Losing My Religion
I was baptized and raised in the Lutheran Church. I have been a Lutheran all my life. I worked with Lutheran Churches in New York and with several notable exceptions, I have found those that attend the Church and the Pastors to be wonderful people.
Justification by faith alone is part of Luther's teaching. It's something I am struggling with now and making me question more and more what I believe. The longer I live and the more I believe and experience, I am not sure I am still on board with this part of our doctrine.
Justification by faith: asserts God's pardon for guilty sinners is granted to and received through faith alone, excluding all "works". All mankind, it is asserted, is fallen and sinful, under the curse of God, and incapable of saving itself from God's wrath and curse. But God, on the basis of the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ alone (solus Christus), grants sinners judicial pardon, or justification, which is received solely through faith. Faith is seen as passive, merely receiving Christ and all his benefits, among which benefits are the active and passive righteousness of Jesus Christ. (wikipedia)
As I grew up, I didn't necessarily think too much about this. Looking at the world, now, I am questioning it. I mean, the idea that Adolph Hitler could be forgiven all his sins simply because he believes in Jesus is a pretty reprehensible idea. My mother used to tell me that our faith meant we did good acts and lived Godly loves. I look at people who profess a belief in Jesus and see them behaving in ways quite contrary to his teachings.
It is for God to judge us in the long run. I do believe in true repentance for past actions, but on the other hand if one lives one's life like "I can do anything I want because God will forgive me because I believe in Jesus" that is troubling to me.
In the early days of the Internet, I'd watch people often say that "gays were going to hell." I would respond that I'd rather be in hell with them than in heaven with people like them who had so much hate. I don't question God. He/She is what they are. If I am wrong and that is the way it works, I am not so sure I want to be around people like that in eternal life. I am not sure I could look at a Donald Trump, Adolph Hitler, Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson as people who are equal to others who do try to live life according to what Jesus taught in the Gospels. "Love one another as I have loved you" doesn't include building a wall. It doesn't include turning away refugees. It doesn't include destroying the education system of this country for profit at the expense of the most vulnerable. It doesn't include allowing coal waste to be dumped in rivers and streams so only those who can afford it have clean drinking water.
There is a separation of Church and State, but there is also consideration of how your faith affects who you vote for to lead your government and what policies you stand behind.
I am struggling not with my belief in God and Jesus, but with doctrine. I believe that using my brain to grow in my faith and ask these questions is why God gave them to us.
Justification by faith alone is part of Luther's teaching. It's something I am struggling with now and making me question more and more what I believe. The longer I live and the more I believe and experience, I am not sure I am still on board with this part of our doctrine.
Justification by faith: asserts God's pardon for guilty sinners is granted to and received through faith alone, excluding all "works". All mankind, it is asserted, is fallen and sinful, under the curse of God, and incapable of saving itself from God's wrath and curse. But God, on the basis of the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ alone (solus Christus), grants sinners judicial pardon, or justification, which is received solely through faith. Faith is seen as passive, merely receiving Christ and all his benefits, among which benefits are the active and passive righteousness of Jesus Christ. (wikipedia)
As I grew up, I didn't necessarily think too much about this. Looking at the world, now, I am questioning it. I mean, the idea that Adolph Hitler could be forgiven all his sins simply because he believes in Jesus is a pretty reprehensible idea. My mother used to tell me that our faith meant we did good acts and lived Godly loves. I look at people who profess a belief in Jesus and see them behaving in ways quite contrary to his teachings.
It is for God to judge us in the long run. I do believe in true repentance for past actions, but on the other hand if one lives one's life like "I can do anything I want because God will forgive me because I believe in Jesus" that is troubling to me.
In the early days of the Internet, I'd watch people often say that "gays were going to hell." I would respond that I'd rather be in hell with them than in heaven with people like them who had so much hate. I don't question God. He/She is what they are. If I am wrong and that is the way it works, I am not so sure I want to be around people like that in eternal life. I am not sure I could look at a Donald Trump, Adolph Hitler, Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson as people who are equal to others who do try to live life according to what Jesus taught in the Gospels. "Love one another as I have loved you" doesn't include building a wall. It doesn't include turning away refugees. It doesn't include destroying the education system of this country for profit at the expense of the most vulnerable. It doesn't include allowing coal waste to be dumped in rivers and streams so only those who can afford it have clean drinking water.
There is a separation of Church and State, but there is also consideration of how your faith affects who you vote for to lead your government and what policies you stand behind.
I am struggling not with my belief in God and Jesus, but with doctrine. I believe that using my brain to grow in my faith and ask these questions is why God gave them to us.
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