I absolutely love being in seminary. I love my classes. I love the people in my classes. More than anything, though, I love that my classes challenge me. They stretch me in ways that I haven’t been stretched. They challenge me to move beyond mere acceptance of the things I believe simply because “that’s how I was raised” and to really wrestle with what I believe.
Yesterday as I was driving home from my weekend class in Ashland, I found myself really wrestling with the language of salvation. Being in seminary (particularly one that is of a different denomination than that in which I was raised), I hear people talk all the time about being “saved”, saying things like 40 youth were “saved” as a result of such-and-such an event. I even saw an advertisement recently for a Youth Ministry Management Software in which you can track salvations right alongside the attendance and budget for your ministry.
Having been raised in the Lutheran Church (LCMS) and working in the Lutheran Church (ELCA) has certainly caused me to develop a certain lens through which I view the doctrines, practices, and language of the Church. In the Lutheran tradition a huge emphasis is placed on the fact that we are “saved by grace through faith” and that that “process” is initiated in the sacrament of infant baptism. I understand that there must be some age of accountability at which a person is responsible to take responsibility for their faith development and for fostering their own relationship with God, but when is that? I never really heard the language of “being saved” until I left home and went to college, and I’m sure my upbringing plays a large role in my wrestling with this language as I strive day after day to understand what it truly means to “be saved”. Is it something that we do? or is it something that God does?
See, because to me, if I one day “make a decision for Christ” and “become saved”, it seems that I’m taking away from the whole “saved by grace” thing. Is my salvation then dependent on something that I do? Wouldn’t that be salvation by works? I’m sure there’s some mysterious tension here that we’ll never fully understand, but it’s certainly got me wrestling with some big questions lately.
I feel like I could write on this for a long time, but I’m also really interested to hear what others have to say on this topic, and to dialogue. Maybe this will turn into a series. Either way, it’s got me intrigued. Join the conversation.
Erin, I think you have a great thought and question. I’d like to share my thoughts, if you don’t mind. I’m not a theologian, nor am I formerly trained in the Bible, but this is what I’ve come to understand and believe.
The act of ‘being saved’ is something the individual must do for themself. God gave us a way to him through his Son, Jesus. Because of our free will, we must take the initiative to accept this opportunity:
John 14:6 (NIV) says:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to my Father except through me.”
I believe that ’saved by grace’ is part of the equation. When we are baptized into Christ, we are clothed in Christ, but we are still sinners. Saved by grace means that God is not going to let our sins keep us from his arms in Heaven. In order for us to be baptized into Christ, I also believe that we, as an individual, must make that decision to follow Christ. That is our step, acknowledging what God and Jesus has done for us, and accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior through the act of obedience in baptism.
Romans 6:3-4 (NIV) says:
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Mark 16:16 (NIV) says:
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
I grew up as a Methodist, with similar doctrine to Lutheran in regards to being saved and baptism, so I was also sprinkled as an infant. It was your uncle Dennis who helped me see in the scripture that I needed to make my own decision and die to my old self with Jesus through baptism, immersion baptism. The Greek word baptismo, which was used, means ‘to be buried’ in the water, or immersed.
For me, I believe that being saved starts with the Grace and opportunity that God provided to us through Jesus, but it also involved us making that free will decision to accept what Jesus did for us. I’ve been asked what I believe will happen to those people who do not accept Christ on a personal level, or what will happen to those who are not obedient to death through baptism; I don’t think I have an answer to that question. I believe that is up to God to decide, maybe that is truly what ’saved by grace’ means, just a thought?
Thanks for the thought and question, it certainly is a good and thought provoking thought. Please also remember that what I’ve said is only what I believe after hearing and studying on a limited basis. Have a great day,
Charlie
Hey Erin! Certainly a deep topic, and not something that I’ve ever really thought about in great depth before. I am no biblical scholar, but I was raised to believe that you asked for the saving and God was the one who did the saving. It’s a mutual relationship, I would say. Anyway that probably does little to help your pondering, but I thought I’d share! Miss you!
Erin,
I was born into an ELCA family and raised in their beliefs. I remember in 4th grade I had a huge scare when confronted with a new friend’s belief that I was going to go to “HE-double hockeysticks” if I didn’t accept Jesus out loud and repeat after her! Then I was worried that my whole family would suffer the same fate if I didn’t get them to follow suit.
Needless to say after talking with my parents, and pastor I felt much better knowing that I already a child of God because of the Grace of Christ Jesus.
As an adult I have had the opportunity to meet people of different faiths and have had plenty of opportunities for discussing the theological differences in people’s beliefs. It has only led me to a deeper understanding of my own faith as well as to appreciate others.
Here is what I know in my heart:
1. My parents had me baptized as a baby because they loved me and wanted to start my faith journey. Orginal sin was forgiven.
2. Confirmation allowed me a greater understanding of my baptism, Lutheran Theology, and the traditions of the church.
3. God loves me and desires a personal relationship with me because I am his child.
4. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. His sacrifice set me free.
5. The Holy Spirit is in me because I accept the gifts God has given me, and open my heart and mind to His will.
6. I am saved by Grace, and cannot do anything to earn it.
That may sound simple – and maybe it is suppose to be just that. Simple.
Enjoy the journey, Erin. Peace be with you.
Jo Caton Frank
Erin,
A few thoughts on this…
We just had a confirmation service at the church I’m attending, and part of the phrasing really struck me, I don’t remember if it was the pastor talking about it, or actually part of the newer liturgy, but they talked about taking on the mantle of baptism. Confirmation is a reaffirmation of those baptismal vows, and in someways is meant to be an adult acknowledgement of being ’saved’ . It doesn’t take away from the concept that the work was done by God to us, but it does recognize that there is a human part to the struggle, that we are part of a covenant with God, He’s done his part, saved us, forgiven us, and constantly renewing us, but we too have a part of turning away from our sins, worshipping him, and bringing his vision of a perfected world to earth.
I think this is more of a struggle for people who have been lifelong christians in the more ‘traditional’ denominations, where being saved isn’t part of the common church vocabulary. But Lutherans DO acknowledge adult baptism, sometimes people have NOT been baptised as a baby, and so seek it as an adult in joining a church. There is also, very intentionally a rite for affirmation of baptism.
A final thought, somewhat related, I once struggled with an issue very similar to this in high school during a youth ministry training week and talked about it with one of the leaders… specifically I was struggling with the concept that I didn’t have any CONVERSION event in my life, and, when talking about my faith life…it was fairly constitent, I’ve just always gone to church and been faithful….and he explained it to me in the concept that, it’s very important for there to be people who are new to the faith, to bring vitality and new views, but it is equally important for there to be the ‘rocks’ of faith that have knowledge, and are role-models for others…(not that new people aren’t also role-models, but they model something different)…
Anyway, that was a TON of rambling. Glad you are enjoying seminary and congrads on the marriage plans!
~Karl Schmitt