President Trump recently commented that he was trying to "get to heaven" and that his efforts to end the war in Ukraine would be one of the reasons. While many were quick to point out the flawed theology of his statement, it highlights a deeply concerning and widespread belief, even among many who identify as Christians: the dangerous idea of a works-based salvation.
The shocking reality is that this view is not an outlier. As John Stonestreet of the Colson Center notes in a recent Breakpoint commentary, citing a 2020 American Worldview Inventory, nearly half of all Americans believe that if a person is "generally good" or does enough good things, they can “earn” a place in Heaven. This is a dangerous theological drift, a complete abandonment of the Gospel of grace for a false gospel of human effort. This troubling trend is fully consistent with other beliefs infiltrating the church. According to the annual "State of Theology Study" from Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research, a majority of evangelicals deny the doctrine of original sin, a belief that completely undermines the need for a savior. A staggering number also believe that God accepts the worship of all religions, a direct contradiction of Jesus's own exclusive claim in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We must remember that the hope of heaven is not based on what we do, but on what Christ has already done. The Bible is clear on this. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
A Story of Humble Admission
The Hapsburgs, a family that ruled over a large portion of Europe for centuries, had a powerful funeral tradition that beautifully illustrates this very truth. While often cited as an ancient rite, the famous three-knock ceremony, where a master of ceremonies is denied entry to the crypt for the deceased's royal titles and accomplishments, is a more recent addition. It was first publicly performed in its modern form for the funeral of Empress Zita in 1989 and then again for her son, Otto von Habsburg, in 2011.
At the funeral procession, the master of ceremonies would knock three times on the doors of the Capuchin Church, where the Imperial Crypt is located. From within, a Capuchin friar would ask, "Who desires entry?" The master of ceremonies would first read a long list of the deceased's imperial titles and dignities. The friar would reply, "We do not know him." The master would knock again, this time listing the deceased's great political and academic achievements. "We do not know him!" the voice from within would repeat. Finally, after a third knock, the master of ceremonies would state the truth: "A mortal, sinful man." Only then would the doors swing open, allowing the body of the once-great ruler to be laid to rest.
Sources:
Stonestreet, John. "President Trump and the Hope of Heaven." Breakpoint, Breakpoint.org.
Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research. "The State of Theology Study."
Various historical accounts of the Habsburg funeral rituals, specifically those of Empress Zita (1989) and Otto von Habsburg (2011).
Various Bible verses from the books of John, Ephesians, and Romans.
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