating and bear further scrutiny, I want to focus on this passage which comes directly after the famous John 3:16.

¹⁷ For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.

¹⁸ No one who believes in him will be judged; but whoever does not believe is judged already, because that person does not believe in the Name of God's only Son.

¹⁹ And the judgement is this: though the light has come into the world people have preferred darkness to the light because their deeds were evil.

²⁰ And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up;

²¹ but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in God.'

This passage could be seen as a rebuttal of this doctrine, but I believe it is a corroboration.  For what does it mean that he who does not believe is already judged?  The nonbelievers are already suffering the effects of not believing - not having the spiritual benefit of God in their lives on earth.  They are huddling alone in the darkness in this world in which we are creating new and more inventive pockets of hell every day.

The benefit of belief - of religion itself - is being able to face the goodness and light in this world and claim it.  The personal courage to stand with our deeds in plain sight.  The blessing of knowing that it is there, that you can stand in the light - that you are meant to shine.

(Shine like the sun.)

We don't have to hide what we do, wrong and right, because we are forgiven, because we are never forsaken.  Because we can find God in all of it.

Those who do not believe suffer in this life.  But I do not believe they are fated to suffer eternally.  In fact, the way I am impressed by the fervor of Christians who do not have the benefit of the Catholic sacraments, I am all the more impressed by those who find the courage to stand in the light, to live and do good in this world, without the help of God.

But it is wasted effort.  That is the only tragedy of lack of faith.  It is so much harder to shine.