Discussion Questions
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Commenting on death, Dallas Willard said, “Death is avoided in common discussions by human beings because it is the ultimate failure. At death you face the fact you are not God, you do not run the universe. Death is the ultimate vulnerability.” In what ways have you seen people express their sense of vulnerability when considering their own death or the death of someone they care about? Do you agree with the statement: “At death you face the fact you are not God”? Explain your answer.
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When death strikes suddenly I hope that that person was righteous to the LORD. I often wonder what that person’s last thoughts were??? For a person knowing that they are approaching death, I would imagine as a unbeliever fear would be terrifying facing the end of one’s physical life not knowing what’s next? Understanding that part of life is running its own course and the individual has no control over it and is merely human, not GOD. A believer will be at more peace, Understanding faithfully believing they will have a new body and spend eternity in love and peace with our LORD…Knowing that they are the LORD JESUS CHRIST survent not GOD…
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When a person dies, depending on how you conducted your life; where you stood with God Almighty; how you lead a life as a Believer is supposed to, will always be evident at funerals of such people. Assured and in a sense joyful that this earthly life has come to pass. God is our Eternal Father and He decides when it is time to pass on.
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As I am sitting next to my father in palliative care for end stage cancer I do not see death as the ultimate failure. The difficulty we are all experiencing is imaging how life moves on without him. We agree his quality of life will be better with no more pain and in the presence of the Lord, but selfish we want more time here together. The doctors speak so matter of factly, as is there professional, but for unit is personal and hard to talk about, almost as if we don’t talk about it we can avoid it as mentioned in the text.
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There is a vulnerability with the things we cannot control. With that vulnerability there is the reality that you are not God ; and this is out of your hands,
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rich or poor ,famous or not ,we all end up at the same level when dead, small souls before God.
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Doug Groothuis stated, “Our culture is very interested in life after death. You think of the interest in near-death experiences, in attempting to communicate with spirit guides or higher beings, or I think some of the interest in extraterrestrial life is really rooted in a desire to transcend the limitations of this life.” Do you agree with Doug Groothuis’ statement? Why or why not? Can you think of other theories that speak to the human need to survive death? What are they? Why are those views held?
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Yes, I do agree with Doug Groothuis’ statement. We as mortal beings seek evidence that is tangible and present. The limitations of this life leave us with many unanswered questions. Death feels permanent to those of us who are left behind. It may come from a need to know that a loved one is safe and secure and still somehow present. It can come from our own insecurities of wanting to ensure that we will be with that person again. That death is not final… not permanent. It is in desperation that we seek answers that we can see and touch. We are a society that seeks understanding and knowledge. We want assurance and for some reason refuse to acknowledge that the truth found in the word is enough.
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If we haven’t experienced death, and that goes for all of us that are reading this, then we want to know what it’s like. What’s it like when you take your last breath? Do you immediately see Jesus? Can you touch him? Do you get to see your loved ones that have gone before you? What do they look like? Will your recognize them? These are all questions that I have thought. So if there was just some way that I could reach out and find these answers then maybe death wouldn’t seem so scary. I can’t and I won’t try. We long for answers to the unknown. That’s just human nature, I guess.
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Yes, I agree. He said that death was the ultimate failure, and I think people are generally trying to avoid that.
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I agree in part, that our interest in extraterrestrial life includes wondering if there is a higher form of us and if they have uncovered a way to extend our lifespan or even become eternal? I do believe in some sort of spiritual life beyond our human experience. I have felt the presence of loved ones on more than one occasion and know others that have too. I am not a hocus pocus person, but I do embrace that there are things beyond my understanding. As human beings, I think we all look to connect, to find a purpose and to continue to exist in some sort of form beyond our death.
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Examples of our decaying culture are everywhere, evidenced in the news, on the web, even interactions with our own families and friends. Everyone wants an exit strategy. People may want to exit to find a place where the wrongs are made right, where illness does not take lives, where you’re safe to walk down the street or go to school. Others may want the accolades of being the first to discover an alternate universe where mankind will flourish. There is great fear of what lies beyond death. So grateful for Jesus! I’ve heard it said “this earth is the closest Christians will ever get to hell and the closest non-Christians will ever get to heaven.