A reader writes in: "Being an old man but a relatively new member of the Episcopal Church I would like to challenge the blog to answer this question in 25 words or less: Assuming that Christ died for our sins, past, present and future, why are we still guilty when we sin today and still face the loss of salvation?"
A 25 word or less answer? How challenging for priests who love to hear the sound of their own voices! I accepted this challenge and also put it to two of our contributing authors, Shannon Ferguson-Kelly and Frank Logue.
"Loss of salvation" is not the issue, but "right relationship." Who is saved is God's perogative, right relationship is something we can effect. (23 words)
- David+
Sin is anything that takes us away from God, therefore, we feel guilt & loss of salvation because we strain our relationship with God.(24 words)
- Shannon+
The Atonement Jesus offers is made real both in our hearts and in the coming Kingdom, when we by faith accept Jesus' sacrifice for us. (25 words)
- Frank+
Technorati Tags: anglican, christianity, episcopal, guilt, religion, sin
As anecdotal evidence that preachers can't do justice to any topic in so few words, two lay people did what I consider to be a better job than me in there comments at Irenic Thoughts:
http://kingofpeace.blogspot.com/2007/03/25-words-or-less.html
peace,
Frank+
Posted by: Frank | March 02, 2007 at 07:15 AM