Most Christians agree that Jesus died for our sins. However, when it comes to why He had to die, that’s when things get interesting.
One of the most common views of atonement is Penal Substitutionary Atonement, which says Jesus took the penalty of our sins on the cross. This particular theory of atonement is popular among Reformed Christians, and technically it is part of the reason why Jesus died. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) There are other reasons why Jesus died, but we’ll get to them some other day.
Now, even though I do believe PSA is part of the reason why Jesus had to die, there’s something about this theory of atonement that bothers me. When I hear people talk about PSA, they say things like, “Jesus came to save us from God,” or, “God poured His wrath upon His son,” or, “God was delighted to watch His Son die.” If you think about it, this kind of talk makes God sound like a drunk father who takes out his anger on his kids. But this is NOT the God I read about in the Bible! Instead, when I look at the cross, I see a God who voluntarily came down from His throne to suffer the consequences of my disobedience--death--so that I might live. As the old hymn says, “Amazing love, how can it be/ that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
What do you think? Penal Substitutionary Atonement--yes or no?
writing again
1 month ago
i do not adhere to this theory. i believe Jesus died on the cross as a result of the culture at the time. i am still working out what i believe so that's it for now.
ReplyDeleteG-D is shown as a vengeful G-D throughout the OT though.
I think the key is to focus on the holiness of God. He can abide no sin. He has to judge it, to purify it. The illustration that most resonates with me is one of fire. Does fire hate wood? No, it must consume the wood because it's nature is heat and light. God is perfectly pure (holy) therefor by nature can stand nothing impure. God loved his people so much, that rather than have to judge and punish all men, He instead placed that punishment on himself for those who trust in Him.
ReplyDeleteBy the way if you examine each case where God judges people in the old testament, it's always a judgement on that people's sin.
I don't believe in PSA because I believe that it depicts God as someone so angry that he must punish another human being to satisfy his own wrath. We don't think about the implications of this teaching. For instance, what does this say to abused children about authority figures who beat others into submission? Are they to assume that it's ok for a parent to torture his or her own child? After all, that's what God did. Aren't we to look to God's example for living instructions?
ReplyDeleteAnd what about the wife whose husband brutally beats her because she doesn't obey? How do we convince her that our God wishes to rescue her and treat her well when this is our theology?
More questions to consider: Why would God expect us to "turn the other cheek" if he cannot enact this kind of forgiveness himself? Does God expect more from mere mortals than is possible in his own omnipotence?
We teach that all sins are the same. Does this mean that God's thirst for justice required him to torture someone before a little white lie could be forgiven?
Finally, there's the problem of Genesis. Many Christians will tell you that they no longer read the first two chapters of Genesis literally. Do we believe that God would need a literal, brutal sacrifice to satisfy the "original sin" theme found in fictional story? Or could it be... that original sin is our invention?
Again, I'm not down with PSA because I think it's an irresponsible presentation of a much more important message. Love this discussion, Travis. :)
If you believe that Jesus is God as the Bible states and WE are His children and beloved creation then God took the punishment on Himself so that He did not have to punish His children for their wrong doing. This allowed Him to stay completely holy, not abiding in any sin, but still love His children and be in fellowship with them. As a result, He is the ultimate example of turning the other cheek. He allowed His creation to smack Him on one cheek in our commission of sin and then He turned the other cheek and subsequently took the full brunt of our punishment on Him. There is no punishment (death) for us for our sins, we are liberated from them because our Father punished Himself as a substitution for us.
ReplyDeleteAnd the argument of sending negative messages to abused individuals is absolutely ridiculous because Jesus commissioned all of us to care for and plead the case of the widow and orphan (i.e. those who could not defend themselves)... to lay down our lives for others of which He gave the ultimate picture...
Jesus was a substitute, a complete substitution, for us and our sins...