79. Salvation by Correct Understanding

Proverbs 3:5 & 6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

It seems to me that we have reduced our salvation to the correct understanding of scripture and the doctrines that we derive from the bible.  A case in point:

Sometime ago I was talking to a pastor of a tradition that practices infant baptism.  Now, I actually believe that baptism is a sign of obedience to God, and that as such it is only an adult who can make the decision to be baptized.  My friend, the infant baptizer, told me that it was not as if a baby that died unbaptized would go to hell, but that he would not want to be the baby’s parents.

I find that a curious statement.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.

I am back to reading through the gospels.  To my recollection, Jesus in his teachings was much more concerned about how we were with each other, than the correctness of our belief.  I know that in the beatitudes that he did not say “Blessed is he whose doctrine and beliefs are correct.”

As with the argument of the inerrancy of the bible, I see a not so subtle attempt to limit my experience of God. And I distrust it.  I see an attempt to judge each other, and inflict our beliefs on each other.  In short, I see an attempt to control your relationship with God.

My life is messy, I feel compelled into situations where often there is no clear cut solution.  And thus, often, my understanding of God and doctrine reflects that ambiguousness.  Far too often I see the exception to what doctrines try to define. Far too often I see in our attempt to clearly understand our faith the limitation of God’s Grace.

An author that I greatly appreciate, talks of his experience.  He was a great believer in the concept of hell being “Eternal Conscious Torment.”  In his schooling he had written a thesis based on this view of hell.  As a pastor he had taught the same.  Yet, he talks of experiencing the presence of God while deep in prayer.  The message that he received was, “Knock it off.”

The question that I have, is...”How many people would think that he is less of a Christian because he responded to a message received in prayer that goes against the doctrine he believed?”

A better question that arises is “How often have I ignored the leading of the Holy Spirit because such leading did not agree with my understanding of doctrine?”

I see those aspects of my faith of which I am absolutely certain as being my anchors, not my limitation.  Those aspects are few indeed. Thus, my belief in the paradox of the divinity and humanity of Christ, gives me security.  My belief in the redemptive work of the cross provides me with certainty.  I find hope, not limitation, in my conviction of the physical resurrection of Christ.  These are the sum total of the beliefs of which I am certain.