There is a huge inter-denominational rift in Christianity’s treatment of salvation, along the lines of works vs. grace. In my view, there should not be any distinction between the two; they should rather be fused together as one: man’s salvation surely depends entirely on God’s grace, but God surely must discriminate between a good person and a scoundrel, in which sense, salvation does depend on “works.” Yet, the irreconcilable difference on this matter still exists, and it does not get any better.
I agree with the Protestants that an excessive emphasis on works may indeed lead to an attitude that one can “buy” salvation with good deeds, and this is a wrong attitude. Salvation is not a commodity, and charity has no saving value if it wants something in return.
But I strongly disagree with the Evangelical argument that only by accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal savior, can one achieve salvation. (For, looking at you, God sees an appalling sinner deserving nothing but a damnation eternal. Only seeing you through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ as your savior will God be able to accept you in His Kingdom.) This is commonly known as “salvation by grace.”
This strange argument is supported by one of the most troubling parts of the interpretative Christian dogma: that humanity bears a collective responsibility for the Original Sin of Adam and Eve.
…I have a problem with this interpretation. I think that it encourages immoral behavior, an assumption that the sum of our life is unimportant for our salvation, as long as we have the time to utter the magic name that tilts the balance of our fate in our favor. This creates a virtually irresistible temptation to succumb to sin, in the expectation of an ex ante redemption. When we are so tainted with a “sin” that we did not commit, what difference does it make if we add a few of our own to the list which condemns us anyway, unless we accept the ransom paid on our behalf by Jesus Christ?
But this is all wrong! We need not bear any personal responsibility for the actions of others before us, like Adam and Eve. By the same token, we must not relegate our personal responsibility for our own deeds and misdeeds to the account of Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi. God made each of us a free chooser, and no one should be made responsible, ex post or ex ante, for our bad choices. That responsibility is all ours... Salvation stops here.
I agree with the Protestants that an excessive emphasis on works may indeed lead to an attitude that one can “buy” salvation with good deeds, and this is a wrong attitude. Salvation is not a commodity, and charity has no saving value if it wants something in return.
But I strongly disagree with the Evangelical argument that only by accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal savior, can one achieve salvation. (For, looking at you, God sees an appalling sinner deserving nothing but a damnation eternal. Only seeing you through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ as your savior will God be able to accept you in His Kingdom.) This is commonly known as “salvation by grace.”
This strange argument is supported by one of the most troubling parts of the interpretative Christian dogma: that humanity bears a collective responsibility for the Original Sin of Adam and Eve.
…I have a problem with this interpretation. I think that it encourages immoral behavior, an assumption that the sum of our life is unimportant for our salvation, as long as we have the time to utter the magic name that tilts the balance of our fate in our favor. This creates a virtually irresistible temptation to succumb to sin, in the expectation of an ex ante redemption. When we are so tainted with a “sin” that we did not commit, what difference does it make if we add a few of our own to the list which condemns us anyway, unless we accept the ransom paid on our behalf by Jesus Christ?
But this is all wrong! We need not bear any personal responsibility for the actions of others before us, like Adam and Eve. By the same token, we must not relegate our personal responsibility for our own deeds and misdeeds to the account of Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi. God made each of us a free chooser, and no one should be made responsible, ex post or ex ante, for our bad choices. That responsibility is all ours... Salvation stops here.
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