 | The Reverend Amy Baumgartner is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Amy was ordained at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas in June 2008. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Before attending seminary, Amy graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and worked several years for an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. You may contact Rev. Baumgartner by email AssociatePastor@firstpresbywichita.org, or by phone at (316) 263-0248. |
Religion
2012-03-22 15:42:17
alvation...a variety of opinions
A: You ask a good question of why there are so many different opinions on the eternal state of human beings. I would approach the question of “why” from a number of different angles. First, God and God’s ways are mysterious. That does not mean that God’s ways are not understandable but that it is difficult for us to comprehend God’s ways fully. This is because God is beyond our finite understanding; I believe it is also that we might more fully cling to God. For instance, if I knew I only had to do “x” or “y” to go to heaven, it would diminish the need for an actual relationship with God. And I firmly believe that God’s intent is to be in relationship with each one of us. Your question is good because it prompts us to turn to God to ask how we might know God better and spend eternity with God.
A second aspect could be attributed to the fact God has created each of the Biblical writers as unique individuals. It is logical that God would use each writer to highlight a different aspect of relationship with God. These different aspects should be taken together. To illustrate, the Gospel of John and Paul’s letter to the Romans seem to indicate eternal life with God is dependent on belief in Jesus Christ alone. However, the Book of James and the end of Matthew’s Gospel covey that actions for those less fortunate are necessary to live with God for eternity. Both faith and action together are important.
I personally see the Spirit of God through the centuries of Christianity emphasizing different elements in our relationship with God. While this is a bit of an oversimplification, for example, the early monastic movements emphasized denial of self. The Reformation stressed the access of the Bible for all people and the Sovereignty of God. Some evangelical streams uphold the need to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Some Pentecostal denominations promote a need for speaking in tongues. Each of these different streams of Christianity highlight a different aspect in our relationship with God and taken together help us come to understand what is required for eternal life.
One of my seminary professors continued to talk about relationship with God as being a razor’s edge. It is much easier to promote one aspect like faith or works above the other in our relationship with God; however, I believe God desires us to wrestle to find the balance in the middle (hence the razor’s edge). This is why there are different opinions about important matters of faith. Yet there is one God who awaits our wrestling and delights to be found when we seek God with our whole hearts and lives.
