Sunshine Cathedral Blog

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show of The Sunshine Cathedral where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin,  and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community

The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is bestowed on Michael A. Diaz in recognition of his service to Sunshine Cathedral. Rev. Diaz has left the Cathedral to join the staff of Resurrection MCC, Houston, TX.

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show of The Sunshine Cathedral where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin, Michael Diaz, and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community.

In this episode of Sharing the Light, Sunshine Cathedral’s Durrell Watkins speaks with Robert Griffin. We invite you to join us for an enlightening conversation on Sharing the Light.

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show of The Sunshine Cathedral where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin, Michael Diaz, and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community.

In this episode of Sharing the Light, Sunshine Cathedral’s Durrell Watkins speaks with Robert Griffin and Mona West. We invite you to join us for an enlightening conversation on Sharing the Light.

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show of The Sunshine Cathedral where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin, Michael Diaz, and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community.

In this episode of Sharing the Light, Sunshine Cathedral’s Durrell Watkins speaks with Robert Griffin and Mona West. We invite you to join us for an enlightening conversation on Sharing the Light.

Sharing the Light is an Internet talk show where Reverends Durrell Watkins, Robert Griffin, Michael Diaz, and others discuss theological questions of interest to our community.

In this episode of Sharing the Light, Sunshine Cathedral’s Robert Griffin speaks with Durrell Watkins and Michael Diaz. We invite you to join us for an enlightening conversation on Sharing the Light.

Question: Someone said recently that one must believe in Jesus’ resurrection to go to heaven. I have a Jewish friend who then asked where do all the non-Christians go? Isn’t it true that all good people who believe in God go to heaven?

Answer: In Mark 10, Jesus is quoted as telling someone that to inherit eternal life he would have to sell all his possessions and give the money to the needy. In Luke 23, a rebel simply says to Jesus, “Remember me” and Jesus’ response is “today you will be with me in Paradise.” In the book of Acts we read that we all “live and move and have our being in God” (if we already live in God, where is there to go? What could be better than dwelling in God?). And the writer of 1 John says that “God is Love and WHOEVER lives in love lives in God and God lives in them.” The prophet Joel believed that whoever called on God would be “saved.” So, what the bible says about afterlife security is, well, several different things.

Now, for me, religion isn’t “fire insurance.” We seek to be righteous for the sake of being righteous, not to get into an afterlife country club and not to avoid an afterlife prison. We want to live lives of joy, hope, love, generosity, and goodwill because to do so makes this life more worth living and brings more peace and fulfillment to our hearts here and now. I have no trouble believing that such peace and fulfillment can be everlasting beyond this experience of life, but religion should be more than the currency we use to purchase a pleasant afterlife.

My assumption is that God is good enough to embrace all people everywhere and that ultimately, no one is beyond the reach of divine grace and love.