I almost never listen to music. If it weren’t for shows like The Voice and American Idol (which, if questioned, I’ll blame on my wife), I would be oblivious to anything musical outside of worship service. I’m not writing to put extra pressure on those who serve in the music ministry. I just don’t bother with music.
I do however listen to people talking ALL THE TIME. I currently subscribe to 13 podcasts including sermons, apologetics and mixed martial arts. While I’m I’m driving, I listen to 
sports talk. I could give you a list of ESPN Radio personalities I love. One of those at the top of said list (that you didn’t ask for) is Colin Cowherd. His program is a mixture of sports, pop culture and societal commentary that shoots straight to the heart of the matter.
Imagine my surprise when Colin led off his program recently with the following observation on heaven and hell:
“I gotta start with this, and this is going to seem kind of weird. Because, I’m not really a religious guy. I’m agnostic and stuff. But, I always had kind of this feeling that the difference between heaven and hell was that heaven has like rules and restrictions. Not everybody gets in to heaven. You have to be kind. You have to be caring. You can’t be totally selfish. Like, not everybody gets into heaven. Like, ‘No, I’m sorry. You’re card doesn’t work. No credit here.’
Hell is the opposite. Hell… they have no restrictions. It’s a big con job. It’s a sales job. ‘Come on in! Sex, drugs, rock and roll everyday!’ You don’t have to be nice. You don’t have to treat anybody well. It’s kind of hard sometimes to figure out who in society is going to end up in heaven… and hell. Because, if you end up in heaven – I always thought – sometimes you’re unpopular and you tell people unpopular things like, ‘you can’t do that, and you can’t do that, and you can’t do that.’ And there’s rules and guidelines to being a good person. ‘Whoa!’
But the devil – if he existed – the devil’s like, ‘Hey! Free meth everyday! Wake up and pound the sauce. Girls, do what you want. No rules.’ You gotta be careful. And that’s why I’ve always really believed, that people that go to heaven – of all their qualities – they’re authentic. They do tell you what you want to hear. They tell you what you need to hear. The devil tell’s you what you want to hear.”
His point was to set up a segment he was doing on recruiting. In recruiting, he said some coaches will (like the devil) tell you anything to get you to come to their school or team. While other coaches are marked by their honesty and authenticity. Listening, I was struck by two things. First, the prevailing thought in our society that ‘good people’ go to heaven. And second, that the most endearing quality he saw in ‘good people’ was authenticity.
Good People
Colin expresses the general notion of our society: good people go to heaven. He also presents a problem, though. It’s really hard to tell “who in society is going to heaven… and hell.” Why? Because, in Colin’s worldview, there is only his own subjective standard. We can all look around and find folks that are ‘worse people’ than us. Hitler comes to mind. But, we can also look around see that there seem to be some that are doing it better as well.
Colin chooses authenticity and truthfulness as the mark of the ‘good people’. But why is it better to be truthful? Wouldn’t we personally be better off lying to get what we want? Isn’t it better that we keep the truth from those who might be hurt or offended by our honesty? And what about the standard of ‘goodness’ someone else has? Is it better of worse than his standard? Won’t we all choose a standard that puts us most closely in line with whatever ‘good’ is in our opinion? Is there any objective standard that we should appeal to?
Confronted by a man addressing him as “good teacher,” Jesus responds by saying, “No one is good – except God alone.” Jesus reveals that when it comes to weighing the lives of human beings on the scale of goodness, a Holy God will find us all wanting. No rule keeping, no checklist, just God, or not God. That’s the standard. That is unwavering and, if you are reading this blog, it should lead you to realize you cannot be counted good in the eyes of the only Judge that matters by your own effort.
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
Good News
But the gospel of Jesus is that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) That through trusting that Jesus died the death I deserve, in my place, on the cross (Sacrificial Atonement), Jesus takes all my sin, and grants me His own righteousness before God (Imputed Righteousness). So when God looks at me, He only sees Jesus’ obedient life on my behalf. That is why the gospel is good news. Because of an objective act (Jesus living, dying, and being raised to life outside of me), the objective standard (set by God and not me) has been met. And this is accepted as Grace (unmerited favor) for those who believe. Now that’s Good News!
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22)
Authenticity
While, Cowherd whiffed on heaven and hell, I think he was on to something with his assessment of ‘heaven-bound’ folks. Authenticity should mark the life of believers in Christ. We have so much room for improvement. Think of the safe haven churches would be for worn out people if Christians lived authentically. No need for hiding struggles behind a toothy grin on Sundays. No need for the pat response of ‘good’ as people ask how you are. You’d be able to answer authentically, and expect an authentic ear. Or, maybe, you’d be able to look every single person in the eye and say “I’m blessed,” realizing that in Christ we have already received more than we can ever hope for or imagine.
And, as authentic believers, we must get past the need to be liked and non-offensive. As Cowherd suggests, part of authenticity is telling others what they need to hear and not just what they want to hear. Paul called it speaking “the truth in love.” We should always be willing to speak the truth, and never be willing to offer it absent a true love for the hearer.
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Rants of a Deranged Minister 