In my previous blog I suggested that the death of Osama Bin Laden posed some significant theological problems from two differing points of view claimed in popular culture.  The one is of Pastor Rob Bell who claimed in his latest book Love Wins, that there is a hell, but God may be so gracious as to save people out of hell after they are placed there.  Stephen Hawking takes an opposite approach for he claimed last month that there is no heaven, that humanity is no more than a computer that fails, saying, “There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”  The basic point I was making is that Bell and Hawking’s views on the afterlife are incompatible with C.S. Lewis’ understanding of moral law, the Law of Human Nature.  I also argued that those two views were not only incompatible with Lewis, but the Bible as well.  Here I would like to propose how this negative stance, does have a positive outcome.

The public outcry of Bin Laden being a person who is in hell, demonstrates humanities intrinsic understanding of the Law of Human Nature, for there was a sense of justice being done to a person who had done so much injustice.  One of the ways Lewis kept himself at a distance from God early on his life was because of his observing the world being a place of cruelty and injustice.  However, he came to realize there must be a Law of Human Nature, for “how had I got this idea of just and unjust?” (Lewis, Mere Christianity, 41)

I would argue that the desire for justice is intrinsic, or in the words of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, this is a truth that is “self evident”, and implanted within us from our Creator.  Both Bell and Hawking’s views conflict with the justice of God.  Bell’s view is not just because it allows those who are in hell a way out after they have been condemned, and secondly for God to do such a thing would go against his own word, which would be equally unjust.  Hawking’s view leaves no room for God’s justice because if all we are is material and no other reality, than evil is not judged, and there is no justice in the sense of hope for those who do good.  In other words it would not be just of God to not reward the righteous. 

But what is righteousness in the eyes of God?  How are you considered righteous?  For no one is good all the time.  Indeed we know this from personal experience, from what we have done to others and what they have done to us.  The Bible also tells us this is so. Romans 3:10 says, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” and in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” However, the verse prior, Romans 3:22 provides the basis of our righteousness: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”  This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ which reveals both the justice and love of God.     

In Mere Christianity, Lewis claims that Christianity really does not have much to say for people who do not recognize having a need to repent from anything they have done or needing any forgiveness.  He writes, “It is after you have realized that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power-it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk.” (Lewis, Mere Christianity, 37)