Salvation
It seems the older I get, the less I understand some things. Salvation is one of those. To me, the more I zoom in on it, the fuzzier it gets. I read No Other Name several years back which opened my eyes to even more questions. Then having kids messed me up even more.
Take Asante (since he speaks in sentences):
He talks to God. He believes God talks to him. He believes God heals. He enjoys hearing stories of God. He loves (God, Jesus, and other people). He has self-control. He forgives. He has all these characteristics that represent a relationship with God; I surely cannot doubt that he has one.
But whoever heard of a 2 year old being saved? And more than that, there wasn’t a moment where it all changed and he became that way. From as long as we could communicate these characteristics existed. So what now? He must be a Christian. Of course, he isn’t perfect; we could say he has sinned – he has knowingly disobeyed – but I’m not saying he doesn’t need a savior, it just seems he has always had one.
He came to know God and Jesus like he came to know his parents, we’ve all been there interacting with him, raising him. But that messes up what I thought I knew salvation meant.
What do you all think? Feel free to discuss openly, even though it regards my own children. If you can back it up, I’d like you to discuss the essence of salvation and the characteristics necessary for those saved. I won’t for a second fear for their souls.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:54 am
If we don’t accept the modernist reduction of Salvation to a crisis point, I don’t have any problem saying that a child like Asante is participating in the Gospel.
I think we have to look more broadly at what Salvation is – a whole-life commitment to living as Jesus did, participating in his Kingdom by participating in his death. Obviously Jesus’ death covers Asante and he will grow in his understanding of that.
But I too have grown (and continue to grow) in my understanding of Jesus, so does that mean I am not yet saved?
Geeze, I hope not!
June 30th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
thanks for the comment JR. I think I agree with you, but this concept is completely foreign to my (tacit or explicit)instruction as a minor. It leaves us wondering when someone is changed from Hell’s list to Heaven’s and whether our relationship can likewise decay and move us the other way. I think I’m ok with these questions, but, man, why did so many preachers feed me something that doesn’t match my experience?
June 30th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I just read a great book on this very subject by Joel Green – “Salvation.” Check it out, I think it will be well worth your time. Salvation is a multifaceted subject and our failure to recognize that as Evangelicals has increasingly torn us apart when we recognize how little we understand the subject.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:24 am
This is where the view of belonging to the faith community can be helpful.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Tom, thanks for the recommendation.
Ben, can you explain a little more?