a Salvation Religion

Edmund Dulac (1882-1953)

Growing up Lutheran, and around the Protestant faith in general, was good for me: I was (and still am in a lot of ways), down on myself, conscious of my imperfections, my sins. Therefore, the forgiveness-forward message of the protestant faiths was critical for me being able to trust God's love for me.

However, through the years, as I began to understand my deepest flaws in the most intimate and heart-breaking manners, I knew that I was missing out on a lot of what Christianity means: It isn't just about knowing God loves me and that I'm forgiven (though both are true).

It isn't about feeling better about myself after church, or thinking it’s ‘fine’ when I fall into the same sins because ‘I’m just imperfect and that’s why Jesus died for me’ (the first is not true, the second is a partial truth which is what Satan excels at).

Christianity is about salvation - which includes transformation; transformation requires change (it's spiritual science). Change often requires the heat of trial.

I was not challenged to put myself through spiritual trial until I encountered the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic faiths.

Christianity is an ascetic religion.
It IS a salvation religion - but salvation can only be fully realized until we know intimately the depth of our sin, and are convicted to the point of our heart breaking every day to become pure before the Holy, Mighty, Immortal One.

And knowing that the power of our salvation is in the hands who formed us, our Lord Jesus Christ.

We DO need to be accountable to ourselves and our sins.
We DO need to change where we need changing - repentance includes CHANGE, not just admission.
This is salvation working. A salvation power that comes from Jesus Christ alone.