Atonement theories

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As I think about the different “atonement” theories that are out there, I started to think about things that I had never thought about before. I don’t mean to ruffle any feathers or anything, I’m just thinking out loud, so here goes.

Humans always say things like “someone has to pay!” We loathe the idea that something can be free or that actions can have no consequences. It is in our sin nature that everything in our world has to be fair. 

This in and of itself makes me think that our theories on the “penal substitution” of Jesus Christ are important because of what they do to our psyche.  I might just be a heretic here, but think about this for a second… someone standing before God and having to answer for the offenses that they have committed against Him. Then God looks and him and says, “I forgive you”. 

These words, “I forgive you” are some of the hardest things to say in our entire extended vocabulary. The reason is simply because we don’t think people should be forgiven unless someone has paid for what they have done first. Then, and only then, can they be forgiven (but not without a little “what have we learned?”  from the offended party). 

I feel as though an eternal God, with the ability to do anything, could have easily forgiven us without having to “pay” for anything. After all, He is God right? Has He created a system where everything must be fair and balanced, and now even HE must work within it? Has he created a cosmic “Fox news channel”?

I personally don’t believe so, and heres why. 

God has always had amazing ways to reveal Himself to us. Doesn’t it seam odd to anyone that he gave us a book? Seriously… a book! Books are things that we write. We also make movies and albums and various other forms of media. God chose to use something that we understand, and that fits perfectly within our world… a book. Paper and ink… to carry on a cosmic message about the fate of mankind. Couldn’t he have used something a little bit more… well… cosmic? A book?!!?

The message of God is always communicated to us so that we can grasp it “as a child”. In the world of humanity, things MUST be fair, or we don’t understand how they can go on… thats why we like the idea of “God the Father” (he’s not really a father, its a metaphor), and even the phrase He (He’s not even really a “he”…now is he?)

Sometimes, I almost feel as though God said “the only way that mankind (in their fallen state) will grasp my forgiveness, is if I show them that it’s okay… that it is paid for! How else will they understand my grace? How else will they understand that they can come to me? How else can they ever feel justified even entering my presence? They will feel unworthy (which we are). They will feel that my favor is unattainable (which it is… we cannot attain what is freely given). I will do anything to tell them that my forgiveness is free, I will even die on a cross!”

So wether I sound like a heretic or not (which we all are on many levels), I must ask the question (and that’s all it is, a question)… does the atonement look the same from God’s point of view? While we see a  “payment for sins” does God see “persuasion of forgiveness” (or “convincing of grace” or “communication of love”…I can’t come up with the words to describe whats going on in my head, but maybe you can understand)?

Or do I just need to shut up and “get it”?

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