Christianity Today

I think the survey is interesting, yet I believe the question is besides the point. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes TO THE FATHER except through me." (Jn 14:6). I have sometimes replaced "the Father" with "heaven" just to see if people notice, and 99% of them don't. I agree with Steve's comments. We evangelicals have our own idols, and heaven is often one of them.

As I pass 60, with breathtaking rapidity, I do think more about death. I would very much like to see my sister, grandparents and friends who passed on before me. But, I'm also very sure that I don't want to go to conservative Evangelical Heaven, and conservative Evangelicals don't really seem to want me to join them there...nor do they expect to see me inside their exclusive, pearly gated community of many mansions. If there is no life after death, I won't get my fervent wish to see my loved ones again (who are also on my mind more and more); but on the other hand, I'll never know that I had died and won't be seeing them again.

One observation I will make concerning the question of 'heaven' is based on my understanding that evangelism begins with persons and not questions. Not everyone goes through every day thinking about death and/or heaven. I certainly don't, nor I imagine, do you. However, there are other issues that confront us daily such as our anxiety over the rising costs of basic goods, worry over whether our job is secure, concern about funding our children's education, disturbing thoughts about our health etc. All of these are legitimate and important in themselves and the eager evangelist must understand and be prepared to address these. The gospel of Jesus Christ meets every human need, so we must apply the 'question' to the need. The woman sitting on the park bench reading her recently acquired job termination letter with tears in her eyes, may not be a suitable candidate for a discussion on heaven, but may very well be disposed to hearing of the hope that Christ brings, from that caring other.

I do not know that it is that people are thinking less about their eternal fate as they are thinking differently about their eternal fate. In our post-Christian (American) society, more "options" such as reincarnation, becoming one with the One, or going out of existence are embraced. So in asking the question, it is helpful to be aware of these false alternatives, and be able to express why you think these options are not valid or equal to what Jesus offers us and gave His life to make possible.

I have to agree with Ken Silva, simply because people are thinking less about their eternal fate on their own doesn't mean that being asked about it still won't lead them to realize their need for Christ. In fact, the question needs to be asked now more than ever if people on their own no longer are seeking to find out about their eternal destiny.