Untangling the Gospel #6:On the Meaning of "Saved"
Imagine that you are the parent of a nine year-old child who has stolen a very valuable item (say, an iPod or a nice article of clothing) from a store. The police come to your home and accuse your child of the crime.
In response to this accusation, you have several options. You could...
A. Ask your child to admit guilt, but tell him that if he does so, in exchange, you will pay for the item.
B. As the child's parent, volunteer to take the punishment upon yourself, paying for the item.
C. Ask the child to admit to the police that he/she took the item and to face the consequences by paying for the item out of his allowance. Then, building on that experience, devote every resource you have to help the child grow into a responsbile adult who does not steal, and who does not even want to steal.
Three questions:
1. All of these options might be viewed as loving responses, but which of these ultimately in the best interest of the child?
2. Which of these options reflect what you have been taught about how God "saves" us from our sins?
3. Which of these best fits your present idea about what it means for God to "save" us from our sins?
BONUS QUESTION: What does it mean that Jesus is the savior of the world? Isn't he supposed to be a personal Lord and Savior?
[More to come...]
In response to this accusation, you have several options. You could...
A. Ask your child to admit guilt, but tell him that if he does so, in exchange, you will pay for the item.
B. As the child's parent, volunteer to take the punishment upon yourself, paying for the item.
C. Ask the child to admit to the police that he/she took the item and to face the consequences by paying for the item out of his allowance. Then, building on that experience, devote every resource you have to help the child grow into a responsbile adult who does not steal, and who does not even want to steal.
Three questions:
1. All of these options might be viewed as loving responses, but which of these ultimately in the best interest of the child?
2. Which of these options reflect what you have been taught about how God "saves" us from our sins?
3. Which of these best fits your present idea about what it means for God to "save" us from our sins?
BONUS QUESTION: What does it mean that Jesus is the savior of the world? Isn't he supposed to be a personal Lord and Savior?
[More to come...]
posted by Matt at Sunday, August 21, 2005
3 Comments:
Option #4: You beat the child mercilessly and then force them to make a public apology on tv and radio and hope that this dysfunctional, inappropriate level of shame and degradation would ultimately twist them into an adult who compulsively steals but is much, much better at getting away with it.(That's only funny if you can't see the paralells in some of our churches.)
MDL
So true, MDL...
I gotta go with A) as my pressent idea of salvation because B and C both include the individual actually paying something of his/her own to resolve the debt and I know that I have no "allowance" with God. He pays my debt and I can't contibute to that!
But, it's interesting that you included admitting guilt because there is such a dilemna about whether salvation is divine sovereignty or human responsibilty or both. I think salvation includes both - 2 Cor 5 talks about God reconciling the world to himself then in verse 21 Paul imloys the Corinthians "now, be reconciled!" One more example - Revelation 22 - Jesus says "Come!" and then let all those who hear say "Come!" God HAS saved the world and has called us to him - now all we have to do is call to him and be saved!
Do I at least get bonus points for Scripture references???
Oops - didn't read your post very well...B) does not include the child paying for the stolen item out of his allowance but I still will go with A) for now...:)
Post a Comment
<< Home