Should we want to live forever?

The Pagan Dream

The “Good News” of Christ has always been the offer of eternal life.

Specifically, this eternal life is promised as part of a kingdom that will be ruled by God and ourselves.

Christianity was never intended to shape government policy, cure psychological baggage, or overthrow the Roman Empire, but rather to create a path to miraculous health, vigor, protection, and power over mysterious forces like spirits, sickness, and even death. And if you think about it, these are rather ancient and primitive desires.

One might say they aren’t even “Christian”.

Imagine a hairy warlord sitting in a palanquin, carried by slaves, looking down upon a great city he intends to raid and conquer. Nearby, his military advisors survey the layout of the streets and estimate the forces needed to subdue the population. Somewhere within the city is rumored to be a relic that will grant him immortality, command of spirits, and membership into a divine contract that will some day grant him control over the world. He covets the relic above all else. He will do whatever it takes to achieve this most selfish fantasy, because weakness and subjection to unseen forces is terrifying.

We might think of his motives as being a disgusting, backwards, and anti-Christian. How dare he want to live forever! How dare he want to command spirits! We’re supposed to be meek, selfless, and only wish to be clean from our own sins, right? Christianity is all about alleviating guilt and shame, because God is so angry with us that we simply want to avoid Hell if possible! Wrong. The Gospel’s aim is not so different from this warlord’s ambitions. The real difference is in the methods.