Resurrection Archives - NowTHINK!AboutIt

Will Character Development Cease
At The Moment of Death

Conventional theology says Christians will be completely transformed in the resurrection and this transformation will happen in a split second – in the twinkling or blink of an eye. Love Wins suggests something different.

There are, of course, several passages in the Bible that talk about transformation but before I share them, consider the following:

What exactly do we think will transform?

Everything: body, soul and spirit? Or just a few things?

To what extent will transformation take place?

Once transformed, will our bodies require or allow no more training? Will all physical skills development be unnecessary?

Will transformation make us completely different people or just whole?

Do we lose our identities? If so, will we all look the same and think alike?

Or in other words:

Once transformed will we have nothing more to learn, no more development to experience? Will we suddenly have “ALL” knowledge? Will we suddenly have “All” power?

Obviously, we need to define what we mean by “complete” transformation. Does it mean we have arrived – no more learning, growth or development possible – or does it mean all hindrances to future growth and development are removed? Will we continue to grow in the after life or does it come to a halt when we reach heaven?

If you have no answers for skeptics, or worse, you haven’t developed the skill to formulate arguments, this book is for you.

Charles Foster, drawing on experience as a barrister, does more than just “assert” the resurrection of Jesus.

Instead, in his recent book, The Jesus Inquest, he grapples hand to hand or maybe I should say head to head with skeptics, not dismissing their contentions – assuming they are ridiculous – but engaging each one at close range, giving rational arguments to counter their ideas.

And he deals with several ideas that aggravate Christians, enraging some:

Jesus was crucified but survived and lived out His life in India.
Jesus died but was only temporarily laid in Joseph’s tomb, being moved to a municipal graveyard for the condemned soon thereafter, hence He couldn’t be found in the tomb.
Jesus body was consumed by jackals at the municipal body dump and therefore could not be found.
The first Sunday morning visitor, Mary Magdalene, didn’t find Jesus because she and those with her went to the wrong tomb.
Jesus survived the cross and was eventually buried in his family tomb in the Jerusalem area along with His wife Mary Magdalene, heirs and other family members, e.g., His brother James.
The appearances of Jesus were nothing more than hallucinations.

The question, of course, is not do Christians seriously believe these ideas but can they answer them. Many apologists, even those of a high profile, do little in response other than dismissively bluster their way through, producing very little in the way of argument. That is fine for the average Christian but for distant onlookers and serious skeptics more is required. [Read more…] about Book Review: “The Jesus Inquest” by Charles Foster

Will Character Development CeaseAt The Moment of Death

Will Character Development Cease
At The Moment of Death