Saved from what? Saved TO what?
This week we have a guest blog from fellow NCF’er–Laura Lindeman. I immediately resonate with Laura’s inquisitive nature (both as a child and as an adult). I remember being told by one boss that I ask too many questions, and at another job that I wouldn’t be hired because of my inquisitive nature! But, I think that God likes us taking the time to ask questions and isn’t bothered in the least (unlike some teachers and bosses) by Laura’s (and our) questions. May Laura’s questions prompt our own. And may we, like Laura, be encouraged by the process! –Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor
When I was in elementary school I would frequently interrupt the teacher with very important (to me) questions which were usually exasperating for them and amusing to my peers… Like: “When you subtract a number, where does it go?!” This seemed irrelevant to the process of subtraction at that point, so usually the teacher asked me to focus and they moved on.
Similarly, questions that interrupted the Sunday school teacher about Jesus dying for our sins as a means of ending Levitical sacrifices were mostly ignored. The priority in confirmation classes was to get everyone to behave correctly, which sometimes matched up with scripture and sometimes church tradition overruled. And somehow good behavior was supposed to be a thank you note to God for Jesus dying for our sins. This was our admission ticket to heaven once we died.
Why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Was God just a bully who needed to be appeased? If getting into heaven was the prize and the only reason we needed a sacrifice was because God’s standards were unattainable – why couldn’t God just change the rules? God made the rules. Leaving me without a comprehensive answer to this question made God appear to be a sadistic thug…
Generations earlier, God’s system of animal sacrifice covered a multitude of sins and conditions. There was not talk about the Israelites trying to get to heaven – this had to do with their daily comings and goings here on earth. So it was irritating and puzzling that the Christian party line was: Jesus is our ultimate sacrifice; we no longer need to give God bloody animals because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. Our sins separate us from God and Jesus’ blood washes away those sins so we can stand in God’s presence “blameless and with great joy” and get into heaven. The prayers we were supposed to pray were constructed around thanking God for sending Jesus to die in our place. It all sounded transactional and glossed over the cognitive dissonance of God loving us so much that he killed Jesus so he wasn’t obliged to send us to hell…
Now as an adult I am still asking “is that all?”
And the answer is “no”.
The sacrifices in the “old testament” covered Burnt Offerings, Grain Offerings, Peace offerings, Sin Offerings, Guilt offerings, Ordination Offerings, and Bodily Emission offerings, including sacrifices for total devotion, thanksgiving, communion, joy, consecration of leaders, atonement for unintentional sins, and reparations for offenses. This is probably not a complete list. But it feels like a more complete list than the “new testament” (as interpreted by church tradition): Jesus died for our sins so we can go to heaven. As if the whole religion is an experiment in delayed gratification.
Hmmm. I think we are missing something.
Because Jesus spent a great amount of time talking about this life. So, in addition to the many mansions he is preparing for us – Isn’t it also true that Jesus saves us while we are still here?
Jesus also saves us from shame, self-loathing, and inferiority. He saves us from hatred, undue suspicion, vengeance and retaliation. He saves us from the power and pain of exclusivity, judgement and scorn for our neighbors. He saves us from cutthroat competition and capitalist hierarchies.
But nature abhors a vacuum…
If Jesus is saving us from things – other things must take their places.
What does Jesus save us TO?
Jesus’s sacrifice saves us TO heaven certainly–but we do not need to merely wait for that.
Jesus’ saving gets started here and now.
Jesus saves us–
TO contentment, internal peace, and eternal joy,
TO loving, giving and healing relationships,
TO heavenly humanity, gratitude and wonder,
TO un-arrogant celebrations of ourselves and each other (all kinds of other),
TO celebration, praise and adoration of God.
Jesus saves us from comparison, mismeasurement and selfishness,
TO self-awareness – God’s view of ourselves,
TO community,
TO appreciation rather than mere tolerance.
It is a relief to me to realize some of my salvation here and now. And when I notice it I can laugh out loud and embrace the crazy scope of blessings present in this age. Which is another blessing, since I have not yet truly excelled in delayed gratification…
–Laura Lindeman
3 Comments On “Saved from what? Saved TO what?”
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Loved your column and your questions. There’s got to be more to Jesus’ death and resurrection than a formula to a ticket to heaven. Thank you for being brave enough to ask questions over your lifetime. For years the questions were there for me too, but I tried to stuff them to be a “good believer,” but was haunted by both the formulaic and transactional nature of this understanding of “God’s plan for my life.” Perhaps I’m no longer a “good believer,” but I’m not convinced that’s what God wants anyhow.
Excellent! Thanks for taking the time to share the process you have gone through and what you have learned. It is so much easier to live in the “one and done” world…yet, where is the growth? Jesus shows use how to draw closer to one another and to the trinity. Not an easy pass and one I veer off of with reugularity…glad to be reminded of where to put my eyes:)
Thanks Laura. Yes the “now” gifts are precious as you say.