Our understanding of salvation has been distorted by atonement theology. Atonement theology has two basic premises. The first is that we are all sinners estranged from God who need saving. The second premise is that as sinners salvation is not in our power to effect but only in God’s control offered to a select few. Thus Sunday’s Gospel has a question put to Jesus by a nameless commoner who, because of atonement theology, is worried, “Will only a few people be saved?”
Jesus, as always, shifted the paradigm with his response. He changed the entire context of the discussion about salvation. First, he engaged with a commoner who is likely judged a sinner, as he always did. Jesus thus shows disciples that no one, not even a sinner is estranged from Jesus and therefore no one is estranged from God. As there is no estrangement, then there is no need for salvation. Jesus is showing people the atonement salvation system is man-made. Second, Jesus’ response shows we all do indeed have the power to effect our lives: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Strive! It is not God who is in control but we who are in charge – Strive! The meaning of the narrow gate is also distorted by atonement theology. It is interpreted as exclusive but that is not its meaning. A narrow gate simply means we come in one at a time. In other words our relationship with our God is personal, a one to one engagement. Jesus’ image contradicts atonement’s belief that access to God was an exclusive right of privileged people or members of entire chosen groups; e.g. Israelites, rich people, men. Atonement’s element of exclusivity is further transcended when Jesus lets it be known that everybody is getting in through that narrow gate: “And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Community of God.”
Jesus’ ending reference to the Community of God as a meal table brings us back to his rejection of atonement theology. Atonement is part of the religion of Militarism. Militarism operates according to estrangement. Superior officers (gods) subjugate lowly recruits (sinners). New recruits (sinners) must earn the favor of their superiors (gods) by complying with their many obedience rituals. Disobedience requires perpetual atonement to the superiors who ‘save’ them from worse punishment. Atonement theology is military theology. It projects the military’s relationship model onto a deity. Jesus ends the projection and the relationship model. Jesus shows us we don’t need to be saved by superiors – we need to be saved from superiors. We need to live in communion at the bountiful table of God, on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer: Dear Spirit, give me wisdom to relate personally with all my brothers and sisters.
Question: How has atonement’s salvation system negatively affected my faith life?
August 25, 2013 – Gospel Luke 13:22-30 Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time