When I was a Christian I was worried that I was living my entire life for something that wouldn’t happen until after I died. Pastors encouraged me, using the Bible, to sacrifice my wants and desires for a happily-ever-after. When I realized that it was all a lie, I left — but I still get upset about it. It’s not just because I was tricked into living so much of my life for a lie; it’s also that I’ve seen people close to me sacrifice their lives for that lie. I’ve had some people look at me and say, “But if you don’t believe in God, you just live for yourself” — and when they do I feel deeply sorry for them, because they seem to be telling me that the promise of a lie is stealing away their chance to live for themselves.

So when a pastor says, as Rick Warren did recently:

To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached.

I think of the millions of people who are just letting life on this earth pass them like a waiting period, a temporary stay, and trying hard not to get too attached to life on earth — which steals away so much of the beauty of their surroundings, including the beauty in understanding other people.

Unfortunately, this idea is in the Bible, so it’s common among pastors. One of the most common versions of this argument, a video I see often from the Christians on my Facebook feed, is from Francis Chan. It’s so common and so damning a view of the Christian mindset that it seems fruitful to transcribe it at length:

Now imagine that this rope [picks up end of a long rope] is a timeline of your existence. It just exists forever. You see this red part [points to small section on the end painted red]? This would represent your time on earth. You’ve got a few short years here on earth, and then you’ve got eternity somewhere else. This is your existence. And what blows me away is that some of you — all you think about is this part [points to red section]. That’s all you think about; you’re consumed with this. You go, “Aw man, I can’t wait till here; I’m going to work hard, and I’m going to save, save, save so that I can get to this part right here [points to part of red section].” And you’re consumed with that; you think, “Aw man, am I going to travel, am I going to eat well during this part…” and I’m like, “Are you kidding me? What about this? It’s crazy to me, because the Bible says what I do during this little red part determines how I’m going to spend my eternity for millions and millions of years — forever. And so why am I going to spend this little red part trying to make myself as comortable as possible, and enjoying myself as much as I can?” [The Apostle] Paul says, “Look I’m going to live my life for this mission. I’m going to spend my life and invest my life for that moment when I cross that finish line.” See, I’m going to forget about all this stuff I enjoy, just looking at that moment when I face God, because when I face him, I don’t get this life over again. We got one chance for this life on earth, and it can end at any second for any of us. We’ve got one chance at this, and then comes eternity. And I’m not going to be fooled; I’m not going to spend my life down here. See, people look at some of my decisions and go, “Oh, you’re so stupid, because that’s really going to affect this [points to small red party].” I’m like, “No, you’re stupid because that’s going to affect all of this! [holds up the rope and gestures to the end of it]” Man, I’m serious — I look at the way people live and I’m like, “Man, that is so crazy. You are so crazy. You’re going to do that right now, just to do that right now — not even knowing if you have tomorrow, and you think that’s smart and that I’m dumb? That doesn’t make any sense. Paul says, “I’m not going to look around at all this stuff. And it’s tempting, it’s tempting to all of us. That’s what I’m saying. Down here it’s crazy, because everyone lives that way. Everyone lives for the red part; no one’s thinking about the millions of years afterwards. It’s this crazy deception that we can’t get out of our minds. And Paul says, “I’m not doing that. I’m going to keep my eyes on that finish line, and I’m going to forget what’s behind me, and I’m not looking around as I’m straining [for the finish line].”

This clip makes me uncomfortable — it couldn’t be any clearer in saying that the Christians should give up their present life for an afterlife, which will never come. I really find it truly saddening that so many pastors, like Warren and Chan, encourage their congregations to give up the entirety of their lives for a tomorrow that will never come.

But while I’m sorry some I care about are trapped by this lie and chasing the phantoms, it is a relief that I can fully embrace this life, enjoying it as it comes, as opposed to straining for a happily-ever-after eternity that will never happen. It also is beautiful to look around and be distracted by life and by opportunities to see and understand people without having to filter them through God’s often strange morality.

I, personally, have found this video (illustrated by the makers of South Park) to be a better view, given the reality I find myself in and the beautiful life this world has to offer:

There was a hoax. A dreadful hoax. They made you miss everything. We thought of life by analogy with a journey, with a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end. And the thing was to get to that end. Success, or whatever it is, or maybe heaven after you’re dead. But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing, and you were supposed to sing, or to dance, while the music was being played.

I’m not saying that you have to look at it that way, exactly — but I have found great beauty in it, a reason to get up in the morning. When I left Christianity, much of the world looked brighter simply because I could more fully embrace it.

It just seems like such a cheap con to steal someone’s life away based on the promise of an afterlife no one has seen and that you can’t collect on until you’re dead.

Sad, and sometimes upsetting when you see people sacrifice their lives for a nonexistent ever-after or, worse, sacrifice other people’s lives and rights.

The preachers, like Rick Warren and Francis Chan, who teach this nonsense are doing untold damage by stealing away the lives of millions, forcing them to dedicate everything they are to an afterlife they’ll ever see.

They don’t need to be applauded and respected for stealing people’s lives away. They should be called out for who they are.

My two cents.

Thanks for reading.