Salvation 1 (Part 1)
“… one came and said unto him [Jesus], Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? [(Mark 10:21 adds) Then Jesus beholding him loved him] Jesus said unto him, If you wilt be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.“ (Matthew 19: 16-22)
In the modern church a great deal of attention is paid to the “experience” of church going. This has translated to every aspect of the “Christian Experience” in life. One key modern teaching is the “salvation experience.” Usually this keys around one’s saying of the “sinner’s prayer” or “walking the isle.”
The use of the emotive instead of the substantive is very common among all of the world’s religions. The idea of “feeling good” about one’s self is the subject of many a novel, book, recording or video. The underlying necessity is obvious; the need to be free from guilt. Guilt is the one part of the human condition that cannot be escaped. But what causes guilt?
Many perceive this unwritten, but universally understood code of ethics. This code of ethics is sometimes twisted into strange forms, but the code remains. When we break this code we feel remorse and guilt. There are certain people – sociopaths – who simply don’t feel guilt. The question is, why do they seek to be caught? The answer; they don’t. They are playing a game of superiority. They tempt the person chasing them with clues to see if they can be caught. In there lies the connection.
Why are they concerned with being caught? Because society, civilization, is organized, structured and subsists on these unwritten rules. Why are they playing a game? Because of their desire to be superior. In fact, it is the first realization of truth when one begins to understand that evil, real evil, is nothing more than self-gratification with no regards for the well being of others.
These rules we all seem to understand are all a barrier against such wanton self-pleasing. Prescriptions against murder, rape, theft and abuse are all attempts to keep a person from fulfilling some strange fantasy or some wanton act of anger against another human. The question, the real question, is why?
Why do we have the need for the salving of our consciences? Why is it not possible for us to truly “live and let live?” The Buddha was described as saying that what happens in one moment is gone with the coming of the next moment. But Shao Lin monks practice martial arts to defend themselves against what happened in the previous moment. Even the most strict Buddhist will assert the right to live.
It is this basic, core feature of humanity that causes each of us to seek a means of coexistence. It is this simple, intrinsic thought that causes each of us to bind ourselves to a pattern of behavior. In every person, for every action there is a simple over-arching motivator; “to be, or not to be.” Some wish not to be, others seek any way possible to be. Everyone understands the basic desire to be alive.
Guilt is an emotion felt when one fails to achieve a standard. This emotion born of failure is felt more acutely the closer one gets to the mark of life and death. Those who do not feel guilt have given themselves over to one of two thoughts; either they do not fear death, or they feel that they are too important to worry about others.
Regardless of the circumstance, however, we all want to feel good about ourselves. This is why many seek religion. Religion is often the answer to most of these questions. It is a way to appease guilt. It is a way to feel morally, or intellectually superior. It is a way to find community, and through community a measure of self-worth. The modern practitioners of religion aren’t doing anything new. These things have been going on since mankind was first created. The question is not whether mankind needs religion. Nor is it whether or not there is an overarching standard of behavior we all call morality. Those two issues are settled in the minds of all men, whether they choose to admit it or not.
The real question is where does all of this come from, and what can we do about it?
Over the next few posts we will explore exactly what the scriptures say about what salvation is, and what it isn’t. The test lies in the following; is there sufficient reason to support these conclusions, or are we simply proposing a sophistry to further influence the delusion of men? Only you can decide.
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