Rachel Held Evans | “All right, then, I’ll go to hellâ€.
Well, once again leave it to Rachel Held Evans to offer some moving insights into the ongoing cultural and theological within the church regarding homosexuality. Denominnations, mainline and otherwise are continue to take the reality of homosexuality and turn it into a generational turf war, with the elder side engaging either in beatings with the Bible or rendering it irrelevant under social justice, and the younger side walking away, not seeing a loving community or a connection with Jesus. Leave it to Mark Twain to offer better theological insights than what passes for it today.
Twain and George Takai, theologians for the 21st Century Sad part continues to be, as Rachel also observed, the older side might celebrate victory for being “right” in the coming years, but the North American Church as we know it will die with them because most everyone born since 1964, and especially since 1990, will have left.
It occurs to me that… that’s exactly what Jesus says! After praying to God for another way, he seems to come out of prayer and into the garden to be betrayed with this very thing on his lips. “All right, Father. I guess I’ll go to hell!”
“I’ll go to hell…” for the adultress I released from her punishment.
“I’ll go to hell…” for forgiving the paralytic man when only God can forgive sins.
“I’ll go to hell…” for breaking the Sabbath laws.
“I’ll go to hell…” for all of them!
Maybe that’s why I’ve always treasured saying that Jesus descended into HELL in our creeds. For if Jesus went there for me…then I can go there for others! Literally or figuratively. There ain’t no where that Jesus hasn’t been and redeemed and set free. Even hell itself!