Chaplain's Corner

It was back in July when the phone message showed up on my voice mail.  “Larry, this is Rose, give me a call I have an idea for one of your articles.”  Well, I’m always open to an idea so I gave Rose a call and she shared that she and some friends had been talking about what happens to a person when they die.  They were wondering if our spirits remain conscious, or do our spirits “sleep” until the judgment?  Or is something else going on?  Good question, but it is not so easily answered.  Knowing Rose I understood that she was asking in regards to the Christian.

First, whenever we seek to answer a question we have to ask another question; that question is “Where do we get the information to answer the question?”  Nowadays most people just go to the internet and Google their question.  I suppose if you want to know how many feet are in a mile that is a fine approach.  But this question is not what you would call a basic scientific matter.  This question addresses the realms of the philosophical and spiritual.  Philosophical and spiritual questions are not as easily answered.  For instance, if I were to ask the question, “What is the meaning of life?” or the question “Is there a God?”  These questions like the one Rose and her friends pose have been given many answers depending on where you go to get the information to answer the question.
 
There are many different schools of philosophical thought and there are many different approaches to spirituality and religion, therefore, depending on where we turn for the answer will determine to a large extent what answer we are given.  So, just to be up front and honest as I seek to answer this question, let me share with you where I go for answers for this kind of question.  I personally believe that the Bible is the only authoritative source of information in answering questions like this one.  Most of my colleagues in chaplaincy would not agree with me.  Many Christians would not even agree with me on this point.  And certainly people who embrace other religions: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and others would not agree with me.  I am comfortable and content with this, I certainly respect the fact that these differences exist and I certainly respect those who look else where for truth.  But Rose and her friends called and asked me if I could shed some light on this question, so the following response is mine, based on my belief that the Bible is the only source of authoritative answers to this kind of question and according to my studied understanding of the Bible.

First, we have a significant amount of information in the Bible about the fact of life after death.  The very oldest of the Old Testament books, Job, gives voice to belief in life after death.  “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).  But this oldest biblical reference to life after death doesn’t reflect on the condition of the spirit in the intermediate state, between our earthly bodies decay and the existence of the kind of body Job refers to, a physical body that again will see God.
 
This belief in the resurrection of the body is carried on throughout the Scriptures and in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 there are clear and detailed teachings about the resurrection of the physical body.  But Rose and her friends are asking a more specific question.  This belief is expressed in every Christian statement of faith or creed.  But Rose and her friends are asking about what becomes of the human spirit, that immaterial, spiritual entity that animates our physical bodies and that leaves the physical body at the moment of death.  Does it just “sleep” in an unconscious state until the resurrection of the body or does it remain conscious awaiting the resurrection of the body?
 
Unfortunately we have no direct, intentional teaching about this in the Bible.  But the Bible does contain hints that give us a pretty good idea.  For instance when Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) the story powerfully implies that the spirit of these two men was conscious and able to relate in that state prior to the resurrection of the body.  In the story, the spirits of these two are able to communicate, they are able to feel, they are able to desire, all of which are aspects of consciousness.

Now some would object saying, this is a story it is not a statement of reality; it is more like a fable with a moral teaching than an account of reality.  But consider the whole of Jesus story telling.  All His stories were based in reality, they were about farmers sowing seeds and shepherds finding lost sheep and farmers seeking laborers and people investing money.  Should we assume that because this story is not set on earth that it is not factual?  I for one am not able to do that.
 
Then, there is the passage in Paul’s letter to the congregation in the Macedonian town of Philippi.  In the first chapter of the letter in verses 20-26, Paul expresses this thought, “I desire to depart (a reference to death) and be with Christ…”  It certainly seems from this passage and this statement that Paul was thinking of a conscious experience: being with Christ.  If I were to say I am going to Edmonton to be with a friend, you would clearly understand that I am going to be where my friend is and talk with my friend and care for my friend and enjoy my friend.  There is little blessing to looking forward to unconsciousness.
 
In another letter written to the congregation in Corinth, a Greek city, Paul wrote specifically about earthly suffering, death and what is beyond.  In this passage we read, “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 5:8)  “Present with the Lord” could be understood in a number of ways.  I could say that my glasses are present with me all day long, since I never take them off except to sleep.  But we generally don’t use the word “present” to speak of inanimate objects.  We generally use the word to speak of conscious, intentional relationship.  When a teacher takes attendance and the student answers, “Present” the assumption is that the student is there and consciously involved in what is happening in the classroom.  This is certainly how Paul is using the word so to paraphrase what Paul says, “To be absent from the consciousness of involvement in this world is to be present and consciously involved with the Lord.”

The salvation of a newspaper column is it has space limitations and mine is just about consumed for this article.  So to answer the question Rose and her friends posed to me, “What is happening for the human spirit of a Christian between death of the physical, earthly body and the resurrection and change to a heavenly physical body?  I believe the statements of the Scriptures teach us that the spirits of people who have trusted in Jesus while on earth are consciously present with the Lord, enjoying that presence until the time when the body is resurrected and the spirit rejoins the body for eternity. Tragically, the biblical indication is that the spirits of those who did not trust in Jesus while on earth will exist consciously in a place of torment until the resurrection of their bodies at which time that experience will be their eternal, physical reality.  According to the Bible, this is why it is so important to choose well in this life, for it impacts our eternal destiny.

Rose, I hope this was helpful for you and your friends and Thanks for the question,  I know it is a common one and that others will be interested in the answer as well.  Blessings!