think about that in What is wrong with this answer? “You won’t heaven.” may make an exception for your loved How would you respond? “God one.” Rational Answers Which Always Help a Very Emotional Issue Don’t owe anyone salvation; it is by grace based upon this “God doesn’t condition.” Assess answer. is to be gained by “What destroying yourself?” Assess. nothing you can do about their eternal welfare Assess. “There’s now.” the way you do, then no one would go to heaven. Everyone has loved “If everyone felt ones who have not obeyed the Assess. gospel.” Other Suggested Approaches These may not be any more effective than other suggestions, for this issue is a highly emotional one and emotions cloud the reason. would ___________ have wanted you to The living may they are “What do?” say, “If not in heaven, then I want to be there but what do the dead say (Lk don’t either,” What advantage does this answer have? of us can make choices for other How does the element of free will “None people.” come into play? is beyond our ability to render judgment in specific How do we balance the “It cases.” clear teaching of Scripture against human inability to render perfect judgments? judgments are always Where is the focus in this answer? Where is it not? “God’s right.” must want to please God more than anyone or anything How does Paul “We else.” handle the alienation of his Jewish brethren from God (Rom 9:1-3; 10:1-3)? If we really loved the person who has died in an uncertain state, what should we do relative to the still-living loved ones of the deceased?
“You won’t think about that in heaven.” What is wrong with this answer? “God may make an exception for your loved one.” How would you respond? Rational Answers Which Don’t Always Help a Very Emotional Issue “God doesn’t owe anyone salvation; it is by grace based upon condition.” Assess this answer. “What is to be gained by destroying yourself?” Assess. “There’s nothing you can do about their eternal welfare now.” Assess. “If everyone felt the way you do, then no one would go to heaven. Everyone has loved ones who have not obeyed the gospel.” Assess. Other Suggested Approaches These may not be any more effective than other suggestions, for this issue is a highly emotional one and emotions cloud the reason. “What would ___________ have wanted you to do?” The living may say, “If they are not in heaven, then I don’t want to be there either,” but what do the dead say (Lk What advantage does this answer have? “None of us can make choices for other people.” How does the element of free will come into play? “It is beyond our ability to render judgment in specific cases.” How do we balance the clear teaching of Scripture against human inability to render perfect judgments? “God’s judgments are always right.” Where is the focus in this answer? Where is it not? “We must want to please God more than anyone or anything else.” How does Paul handle the alienation of his Jewish brethren from God (Rom 9:1-3; 10:1-3)? If we really loved the person who has died in an uncertain state, what should we do relative to the still-living loved ones of the deceased?