It wasn't that Francis said anything that was really wrong, ask me later about his illustration of the crucifixion, but some statements seemed to oppose statements that I had heard from Mike Devries, a hume speaker from two years ago, statements made by Rob Bell, and statements made by Shane Claiborne in person and in The Irresistible Revolution.
"As Christians we sometimes forget about eternity."
"Sometimes we don't think about anything beyond this life, and the Bible says that this lifecould be over in a second... ...and then comes eternity."
(Francis Chan)
"I need a God whose now. I need a God who teaches me how to live now."
(Rob Bell)
"Christianity often has offered little to the world, other than the hope that things will be better in heaven."
"... most Christian artists and preachers have remained strangely distant from human suffering, offering the world eternal assurance over prophetic imagination."
(Shane Claiborne)
I am aware that the two comments don't really contradict each other, and that each speaker has a different reason for emphasizing either eternity, or the here-and-now. Francis Chan is addressing those who live their lives as if there is no eternal consequence for their actions. Rob and Shane are instead responding to those, (Christians), who live as if they don't need to worry about how they live their lives because of eternity.
Tony Campolo is often quoted, asking people if they would still follow Christ, even if there was no heaven or hell.
I wonder what motivates you to live your life the way you do?
Does a future paradise encourage you to live more Christlike day to day, or more apathetic?
