A question for Christian theologians

If I understand Christianity correctly, having genuinely accepted redemption, then matters of this earthly life become irrelevant. It would seem reasonable that with such understanding, one would welcome death as a release to heavenly communion with God.

Why then, do Christians see life as being precious above all else? Christians are vociferously against abortion, euthanasia. Why? It seems that death would be a time of celebration, and that the death of an innocent or those who are ready to make the transition to an afterlife would be welcomed.

I have attended the funerals of a number of the faithful, and it is always brought to the attention of those attending that the deceased is going to “a better place”. If this is a christian belief, then why would one become preoccupied with life or death? If the entry to that “better place” requires a departure from the earthly body, then why cling to life?

The most direct answer I can give you is that this

is a modern, western, evangelical invention, and I’m not sure how it could be defended, for the reasons you describe. My understanding is that Christianity as it has usually been practiced throughout history teaches that the Christian life is the process of salvation, and that process can always fail based on our actions. One of the necessary things to ‘being saved’ is to be dead so you can’t screw it up, in other words.

If the question were directed to Christian yokels I might take a shot at it.

Ucc,

Well that is the curious part, isn’t it? Obviously, I’m being tongue in cheek, but it does seem to me that there is a wide gap between ‘cementing’ a heavenly afterlife, and then at the same time, defend any potential opportunity to maintain life. “Life is sacred.” Really? There is a disconnect here some place. It would be far more understandable and commonsensical if Christianity were a “death cult” religion. In fact, isn’t that exactly what the “rapture” people are?

You’d have to ask the rapture people. As I said, more traditional Christianity, the kind I study currently, doesn’t take the approach you are criticizing. I don’t believe in a ‘cementing’ of a heavenly afterlife, not while the person is living. Salvation is something that occurs over the span of a person’s life, and treating life as sacred is a part of the process.
But anyways, that sort of Christianity is kind of out of bounds for your question, I realize. Perhaps an evangelical will come in and give you there perspective on the situation.

Ucc,

Whatever happened to being “saved by grace”? Your statement suggests salvation by works. There is another thread running discussing death bed conversions. My understanding is that one cannot aquire grace, but is granted salvation. One simply has to genuinely accept the “gift”. Whether one lives a hundred years or three minutes becomes irrelevent, does it not?

Salvation is something I still don’t understand, not only that their are different views on how to achieve it, and other views on how to keep it. It has to be simple as pressing a button, turning on a switch, or starting up a car. Catholics believe you ‘can’ lose it, protestants for the most part don’t believe you can.

And in all this i’m still disgusted that honor, integrity, and service to something believable, is worthless.

Christianity feels like a contradiction, and leaves you with a bitterness, that’s at least to anyone who takes christianity seriously and can critically think. Most christians are emotionalists, who don’t walk the path of christ but proclaim and uphold it. They’re gonna go to heaven, good choice God. Send all those monks and wonderful people who didnt believe you’re confusing bible to hell.

Good questions.

They(christians) see this life as a chance to be redeemed so they take this life as being irrelevant as far as relationships go as long as relationship with god is healthy, however death itself is something that is bad because it ends the period of knowing god in this life. There are of course rules against suicide but you’re right i think any Christian would jump at the chance to die for their God and become some type of martyr so they end up in heaven quicker.

I think the resurrection of themselves (in a way) is welcomed but only after the grieving period passes.

It’d be amusing to see Christian born babies cried over because the beginning of life means they left heaven and now have to be “tested” for redemption

tentative

That is the retort the evangelical would give to what I’ve described, yes. What I would say is that we still don’t have the power to save ourselves- eternal life with God is still a product of God’s grace.
Consider the covenant with the Israelites. When they did as God willed, they were successful, and lived out the promise God made to them. When they strayed from God’s plan, they experienced failure and hardship. But despite their free choices being involved in that, it’s still through God’s grace that they are His chosen people. It’s like that.