Reading
for Proper 11A: Romans 8:18-25
July 21, 2002
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
In his letter to the churches in Rome, Paul lays out God's plan for moving humanity from a place of fear to a place of love. Now Paul does not use these particular words. Instead, he talks about moving from a place of sinfulness or (living in the flesh) to a place of living in the spirit. This movement results in a new creation which is the subject of today’s reading. Paul explains how this movement happens using theological jargon. This jargon includes words like righteousness, redemption, justification, forgiveness, resurrection, sacrifice, salvation, and becoming like Christ. In order to do justice in explaining the meaning of each these words, we would have to do some in depth Bible study. But for the purpose of this sermon, what we need to know about Paul’s theology is this:
What I would like to do today, is to continue my sermon series on the theology of Paul. In particular, I would like to focus my comments on salvation or (Jesus saves). Whenever we talk about salvation, we need to ask at least four questions:
Let's begin with the first.
Salvation comes from the Latin word salvus, which means to be well or to be safe. From a medical point of view, salvation means to be alive and physically well. From a psychological point of view, salvation means to be integrated and relieved of psychic pain. From a sociological point of view, salvation means that society is able to provide for its citizens by developing structures that ensure basic human rights and well being. From an ecological point of view, salvation means that the physical environment is cared for as well as the other creatures who inhabit mother earth. From an economic point of view, salvation means that there is enough money and resources for a decent life.
From a religious point of view, the scope of salvation is much larger. In fact in today’s reading, Paul claims that it is of cosmic proportions. Salvation can include all of the above and more. In religious terms, salvation means that human beings are transformed into the people that God created them to be. In this process of transformation, humanity, and the cosmos, will be well. Salvation includes the process of healing from the condition of fear, anger, hate, ignorance, self-absorption, destruction, and the propensity to choose the bad. The effects of salvation would include psychological wellness and ecological well being. It would result in a society where justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being becomes a living reality. Paul would call this new reality- freedom, glory, being one with Christ, living in the spirit, a new creation.
So the question then becomes, what do we need to be saved from? Basically, we need to be saved from our selves. Most of the suffering in the world is the result of human beings hurting other human beings and the environment. Sure, there is the occasional earthquake that causes much pain, but then again, why do we continue to choose to build houses on earthquake faults? Paul looks inside himself and outside himself and he sees so much suffering in the world. He sees cruelty, greed, injustice, corruption, exploitation of other people, envy, dishonesty, frailty, unfaithfulness, frustration, and negligence. Who wants to live in a world like this? Is there the possibility of another way of life?
Paul says "absolutely yes." The power of God that was operating in the person of Jesus Christ, has opened up new possibilities for humanity. The goal of course, is for us to become like Jesus- in spirit, in ethics, in behavior, in love for God and neighbor. So how does this exactly happen? What does it mean that "Jesus saves"? The church has never officially sanctioned a particular understanding of the saving work of Jesus Christ. There are several different theories on how Jesus saves us. These include themes like: Jesus’ sacrificial death, Jesus winning victory over the powers that held humankind in bondage to sin, and the theory of satisfaction. In the 12th century, Peter Abelard held forth a "moral influence" theory where in the death of Jesus Christ, God’s suffering love was lived out among us in a way that has power to grasp both our minds and hearts. In the 20th century, the theory of liberation arouse where Jesus Christ is seen as the liberator of every dimension of life. "This liberation, motivated by God’s love, seeks to overcome the poverty, disease, ignorance, prejudice, and political, social, and familial oppressions that prevent or inhibit growth and grace of all persons."
Even though there is not a consensus on how salvation works, most people agree that Jesus Christ changed the history of the world. Through his life, death, and resurrection, there kicked into the universe, an incredible power of God that transformed lives then and continues to transform lives now. Millions of people have had a personal experience of this power of God that changed their lives. In return, they have become agents of change and the world is better off because of them.
So the ultimate question for all of us here today is: "Do I want to be saved?" If the answer is "no" or "I don’t care" or "I don’t need to be saved" then Paul’s letters to the churches are somewhat meaningless. Paul was writing to a group of folks who were greatly pained at the condition of the world and at the suffering of humanity caused by humanity. They were sorry for their own failure to be the person God willed for them to be. They hoped that one day, they would become a shining light in a world of darkness and that eventually the light would be so bright, that the darkness would disappear. They felt urgent about this possibility of transformation but they didn’t know what to do.
It is into this context that Paul tells the people in Rome about God’s plan. The plan did not require them to work harder, or to follow more rules and regulations. Paul tells them that it is God who takes the initiative in making all things well. What is required of them is to have faith. Faith is to respond to the love of God in whom we live and move and have our being. Faith is the opening of one’s mind and heart, the reaching out of one’s hand, to grasp the grace and power of God. This kind of faith does not require us to go to school to study philosophy. Faith does not require us to embrace more rules and regulations or to subscribe to a set of creeds. Faith does not require us to learn a technique of mystical practice. But faith does require us to set aside our old life and to enter into a new life. Baptism marks the beginning of a life of faith for those who take it seriously.
Other ways of describing entrance into this new life of the spirit have been described by Paul as "being clothed with Christ," "putting on Christ," "being in Christ," "becoming one with Christ," "being heirs or children of God with Christ." Albert Schweitzer would call this entrance into the life of God as "Christ-mysticism," where by the people of God are somehow bound up with Christ. And when we are fully incorporated into Christ, we become like Christ. And when humanity becomes like Christ, then the world is transformed. I think that this is my favorite description of how "Jesus saves."
In spite of the incredible suffering in the world, some people still believe that wisdom or right knowledge, merit, or right action, or mystical absorption into a deity will save them. Others believe that money, or power, education, marriage, or the right job will save them. But Paul would say, it is the power of God’s spirit, as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, that will save humanity and the world. The question is, do you believe him and if not, does your way work?
| Updated 7/21/02 |
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