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This post is final of a series of posts on the topic of Salvation. Here is the introduction to the series.
I feel that there is really a lot of misconceptions out there about salvation. People don't know how to explain salvation other than using classic cliques that are perhaps at best over simplified and at worst down right manipulative. So here I go with 5 things I think salvation is not.
1) Salvation is not an emergency, well not quite.
I have been to many an evangelical rally and have heard a few one on one evangelical discussions where the concept of "if you die tonight will you go to Heaven or Hell" was used. Now to me that is down right manipulative. Salvation is not a used car. It doesn't need a used car salesman's pitch. If salvation isn't something that people can walk away from, mull over and make an informed decision about then I for one am worried.
2) Salvation is not as simple as the four spiritual laws or praying the sinners prayer.
This goes with the above point. Salvation isn't as simple as getting someone to follow some steps. Salvation doesn't come from in-canting some magical words. If salvation is truly about an individual coming into relationship with God then every individual is going to do that in an individual way.
3) Salvation is not a quick fix.
God doesn't change us overnight. That is what we have lives, faith communities, the bible and Christian friends for. Too many people 'make a commitment' expecting it to fix all their problems, because that is what has been sold to them. (see point 1)
4) Salvation is not a line in the sand that signifies who is in and who is out.
This will be a topic for another post, but I want to mention it now. It is us who use 'salvation' as a tool to judge who is going to heaven/in the church/part of the kingdom/etc.
5) Salvation is not enough.
Being saved is all well and good, BUT you are REALLY saved when you ...
... get baptised
... put on a uniform
... give to the church
... become a missionary
... become an officer/minister/priest
... follow all the rules
... look like everyone else in our church
Sorry today has been a slightly longer post. Do you have any other thoughts on what salvation is not?
Yeah, I'm confused. Salvation ISN'T point #5? Because I don't think you have to do all of those things to 'be saved'. I'm not really sure how that reads into the rest of the post, sorry!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the post for about the line 'in or out'...should be good :)
The opposite of #5 is that 'salvation is enough'. The idea is that you are only 'really saved' when you do those things. This is usually a subtle inference, rather than an overt statement. Except perhaps for some old school Pentecostals who suggest speaking in tongues is THE sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteSo salvation is enough? Because you don't have to be 'in uniform, a missionary, baptised, a minister' to have salvation. CONFUSCIOUS!
ReplyDelete