Atonement

Monday, June 23, 2008 -- Week of Proper 7

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 973)
Psalms 89:1-18 (morning) 89:19-52 (evening)
Numbers 16:1-19
Romans 3:21-31
Matthew 19:13-22

Romans 3:28 summarizes Paul's teaching about as succinctly as and I can think of: "For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law." Paul found freedom and peace of mind when he relaxed and accepted the fact that God had given to him his justification -- his status being at peace with God -- as a pure gift. A simple gift to be accepted.

God's greatest gift is Christ Jesus, crucified and risen. Jesus' death is sin's greatest consequence; his resurrection reverses sin's effect. All who have sinned, Paul says, "are now justified by [God's] grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith." An early creedal expression of this notion was the statement, "Christ died for us."

As central as these thing are in Christian theology, the Church has never settled on one description of how Christ's death effects our salvation. The word "atonement" (used above by Paul) is the word we use to refer to the effects of Christ's death "for us." Atonement doctrine answers the question "Why?" Jesus died for us and "How?" does his death work for us. A professor in the mid-20th century surveyed the history of all of the ways the church has described atonement, and found more than forty different versions. It seems that every generation has a way of claiming the cross for their time, a way of making fresh again the proclamation of the cross.

Atonement theologies tend to fall into three major types: (1) Christ the Victor; (2) the substitutionary atonement theory; and (3) the moral influence view of atonement. All three are found in Paul's writings.

(1) "Christus Victor" -- the dominant version of atonement in the early church is a teaching in dramatic narrative. Adam and Eve's sin condemned all humanity to death ("the wages of sin is death"). Jesus becomes one with humanity through his incarnation, and does not participate in that original sin. On the cross, though, he becomes sin for us, dying the death of a criminal and blasphemer. Satan claims Jesus on behalf of death, but Satan has been tricked. Jesus is sinless; death and Satan have no claim on him. Jesus the sinless immortal pays the debt that mortal sin owed Satan. Jesus' death is his battle and victory over sin, evil and death. His spiritual battle defeats them all and redeems humanity, rescues us from death. Jesus' death is our liberation -- freedom from the "powers and principalities" and all that oppresses humanity. (Liberation Theology is a modern adaptation.)

(2) The "Satisfaction" or "Substitutionary" theory -- In this version, the debt we owe is not to Satan, but to God. Our sin has broken our relationship with God the Sovereign and insulted God's honor infinitely. God's sovereignty is so great, that there is nothing we sinful mortals can do to atone for our sin. We are condemned to be separated from God forever. What sacrifice is perfect enough to repay God's very Being for the insult our sin has caused? Only the voluntary death of a perfect being would satisfy the debt. Jesus, being both human and divine, is that offering that satisfies the debt owed to God and brings our forgiveness, redemption and salvation. His death substitutes for what we owe.

(3) The Moral Influence view says that Jesus' embrace of the cross demonstrates his (and God's) love for us. Jesus accepts into his being all of our evil, alienation, pain and even death. Jesus experiences everything terrible that humanity can experience, and through it all he returns only love. Jesus' death reveals the very nature of God as infinite love. His resurrection shows that love is more powerful than death and all its manifestations. When we see what love God has for us, what can we do but love in return? Our salvation is our healing through the power of love.

There are versions of all three of these atonement doctrines. Each has its strengths and weakness. Each is present in contemporary Christianity.

My take: The Moral Influence view is compelling, and moves my heart with deep emotion. In the face of great injustice and systemic evil, I call upon Christ the Victor. And when burdened by deep personal guilt, the Satisfaction theory can be very powerful.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas