A reader recently sent in the following question:
I’m currently involved in a discussion and was asked this specific question:”Do you have an absolute certainty that when you die you will go to heaven?” What is your take, if you have the time?
Here is my attempt at a response, but I would love for you to weigh in on this subject in the comment section below…
Whew! What a question. In years past I would say “Yes.” But in recent years, I am not sure what “absolute certainty” even means.
To have absolute certainty about anything, you must also have absolute certainty about a whole series of other ideas that lead up to and support the one idea you are trying to have certainty about.
I suppose, if I were pressed, I would say that faith is like an “on-off” switch. It is not a dimmer switch. So you either believe something or you don’t. But in any single belief, there are often a multitude of other beliefs which lead up to it. Maybe you believe all the links in that chain up to the belief in question, or maybe you don’t. So if all the links in that chain are switched “on” then you can be said to have absolute certainty in that belief. But if all the links are not switched on, then you probably do not have absolute certainty.
But I think that you can still believe a particular idea, even if there are some links in the chain leading up to that idea which you do not believe. Let’s say there are beliefs A, B, C, D, E, and F. You are asked to believe F. Let’s say you A, B, C, but I am not sure about D and E. But IF D and E are true, then you believe F.
So is your belief in F absolute certainty? I don’t think so. But do you believe it? I would say yes, even though it is dependent upon some earlier links in the belief chain which you are not sure about.
This is a terrible way of describing this….
One thing I know… no matter what, we are to maintain an attitude of humility and grace toward others. This humility will get interpreted by some as a lack of faith or as a lack of conviction and certainty.
I am still trying to sort all this out, and so far, have not found a satisfactory answer.
What do you think? Is it possible to have absolute certainty about any area of theology? If so, which doctrines? Weigh in here! Maybe the existence of God, the deity of Jesus, and life after death?
I can’t really answer that without writing an entire book and pasting it into the comment box. But the short answer is yes and no. I don’t think it is possible to be 100% certain about historical particulars in Bible stories. On the other hand, if one has had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, then one could have as much certainty about the historicity of the resurrection as they have about anything else (although perhaps still not ‘absolute’ certainty). But as a historical question it can only be possible, probable, very nearly certain etc.
But this is coming from someone who takes very seriously the possibility that I might be just a brain in a jar.
You think you might be a brain in a jar? Wow. Well, it is possible…. I suppose….
I like the way you handled the question. Questions of historical events are difficult to be “certain” about, but when it comes to historical certainty, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is more “certain” than most other historical events.
I think this is why we call it “faith.”
At some point Soren Kierkegaard makes the point that if we had absolute certainty there would be no risk involved in believing, and everything we do for God would be like a man making a purchase, who gets the goods as soon as he hands over the cash. He says, ‘In giving an apple for a pear, I run no risk if I hold the pear in my hand while making the exchange.’
I love Kierkegaard! Where did he write that? I would like to read it.
It is in the Unscientific Postscript to the Philosophical Fragments.
Right, but one definition of “faith” is based on Heb 11 where “faith is being sure…”
I’m not so sure that “being sure” is a particularly good translation of hypostasis. It usually refers to the real substance or essential nature of something (though what those terms precisely mean is a matter of philosophical discussion); so Hebrews 11:1 is more getting at faith as providing substance to a future we hope for – that their hope for the future, through faith, becomes a present reality to affect their actions. I can see how one can look at this idea and look at the following examples in Hebrews 11 as “Because they were sure they would get this reward, they did this thing” but as the author points out in verse 39 that they didn’t get what they imagined they would, so if we understand faith as “being sure” it would turn out that it is “being sure” of something and being totally wrong – instead it makes more sense to understand Hebrews 11:1 as saying that “faith is a realization (or actualization)” of our hopes, a realization that the author points out is greater than we could expect and be sure in.
I guess the shorthand of my response would be that we shouldn’t be too ‘sure’ of what we have faith in, not because we lack trust but rather because we trust the One who makes the promise so much that we can accept it if what He has in store is better than what we could expect.
Yeah, probably not. Translations and interpretations of this text are all over the place. You make a good explanation of the verse based on the context.
Depends on who you are. I know people who are absolutely certain about all sorts of things, so of course they are absolutely certain about their theology, and absolutely certain that the rest of us are wrong (and therefore probably headed for hell).
I am as certain as I can be that Jesus lives, that I follow him and that this life is not all there is. We can’t imagine what lies on the other side until we’ve been there. But also remember that Jesus came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God here.
Right. I think sometimes we have trouble with certainty because we are focusing on things that might (or might not) happen after death. But if we focus on the Kingdom of God here and now, the question of certainty becomes much less important.
I think it’s possible for us to personally be convinced of something. To have absolute certainty–only God has this (if He exists:P)
I think so too. There are some things I am convinced of…
Only if you’re dead.
Ha! yeah, probably so.
I have absolute certainty that Christ died for me, that he is with me every second of the day, that His grace covers my sin, and that thus I know I will be with Him some day. Aside from that, many doctrinal, historical, and scientific issues are not so absolute. It is an interesting exercize to look back at your belief system as you evolve as a person, and as a Christian. What ideas were planted in your head before, or shortly after you came to faith that you have since changed radically in belief? Rock music, alcohol, denominational belief,…the function of the western model of church itself. I am constantly evolving on many issues as I seek the truth.
I think evolving theologically is a good test for orthodoxy. If someone is 100% certain on every area of theology, I think that is a dangerous place to be, and reveals some pretty scary theology at their core. Glad there are some things you are certain of! I agree with you on the essentials.
I’m not sure we’re called to be absolutely certain. If you are drowning and I throw you a lifebuoy you will grab it. You are not certain that you’ll be able to reach it, that you won’t lose your grip, that a mega wave won’t sweep you away, that the line will not break, or that I will take the trouble to pull on the line. But you make a grab for it anyway.
Perhaps faith is a matter of acting without certainty. Did Abraham’s doubts nag at him a little as he made his way up the mountain with Isaac? You bet they did! Did they grow greater as the terrible moment came closer. Oh yes. Did he waver? Not for a moment. And his faith was counted as righteousness.
Nobody said this would be easy!
Yeah, I am not sure where the line is drawn between “pretty sure” “absolutely certain” and “I have no clue, but this is the only lifebuoy around!”
Regardless, I think that the longer we follow Jesus, the more certain we become on some things (and the less certain on others). But you are right! It is not easy!