The simple answer to the heaven-and-hell question is “Yes.” Either we are directing our lives toward what the Westminster Catechism calls our “chief end,” namely, “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever,” or we have turned away from a pattern of obedience to our Creator. In the former case, we are on our way to heaven; in the latter we face an eternal separation from the divine presence. To disagree with any of this is to dispute what the Bible clearly teaches and what the mainstream of the Christian tradition has always affirmed.

I not only fully endorse this perspective, I believe it is important to talk about it and preach it. This is a time when many believers want to emphasize the “this-worldly” aspects of the life of faith. And that does need to be emphasized. But so does the fact that each of us has an eternal destiny, and what we are committed to here and now has immensely serious implications for what we can expect beyond death.

I have to add, though, that while I am definitely not an “all will be saved in the end” universalist, I do place a strong emphasis on divine generosity and mystery. I believe that trusting in Jesus is the only way to heaven, but I also believe that Jesus has his own way of getting through to people. The heaven that I look forward to will be a place of many wonderful surprises!

I am less surprised by the Pope's declaration than I am by the shocked responses of many Protestant leaders. The Pope has not said anything that was not there all along. What is good about his recent statement is that it keeps with the changes formulated by Vatican II. While we Protestants are not examples of Christ's "fullest" desires for his church, at least the Catholics let us into the ballpark these days, if only as somewhat defective participants.

Ecumenical relations will not flourish apart from an honest statement of what each church body believes. Pope Benedict has now reminded us that there is no easy path to unity. The most helpful response that we non-Catholics can offer is to make it clear where we in turn disagree with his declaration. So let me state my basic contention. While I love my Catholic friends and have learned much from them, I firmly believe that Catholicism holds to specific teachings--about churchly authority, about Mary, about the sacraments--that are seriously mistaken. From my Protestant evangelical perspective, the Pope has his work cut out for him if he is to bring his church up to speed as a full--to say nothing of "the fullest"--expression of what Christ desires for his church. But my saying that would not surprise Pope Benedict. This means that we are still at the point where we have been for a long time: much in common, but also much to argue about.