What We Believe

Why do we believe what we do?  From experience?  Empirical evidence (i.e. proof)?  Faith?  Because?  Combination of all the above?  I think a mixture of factors inform our beliefs, and at different moments, we draw from different knowledge pools to explain our beliefs.  For example, when a 4 year old asks, "Why?"  over and over, we might have a tendency to respond with, "Because!"  And in that instance, that surface-level response might be enough to satisfy.  But when we are faced with deeper challenges to our beliefs, a simple 'ol "Because" usually won't satisfy most critics.  This holds very true for those who consider themselves God-followers when we ask, or are asked, some of the tough questions about God and about life.  For example, if someone asks you why bad things happen to good people, a simple 'ol "Because" more than likely is not going to calm any troubled spirits and will not be an accurate reflection of God.  That's why it's important for us to understand our faith to the best of our ability so that we can help people better understand God in the midst of struggles and questions.

So for the next several entries, I'm going to address some of the tough questions about God and life.  I don't claim to be an expert, just one who has been extremely fortunate to have had the time to study, and question, and ponder, and search out, and write, and rewrite.  For this blog, I want to address the question, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" 

This question has been asked ever since Jesus actually died on the cross, and the early church grappled with many theories of atonement (our reconciliation back to God) while establishing church doctrine.  For the most part, the church has traditionally gravitated toward two main understandings of atonement – propitiation (preventing or appeasing God’s anger or wrath toward humanity) and expiation (humankind’s liberation and purification from the stain of sin).  Although these are big fancy words that most of us (myself included) won't spout off in daily conversation, most of us have heard explanations that support both understandings.  Like - Jesus died to pay for our sins because we can't.  That would be propriation.  Or maybe you've heard that we become justified (not guilty) in God's sight because of Jesus' voluntary sacrifice.  That's expiation. 

Whether propriation or expiation, this is still a tough subject to understand.  Most of us with soft hearts still ponder with a four-year-old, "Why?"  Why did Jesus have to die?  Couldn't there have been another way?  Couldn't God just make it so none of this was necessary?  So...what's a good "on the ground" explanation as to why Jesus had to die on the cross? 

Out of undying love for us, God made us so that we can make choices throughout our lives.  Because of having the freedom to make choices, we oftentimes choose to be separated from God.  We run to every possible person or thing to find our justification and validation.  And I can imagine that this hurts God's heart, but still God chooses to let us try to figure things out without being told what to do.  God says, "I am the way, but I want you to figure it out without me coercing you."  Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't.  And God is so committed to this undying love that God came to us in our human condition through the person of Jesus, so that when we don't always get things right, we'll still be okay.  We still have a chance to (re)connect with God. 

If you're still having trouble wrapping your nugget around all this, here is what I think is the simplest and most beautiful explanation of atonement - why Jesus had to die.  It's the parable of the lost sheep found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15 verses 3 - 7. 

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” ⁷Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

Jesus died on the cross because He cares for all of us.  Even if 99 of us are best buds with Him, Jesus seeks out the 1 who doesn't yet know Him.  God desires a relationship with ALL of us and comes to us when we are lost, lonely, down and out, grieving, self-indulgent, happy, proud, self-righteous, humble, arrogant - you name it.  And this is why Jesus came and why Jesus died on the cross for us - out of undying love for all of us.  Because all of us at one time or another are the one lost sheep. 

I hope this helps.  Until next time...