The last definition we considered is the meaning of life. Now, let’s define death. Death is the opposite of life, in both world views. As you may recall, Red Pyramid world assumes that the only reality is physical and accidental. Therefore, death is assumed to mean the cessation of physiological function, then decay and one’s return to dust. You die, you’re dead, it’s over. Dying, then, also has to do with the absence of or frustration in getting happiness for oneself. A Red Pyramid person would rather be dead than unhappy, which is why abortion, euthanasia, and mercy killing makes sense in this world. Delaying gratification is like being dead while you wait . . . and what if waiting isn’t worth it? Consider the sensation of a drowning person sinking: unable to climb up out of the water or worse, in spite of all the climbing and things/people climbed upon, sinking still.
In Green V world “death” means “negative relationship.” Therefore, there are only two deaths. One is the death that Adam introduced and passed on to all human beings—the negative relationships that come from pretending to be god—contrary to God, one another, and all truth. The only other death is the one that Jesus died in place of everyone and from which He delivers us. In John 11 Jesus said, “Whoever lives (that is to say, is honest about dependence on Me), will never suffer negative relationships” for at least two reasons. First, God makes all things work together for good to those who love Him. Second, only a soul regenerated in the image of Christ loves God and this soul thrives in loving others. Love turns every potentially negative relationship to positive because God has given us a soul that can never die and a human nature in time to spend freely in pursuing what is positive, what is best for others. Consider what it means to never actually know death (absolute permanent negative relationships) because Jesus has known it in our place.
Note: People who claim Christianity betray the fact that they assume Red Pyramid world in the way they speak about death and dying. For example, when “Christians” claim a right to grieve because a loved one has died, they indicate disappointment with God’s failure rather than gratitude for God having delivered loved ones and survivors from death.