Marcus Borg on Salvation

Gathering Prayer: Holy One who is know to us by many names and in many ways, we give thanks for the blessings that we have in our lives. You know the thoughts of our hearts; hear our prayers. Be present now as we enter a time of thought and discussion.

Focus: Growing up as a Methodist, the focus of our church life was on a personal salvation and a walk with Jesus. Being “saved” or “born again” was woven into every Sunday morning service. Our small denomination sponsored missionaries in Guatemala, and their semi-annual reports glowed with the number of souls that had been saved.

Probe 1. Adam and Eve were the first sinners. How would you describe the idea of “sin”?

Sentences on the Subject: We view conversion as a onetime event. In the churches that raised me, this was explicitly the case. Sunday services culminated in altar calls, and the pastors who invited people to accept Jesus into their hearts told them to mark the specific moment as pivotal: “Today is the day of your salvation.” But the problem isn’t unique to churches that issue altar calls. Many of us who are baptized, confessing Christians feel uncomfortable with the messy, long haul of conversion. We expect a disinfected tidiness in our faith lives and a decorous reserve in our Sunday services. Open wounds don’t usually have a place in our pews. (Debbie Thomas in Sojourners 4/2020)

 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3)

 God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve,and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus. (Paul’s Letter to the Romans, CEV)

See the video “Embracing an Adult Faith: Salvation

Below is some “food for thought”, a few probes that might kick start a conversation. Read over them and pick one (or more, or none) to discuss. Remember to hold space for others to share and share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Probe 2. Paul presents the idea of Jesus as “the sacrificial lamb.” How do you feel about Borg presenting another way of thinking about salvation?

Probe 3. Borg states that “right belief” (orthodoxy) is the product of modern Christianity, and that “right belief” gains access to the Kingdom of God in the afterlife. What belief do you hold about salvation and the Kingdom of God?

Probe 4. Anything strike you from this video clip that you wish to discuss?

Commission: Hold on to what is good. Love deeply. Honor others. Stay excited about life and your faith. Be joyful. Be patient. If you pray, have faith. Share with people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. Be loving to those who hurt you. Be present; be in the moment. Be agreeable, even with those with whom you disagree. Be humble. Be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Do the right thing. If possible, live in peace with everyone. And remember, no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey- you are welcome here.

The video for this series can be view at Marcus Borg on Salvation at about the 18^th minute