Judging Hugh

First, a quote from Barnabas Piper:

There’s something soulless about discussing the eternal damnation of a person whose salvation you never prayed for.

No mention of names, but I assume the person he is referring to is Hugh Hefner and the amount of soul judging that’s gone on since his death a few days ago.

I won’t pretend the Playboy King was an upstanding citizen. He clearly demeaned and objectified women, made it easy for men to demean and objectify women, and made women believe they were good for one thing. Not to mention other more serious sins that I don’t need to expand on. Suffice it to say, his sins were horrific. But then, so are my sins.

It’s just that my sins aren’t near as public.

Though Hefner clearly had some dark and disturbing sin issues, the fact is, he hasn’t been in the public eye for quite some time. And what we know between the last time he was public and the last time he breathed air is … zip. A million things could’ve happened since then, including a heart change. Do I think that’s likely? I struggle to. A man so deep in sexual sins, but making money hand over fist at it and content to take the world with him (more money that way)? Why would he have changed his mind? He had decided a long time ago this world was all there was. That his Mansion was all he’d ever need or want. That he could have all the pleasure and money he wanted here and now. What or who could’ve persuaded him to turn away from his earthly “kingdom”? Well, God could have. But did He?

I don’t have answers. And though I’m skeptical Hefner ever gave his life to God, it’s simply not my place to decide whether he did or didn’t.

Can we say his mindset most of his life was rejection of God? Yes. He clearly lived life for himself. But when we say things like he’s burning in Hell, and he deserves what he is getting, well … what is our point? Hell is what we all deserve.

The thief on the cross was likely discussed in the same manner. I doubt many heard his conversation with Jesus, which ended with Jesus saying “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) But that doesn’t mean the thief’s heart change didn’t happen.

It just means his conversion wasn’t very public.

End of life conversions are real. I honestly hope Hugh Hefner found Jesus on his death bed, or before. I’d like to see him in Heaven someday, because I think if he’s there, he’s going to be one who will have a copious amount of awe that God would give him anything, let alone an eternal life lived in peace, joy, and love in Christ’s presence.

The Bible says that the last will be first and the first will be last (Matt. 20:16). We will be shocked at who is and isn’t in Heaven, and which saints lived the most upright, holy lives. And I think it would behoove us to save judgment of Hugh Hefner or anyone else. Our time is much better spent insuring the safekeeping of our own souls, examining ourselves regularly to see whether we are in the faith. I don’t know of a Bible verse that tells us to judge a dead person’s soul. Especially, as Piper said, a person’s soul for which we’ve never prayed.

That’s just arrogant.

By the way, I’m hoping to see Ted Bundy in Heaven, too. If his interview with James Dobson just before he was executed is any indication, I will see him in glory. I’m grateful there’s no chance Ted Bundy can kill another woman. He deserved what he got on earth, and women are safer without him roaming the earth, by his own admission. But Jesus saves. And I figure if He can save Bundy (who, by the way, admitted his uncontrollable urge to kill was rooted in porn), or Brenda, He can save Hugh. So maybe a little humility about the fact that Jesus saves who Jesus saves is in order. Making judgments about a dead guy’s soul, even if that dead guy lived an epically sinful life is haughty, yes. But also rather soulless, as Piper said.

I don’t rejoice in Hugh Hefner’s death, and I don’t want to make judgments about what his spiritual state was at the time of his death. Maybe I’ve missed the boat entirely because I’ve discussed a dead man’s soul for which I’ve never prayed. But, heh. It turns out you have to discuss it in order to say we shouldn’t discuss it.

So, no judgment from me concerning Hefner’s soul. But what I can, with good conscience, say/pray about Hugh Hefner is this:

God, have mercy. And may his legacy die with him.