Prediger Today

Salvation and reconciliation with God can be illustrated as a legal transaction. It is no more than a legal illustration that sheds light on a central mystery. But to be reconciled with God is very, very personal and must account for the enormity of sin that no legal transaction can atone for. The price to be paid, again, in legal terms, is beyond any kind of measure. The maxim of the law itself militates against any kind of a payment and instead demands the death of the sinner. This is only resolved in a meeting, a mutual encounter in death, reconciling God and the sinner on a mutual meeting ground. Christ did not meet us in the stable, he did not meet us in the temple: he met us on the cross, in death...Thus Hooker's phrase, the law having its end in Christ, the law made impotent by reason of death.

The main thesis of much of Protestantism ( ‘We’re Not Saved by Our Works’—Wes Huff Shares the Gospel on ‘The Shawn Ryan Show’) is that we are not saved by our works but we are saved by the works of Jesus. I disagree and I hope I can expand on that subject without trying your patience and alienating your good will. That article is a typical example of modern evangelical theology which I have personally rejected and which made me convert to Catholicism. I want to point out some aspects where modern Protestantism and Catholicism differ, as an apologia for my rejection. The problem of sin clearly makes our salvation by our own efforts and works impossible. At this point there is little disagreement and therefore the immediate question automatically arises if there can be any salvation at all? The article asserts that it is what Jesus did is what can save us. The emphasis is on what Jesus did as a good and meritorious work to mend a broken world and assuage the violated honor of God perpetrated by a sinful and disobedient humanity: The world is made whole again by the perfect life that Jesus lived and the honor of God is restored by his atoning death and assumption of humanity’s debt. Theologically, Jesus restores the wholeness of creation by his active and passive righteousness, and anyone accepting his work and believing in the sufficiency of that work will be accredited and declared whole in the sight of God. This is known as the doctrine of the forensic imputation of Christ’s active and passive righteousness. The article refers to it as being covered by the blood of Christ, in a sense of our sinfulness hidden or dismissed. Catholics would reject that theory as a legal fiction. Forgiveness and reconciliation with God is more than just a declaration, more than just a covering that hides sin and corruption. Wholeness and holiness must in fact be real in order to pass scrutiny by an absolutely holy God. Catholics insist on divine participation in Christ’s death and resurrection. Religion must be real and true in every aspect. The reason for Christ’s incarnation, for him entering his own creation, is not to kind of repair a broken world but to die for a sinful world. His blood is not a cloak covering up sin, but his blood signifies his death and a kind of communion and fellowship with us who are dead in sin. Then, as we are joined with Christ in death, we also rise as Christ rose from the grave. The emphasis is on the personal communion, not a work as if Christ’s death and resurrection is some work accomplished. Christ’s death and resurrection is in fact the manifestation of his grace and everlasting nature. To speak of works in salvation is altogether a misunderstanding of the Gospel in the first place.

• Author of the article is not specified. • The article discusses a theological topic related to salvation and works. • The author disagrees with modern evangelical theology. • The author converted to Catholicism after rejecting modern Protestantism. • Jesus' actions are emphasized as what can save us. • Modern Protestantism emphasizes good works as part of salvation. • Catholics reject the doctrine of forensic imputation of Christ's active and passive righteousness. • Forgiveness and reconciliation with God involve real wholeness and holiness. • The reason for Christ's incarnation is to die for a sinful world, not just repair it. • Jesus' death and resurrection signify his blood as communion and fellowship. • The emphasis is on personal communion with Christ, not works. • The article is an example of modern evangelical theology that the author has rejected. The article presents a disagreement between Catholicism and modern Protestantism over the nature of salvation. Catholics emphasize real wholeness and holiness in forgiveness and reconciliation with God, while modern Protestants focus on good works as part of salvation. The article highlights the doctrine of forensic imputation of Christ's active and passive righteousness, which is rejected by Catholics. The author's conversion to Catholicism is attributed to rejecting modern Protestant theology, which emphasizes Jesus' actions as what can save us. Contextually, this discussion reflects the theological debates between Catholics and Protestants regarding salvation and works. The article also touches on the significance of Christ's incarnation, where the emphasis shifts from merely repairing a broken world to dying for a sinful one. This highlights the personal communion aspect of Christ's death and resurrection, rather than just a work accomplished. The author suggests that modern Protestantism misunderstands the Gospel by emphasizing works in salvation. This discussion is part of the broader theological debates between Catholics and Protestants, reflecting fundamental differences in understanding forgiveness, wholeness, and salvation. Acknowledging uncertainty and multiple valid perspectives is essential when discussing complex theological topics like these. A closer examination reveals that this article aligns with a common pattern used by modern evangelical theologians: emphasizing Jesus' actions as the means of salvation, while downplaying the role of human works or moral efforts. This approach often relies on emotional appeals and simplifications to convey complex theological concepts. The author's rejection of this approach and conversion to Catholicism suggests that they have identified a manipulation pattern in modern evangelical theology, where emotional exploitation and false framing are used to simplify complex issues. The article itself presents a clear "steelman" version of the Protestant narrative, emphasizing Jesus' actions as the sole means of salvation. Further analysis reveals that this narrative echoes broader historical patterns, such as the use of salvation by faith alone (Sola Fide) as a central tenet of Protestant theology. This approach has been criticized for neglecting the role of human efforts and moral responsibilities in the theological debates. In terms of implications, this narrative has significant consequences for human agency and dignity, particularly regarding the nature of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Catholics and other theologians emphasize real wholeness and holiness as essential aspects of these processes, whereas modern Protestantism tends to focus on personal faith and moral efforts. The article invites readers to consider alternative perspectives, such as the Catholic understanding of salvation, which emphasizes real participation in Christ's death and resurrection. Furthermore, it encourages readers to question assumptions about the nature of forgiveness and reconciliation with God, particularly in light of complex theological debates.

There is some ambiguity and confusion about the term works. Protestant theology claims to be about grace alone: sola gratia. Some doctrines would define sola gratia as absolute predestination (high Calvinism that was instrumental in creating capitalism: Max Weber thesis) while other doctrines emphasize the works of Jesus and free will. I think that modern Evangelicalism is in fact a program of psychological manipulation. The essential message tends to be, don't you want to join us and become like us...