I’m sure I have written on this subject before but I think it bears
repeating with my current take.
Recently I read an article in Christian
Century that stirred my thoughts again. In the article the author use the term
“forensic theory of atonement.” Now I really like CIS, NCIS etc. but forensic
atonement? It is described as ”forgiveness is likened to a judge declaring an
accursed party innocent. The legal declaration depends not on the spiritual
constitution of the forgiveness but upon the authority of the judge. Hey, I’m
on board with that, but the author of the article wasn’t.
The author makes the argument, prominent in Christendom that
atonement, making ourselves right with God, demand that we repay with alms. The
danger the author sees is “cheap grace” quoting Dietrich Bonheoffer. With all
due respect for Bonheoffer, he may not be right.
Now I could go on in theological detail boring everyone including
myself but I think I can simply it. What makes a person a Christian? Every
group I know of says one is a Christian if they belief and accepts Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior. That’s it. There is no test to pass, no good works that
must be done, but as Martin Luther said, “by grace alone.” (For my Roman
Catholic readers St. Augustine says essentially the same thing.)
The theology term used by folk who believe we must do something to
atone for our sins is efficacious grace.
That means our belief, an act of our will makes our salvation possible. Or our
belief forces God’s hand to receive us into Her kingdom. Egotism. John Calvin
argues that grace is irresistible; if God wants us we are got. Now Calvin was
not a universalist but I, as a Calvinist, I am.
Now I am completely ignoring proper human response to God’s love for
us creating this unconditional love shown to us in the death and resurrection
of Jesus, atoning for all our sins, no matter what we do or don’t do. To show
our thanks for this love I believe pushes us into acts of goodness enabled by
God’s grace, but it does not force God’s hand it is responsive to God’s hand.
Perhaps I can better explain it in my attempt to mix politics and
religion in this blog. What makes a citizen of the United States of America?
Having an parent as a citizen, or taking a test to become a citizen. It is the
first that I want to accent. Most all citizens are citizens not because of
anything they did but what has just been bestowed upon them. There are good
citizens and bad citizens, but they are still citizens. In the same way there are
good Christians and bad Christians, but they are still Christians. It not what
you know but who you know.
In light of the privilege of being an American citizen it would
seem that we should react thankfully by being good citizens; knowing and
appreciating our history, knowledgeable about how our government works, up to
date on current history and issues to be able to make intelligent contributions
to the national dialogue and the like. But the truth is that, like Christian
citizens, most of us are poor U.S. citizens, apathetic and non-involved. For
this reason I have thought it was wrong to do away with the universal draft
system in our country. Not that everyone should have to join a part of the
armed forces but they should serve their country for a minimum of a couple of
years just because it is the right thing to do.
As a result of our poor citizenship, bad citizens, those who put
their own wellbeing and desires ahead of the national good have seized control
of our government making it do their will.
You are a citizen. You may be a Christian. You don’t have to, but
it would be nice if we would show our thankfulness by being involved and
conscious citizens.
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