Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5)

Outcomes
Death
News of a death is rarely received or thought about as anything other than bad news. But Eric Olson wonders “Why is death bad?” in the 22 April 2016 edition of Aeon. Everyone considers that it’s bad to die, he explains. The primary reason this is so – if we dismiss any regard for the hereafter – is that death “deprives us of good things we would otherwise have had.”

Death brings to an end conditions and circumstances we’ve either come to enjoy or that we hope to know and enjoy for some time to come – the more, the better.

But, as Mr. Olson explains, since we can never know what circumstances or conditions might have been beyond death, we can’t really know whether or how bad a person’s death might be. After all, those circumstances might have been miserable and sad just as well as happy and prosperous.

Thus, Mr. Olson thinks we should not be so worked up about dying, but should concentrate on enjoying life while we have it: “It seems right to say that death deprives us of the future we would otherwise have had, and is good or bad according to the quality of that future...But there doesn’t seem to be any one future the dead would otherwise have had.” We can’t know what our future beyond death might have been, so, rather than fret about that, we should devote more attention and energy to maximizing our present.

Death can thus be either good or bad, but we can’t really know which. Death will come when it comes, but let’s make sure we arrive there with as few regrets as possible. Mr. Olson grants that it would be easier to know whether death were good or bad if there were an afterlife. Perhaps he should have discussed that possibility a bit more? Augustine insisted that a bad death never follows a good life, because death merely ushers the good person – he means the believer in Christ – to a greater and eternal state of life.

So, Mr. Olson explains, if there is something more beyond death, death would definitely be a bad thing if we thought it might be “followed by a nasty time in the hereafter.” But if we don’t think about the hereafter, “Then death can’t make us worse off than we are now.” And in our secular age, the only thinking about the hereafter we’re encouraged to do has nothing to do with us, but whether by what we do here and now we’ll leave the planet hereafter a kinder, cleaner place.

So why trouble ourselves thinking about death? Let’s concentrate on living, while we can.

But there, precisely is the problem: People can never stop thinking about death, because they have a strong sense something awaits them beyond the grave. Death is the undeniable elephant in the room in every person’s life. And people do think about the hereafter, even though the temper of the times strongly discourages such speculating.

Because people are made in the image of God (Gen. 1.26-28), and because they know Him (Rom. 1.18-20), they cannot not think about the hereafter. Indeed, the Scriptures insist, the fear of death haunts every person who has not become assured, through the grace of salvation, that he or she has achieved victory over death in Jesus Christ (Heb. 2.15).

Death opens a door to something, and most folks have an uncertain feeling about that, whatever it might be. Something in us knows that it is appointed to men once to die, then the judgment. And this is why, Mr. Olson’s counsel notwithstanding, the fear of death haunts everyone who does not have assurance of salvation – every day, all their lives.

Christians should not fear death; nor should they fear talking about death. Do the people we know think about death? Or do they, following Mr. Olson’s advice, simply try to live around the elephant in the room?

We should not hesitate to invite others to share their own views of death and of any preparations they may be making to meet it. Doing so might provide an opportunity to talk about the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

For reflection
1.  Just because Christians don’t have to fear death doesn’t mean death doesn’t include grief, loss, sorrow, and sadness. Explain.

2.  Is the grief Christians know at the passing of a loved one different from the grief of those who do not know the Lord? Why or why not?

3.  How might you use one or more of Mr. Olson’s quotes to initiate a conversation about the topic of death and dying?

Next step: Try talking with a friend or co-worker about his or her view of and approach to dying. See what you can learn about them from this conversation.

If this ministry is important to you, we ask you please prayerfully to consider becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.