07.30.05
Posted in faith at 9:12 am by
Greg said this, and I loved it:
I say the prayer; God forgives me; Jesus lives in my heart, whatever the hell that means. No notion of being saved INTO something, just out of or from something.
Ah, salvation. The thing you have, and once you have it you’re done. Perhaps it’s time the contemporary Church started looking at salvation as something more than just an end in and of itself. Perhaps, it’s a means to an even greater end. (But, only if you actually, you know, believe what the Bible says about the Kingdom of God on earth.)
Of course, if salvation was an end in and of itself–and you believe in Jesus Christ as God–why in the world would his death and resurrection happen at such a temporal distance from his second coming. I mean, why not just die, save humanity from their sins, and end the world, if that’s all there is to salvation anyway? Believing in salvation as an ends rather than as means to an end puts one in the position of loving an awful jackass of a God, now doesn’t it?
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Posted in faith at 9:12 am by
Greg said this, and I loved it:
I say the prayer; God forgives me; Jesus lives in my heart, whatever the hell that means. No notion of being saved INTO something, just out of or from something.
Ah, salvation. The thing you have, and once you have it you’re done. Perhaps it’s time the contemporary Church started looking at salvation as something more than just an end in and of itself. Perhaps, it’s a means to an even greater end. (But, only if you actually, you know, believe what the Bible says about the Kingdom of God on earth.)
Of course, if salvation was an end in and of itself–and you believe in Jesus Christ as God–why in the world would his death and resurrection happen at such a temporal distance from his second coming. I mean, why not just die, save humanity from their sins, and end the world, if that’s all there is to salvation anyway? Believing in salvation as an ends rather than as means to an end puts one in the position of loving an awful jackass of a God, now doesn’t it?
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shupac said,
July 30, 2005 at 11:36 am
A very important point. I think views like this are becoming more common in mainline churches.
The view that salvation is a one-time event, that faith in Christ is a layaway plan for the afterlife, feeds a lot of the legalism among believers. As one person on a Beliefnet bulletin board once asked in all honesty, “I’ve accepted Jesus…what do I do now?” Some of the answers emphasized learning and following all God’s commandments. I’ve also heard of “kosher Christians,” non-jewish christians who keep kosher in order to practice their faith more fully and live more in keeping with God’s will. Something is very wrong, I think, when we fill the gap between sanctification and glorification with Leviticus.
Shawn said,
July 30, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Why not just get “saved” ala Abraham? I mean, really, there was no bloody death or Jesus taking up residency in organs involved in his personal righteousness which was obviously equivalent to any God fearing believer on the far side of the all too bloody crucifixion, right? I mean they are both going to be in Heaven, correct?
There seems to me numerous ways in which a human being can “get saved.” Odd.
JF said,
July 31, 2005 at 1:42 am
Shawn. Do you beleive there are numerous ways or one way?
dorsey said,
July 31, 2005 at 12:07 pm
I hear a lot of people refer to the christian life as a walk, a journey, a pilgrimage, process, whatever, with the “prize” being eternal reward, life in Heaven, I’ve-got-a-mansion-just-over-the-hilltop. It only now occurred to me that the “journey” aspect of existence may not end there. I don’t think I’m alone in that I’ve never considered that eternity will continue to be a dynamic (versus static) environment. Does scripture indicate anywhere that we will be all that we will ever be the moment we enter our reward? Will the concept of personal, intellectual, emotional growth be possible in eternity? The Bible says that we will rule and reign with Him–rule and reign over who? It is implied that we will have jobs to do in Eternity. That implies accomplishment. That implies progress.
I’m just thinking out loud here, but salvation as an end? Salvation is only the beginning. I’m going to post this on my blog, too. Thanks for getting my wheels turning.
faithCommons said,
August 1, 2005 at 1:45 pm
The Secret’s Out
This essay pulls no punches and is highly critical of institutions that many Christians hold in high regard. Don’t be surprised if your blood pressure rises.
Salvation from hell is Christendom’s most advertised product. In a post titled “still haven’t
kingsman said,
August 1, 2005 at 2:14 pm
If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were sounding “missional” without wanting to use that word. I’m definitely in agreement that salvation from hell was not the main thrust of Jesus’ message at all, but certainly has become that for too long in evangelicalism. Good post.
know zen, know jesus said,
August 1, 2005 at 3:29 pm
Salvation doesn’t mean to be saved, it means to be healed; which doesn’t happen by worshiping the image of Jesus, but by living the psychology of Jesus.
Once you are truly healed, you understand that there is nothing to be saved and nothing to be forgiven. Once you are truly healed, you realize that the kingdom of God is now.
If you are waiting for the end of evil for heaven to arrive, you’ll never experience it. For the kingdom of God doesn’t await HIS last judgment, it awaits YOUR last judgement.
“Truly, I say to you, whosoever does not recieve the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”