Judgment

Have you ever heard someone say it's worth being a Christian simply because there's a remote chance that hell exists? I've heard that a number of times, and the last time was about a week ago. While I have a lot of respect for the person who I heard say this a week ago, it doesn't sit right with me.

The problem: this plays into the hands of fearmongers. We end up following whichever religion claims the worst punishment for its non-followers (as long as the religion seems somewhat plausible). Then religion becomes a tool for controlling people, rather than something that tries to make the world a better place and connect people with God. Would you be willing to make the world a worse place if there's a slight chance it would help you avoid hell?

I'm not denying that there is judgment after death (whether or not it fits the traditional definition of hell) or that there's one right religion. Actually, in a way I think it's good that Christianity is split into so many denominations that--for the most part--respect the fact that other denominations are legitimate Christian churches. This makes it harder for Christian leaders to control people.

Besides, judgment has its good side. Jack White shows that he realizes this in the song "You Don't Know What Love Is". He criticizes someone who refuses to judge, saying, "but in his mind there can be no sin if you never criticize." The Bible shows one reason that judgment can be good in Psalm 76:9 (NLT), which says, "You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth."

(I just found out the music video for "You Don't Know What Love Is" was filmed in Iqaluit, Nunavut. It looks warmer than Edmonton was a week or three ago.)