Are you saved???

Uhh.. from what?

by what?

for what?

That was the theme this morning. The answer to all three questions, of course, was God. Saved from His wrath, by His grace, for His use. Yup. Can't disagree. Plus it makes for a good 3-point sermon.

But when the pastor said "The question 'Are you saved?' is the most critical question that can ever be asked of someone.", I had to disagree. Even he, in the same message, acknowleged that salvation is used in the Bible in the past tense, in the present tense, (both *are* saved, and are *being* saved), and in the future tense. He agreed with the Biblical writers that salvation is a process, which is more like the Catholic view of things (weekly Eucharist, regular reconciliation and penance) than the Evangelical date-in-time transactional view.

I think the better question is: "are you seeking to know God?"

For one, it relates to the post-modern culture better. "Being saved" doesn't. The pastor even said that people today don't believe they are accountable to God for their actions, and that there's no imminent threat of danger. They think (in a moral sense) "sure, I smoke in bed, leave candles burning all night, don't own a fire extinguisher, so what? My house hasn't burned down yet; and I just don't think it's going to. If it happens, it happens, I'll deal with it then. Why call the fire department when my house isn't burning?"

So then.. why ask them the moral question that way, as if you were talking about fire hazards and danger? But you can ask (morally): "do you like what's in your house, and what happens there? Is it ideal as is, or could it be better? Does it reflect who you are as a person?"

Two, it is less of a transactional view of spirituality, and more of a relational view, which is the original idea from back in the Garden anyway. It's not a test to which you must have the right answers.. instead it's spending time walking and talking with the teacher, learning what he knows & knowing who he is.

Three, the Scriptures teach that anyone who seeks God will find Him, and that He has marked His own for salvation before the foundation of the world, and that no one seeks God unless God draws him to look, so.. if you are seeking to know God, the salvation part will take care of itself. It's a given.

Finally, the Bible uses salvation in different ways, but mostly it's in the sense of being rescued from something bad, be it the threats of an enemy, the consequences of our wrong actions, or the potential loss of what is dear to us. It's not unlike the way we might say a beaten-up boxer was "saved by the bell" ringing at the end of a brutal round, or that a junkie/prostitute was "saved from the streets" by a rescue mission worker and/or rehab, or that a suicidal person was "saved from himself" by being talked back from the brink and gotten into therapy, or that an alcoholic was "saved from the gutter" by AA, etc. Unless you're facing calamity or consequences or threats... who needs to be saved?

But.. anyone can understand the question "are you seeking to know God?" Especially in our current culture where "being a spiritual person" is considered a good thing.

So, are you seeing to know God?

If so.. press on. He'll make sure you find Him. Because.. even *wanting* to seek is evidence that the relationship is already underway. He'll do His part: reveal. You do yours: seek.

If not.. why not? Are you afraid that if you do seek Him, that He'll intrude into your life and make you change what you're doing and what you value? Or is it because you have no need to be better than you are right now, you're just fine the way you are and need nothing from anyone, God included? Or is it because, even if there is a God.. you simply don't care?

Those are the scary answers. Not because morally your "house is on fire". But because they reveal what's inside your house (or speaking metaphorically.. inside your heart.) Do you like what you see there? House (and heart) without God living in it?

To me, that's the critical question.