First of all, I’d like to know what you thought of the service Sunday night and the idea of us talking to The Good Place. Are you a fan of the show? Have you watched but not a fan?

I would also like to know what some of your answers to the questions were – either those Lea asked in the service, or those on the tables after the service.

I think it’s interesting to think about what you’d like to see in your Good Place; how do you picture Heaven to look like? What’s there? Who’s there? What do you do? What are your rewards for believing and doing?

For me, I never really picture much than just a feeling. The feeling is peace and relaxation, but the only images that really come to mind are non-descript but beautiful nature-scape with this overflowing feeling of joy and peace. I can’t ever really remember thinking of Heaven with the romanticised and cliché streets of gold floating on clouds with millions of people and angles and other celestial beings surrounding a golden throne occupied by an old white man with a long beard, and next to him two other golden chairs of royal distinction occupied by Jesus, and on the other side a floating glow ball, or indistinguishable wavy ghost type thing called the Holy Spirit.

I have, however imagined meeting Jesus face to face and hanging out with him, but my general impression of Heaven is a renewed and fully restored creation where the relationship between me and God (that is the whole Triune God) and all of creation is in sync, which brings me great joy and peace – Heaven on Earth (Matt 6:10; Rev 21:1-5).

Someone I was speaking to last night said they picture all these things that they love and that brings them joy on earth, just in endless supply, which sounds good too. Maybe that’s how some of you see it too. And maybe there’s something to that. I mean, God did create us with passions, and it would be a shame, I think, if those passions were only meant for us to enjoy for the short time were alive now.

Then again, maybe we have those passions to help us get through this life now, and in the life to come all our desires and passions will be met and fulfilled simply being in the presence of God? who knows?

       What are you thoughts on this?

None of that really has to do too much with the show other than that idea of Heaven is meant to depict our ideal and perfect life. So I suppose the question, which I think is present throughout the Bible, is what is your idea of the ideal and perfect life? Is it ideal to have your favourite possessions without end, or is it ideal that justice and peace reign?

My final thought for this first blog is around another table top question. I asked why, if we believe that we’re saved by grace alone, do we still attribute value to actions? Why do we still judge others good or bad by what they do?

I think the reason the show’s premise works is because even for us who believe salvation comes through the cross and by no work of our own, we still do inherently operate from an action/reaction value to everything we do in life sort of system.

How is that? Why is that? Is it really a combination of both somehow? If so, then it’s not solely by grace that we’re saved. If grace saves us, but we still have to be good, then has grace actually done anything?

I’ll leave you to ponder, reflect, and discuss these questions, and also this passage to go along side them: Romans 11:6

“ ⁶ But if [salvation] is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”