“Daddy are there potties in Heaven?” My two-year old daughter asked when the subject of Heaven came up. She has been potty-training so potties are on her mind. As a pastor I am asked a lot of theological questions, but I have never been asked that question.
Interesting question, right?
As her theologian-dad I could not let her question go unanswered. I had to provide her with the truth she so desperately needed.
But after Google failed to provide an answer I was stuck. So where do I go from there? How do I find the truth? And while we are on the subject — where do you get your truth?
So as I was replying, “uhhhhhhh” and my daughter was moving on to something else I had a few thoughts:
As a Christian Writer, You are a Dispenser and Framer of Truth
Although Tyndale’s dream has long been succeeded in that even every plow boy has a Bible they can read we still live in one of the most biblical illiterate times in history. Our Christian writings provide truth. If it is nonfiction then it serves as truth while in fictional works entire worldviews and understandings of life are framed.
Your readers are forming their understanding of God and a life with Him from your writings. Therefore it is important that you realize that you play a part in the formation of truth in this post-Christian environment. The Bible warns extensively about the dangers of false teachers, and we write against them. If we are not careful we can be that false teacher. Share on X So where do you get your truth? Where would you draw your answer about heavenly potties if you were asked?
Truth is What is Needed
My two-year old could have lived with a cliché answer, and my wife thinks I should answer in a way that motivates her to continue using the potty. So yeah this question was not that a big deal, but our writing is important and influential. It may sound odd to talk about “truth” in terms to such a cute but goofy question. I could simply reply with an opinion or a belief. In the more important issues your readers need truth. They do not need an idea or opinion pulled out of thin air. They don’t even need to hear what you believe. Your belief does not make something truth. Rather we and our readers need to believe the truth, but how will they know the truth unless it is told. So when you want to provide the truth where do you get it?
Where Do You Go for the Truth?
The answer is simple, right? The Bible.
If it is so easy then why is it not the place we go first? Why don’t we work hard to make sure that we know what is in the Bible? If you are a Christian writer, but you have not read and studied the entirety of the Bible then your readers are in danger. They need to know the truth and you are a dispenser of that truth. Read it.
But in my case there is no Scripture reference of potties in Heaven. So what do I do? It is important to use the whole of Scripture and work Scriptural to come to the most biblical answer.
In Bible Study turn to trusted commentaries. Follow hermeneutical rules in your biblical interpretation. The Bible is not a free for all. Take the time to not only go to the right spot for truth, but search it correctly and biblical.
So go to the truth and provide the truth.
That’s what I did and I told my daughter, “I don’t know.”
Daddy are there potties in Heaven? Share on XFor my complete analysis on potties in Heaven check out www.graytotebox.com.
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4 Comments
Great Article. My friend and I actually contemplated this question when we were in our 30’s. We thought that there would NOT be. The process and conclusion to our answer is too long to try to explain here. Your daughter has a great mind to begin asking questions like that.
Thanks for your comment. I’m at a toss up on it. Maybe leaning towards there being one, but if there is no need for toilet paper, fiber supplements, laxatives, etc. We will have a perfect GI tract! lol
I smiled at her question – my sons wanted to know if their grandpa would have an artificial leg in Heaven. I told them no – that God would restore their Grandpa.
My thought was that Jesus is building us a mansion in Heaven. Since Jesus is perfect He would build the perfect mansion that contains what we need – if we need a potty it is there. If we don’t (which I suspect we won’t) it won’t be. I would then add it will be fun to find out.
We are going to be in awe with what is in store for us!