Scott Kamps
* Part 2 of a 3-part series
There’s a consolation that comes from philosophy, but there’s deeper comfort in God entering our fallen world and participating in our brokenness – not for empathy’s sake, but to defeat the one who holds the power of death over us.
Philosophy – or "natural theology" – reveals some consoling truths. God exists, He created everything, and He brings order that gives purpose/meaning to life – especially in pain/sorrow.
Philosophy can only disclose so much though and it’s only truly comforting when it leads us into truth (i.e., that which corresponds to reality as perceived by God). But, “O, blessed thought:” we’ve been given “words with heavenly comfort fraught!”
When comparing reality perceived by God and revealed in His word, with man’s perspective on reality, the contrast is stark – especially in life’s critical issues.
Consider death itself. Secular man only knows the world as it is now, never pondering what the world was like initially. Therefore, moderns think of death as natural – indeed necessary, according to Darwinian evolutionary theory. Hence, death should be easily accepted as the culmination of life. A Buddhist wrote, “Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well."
The Bible declares God created this world in perfect shalom (peace), with no death in the Garden.
Christian philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff wrote, “Shalom is the fullness of life in all dimensions. Shalom is dwelling and justice and delight with God, with neighbor, with oneself, in nature. Death is shalom’s mortal enemy. Death is demonic. We cannot live at peace with death.”
Death came into our world as a result of man’s sin. Hence, death is an unnatural invader; indeed, it’s the last enemy to be fully destroyed one day.
The secularist viewpoint may be convincing when life’s good; even amid some adversity. But all too common scenes of deepest gloom highlight the shortcomings – even absurdity – of seeing death as natural and making peace with it.
Recently, a father looked into his 18-year-old daughter’s eyes as she glazed over in death; the vibrancy of life in her vanished, as medical professionals vainly tried to resuscitate her. As she succumbed to death, there was no question death is an enemy. God’s perception of reality undoubtedly aligns with human experience much more consistently than nonsensical notions to make peace with her death.
That’s preposterous; death must be overcome; only God can do that.
This conquest is celebrated on Good Friday. Christianity understands death is our unnatural enemy; it’s the wages of sin. Christ entered our world to obey perfectly and lay down His life to satisfy the punishment our sin deserves. This isn’t some “theory of atonement” theological liberals babble about; Jesus’ own explanation was, “The Son of Man came…to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Christ received our death penalty for sin and – through His death – conquered death, removing its sting.
One day, He’ll abolish death altogether; that’s why His unjust execution can be celebrated as good.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.