"Are You Saved?"

No matter where I turn, this question seems to come up lately.

The idea for this blog entry started with my friend Becca M-C, who graduated from the seminary last year and is waiting for a First Call to a church. When she came back to visit, she wore the shirt in the picture above all around Philly, which spurred some interesting conversations. When we went to the spice store in Chestnut Hill, the shirt started a conversation about Church hymns and social justice.

Then we went to the Italian Market in South Philly, and stopped in for some chocolate-covered, peanut-butter-filled pretzels (oh man, were they good!). The woman behind the counter got really excited when she saw her shirt. A dialogue like this ensued:

Woman: I love your shirt!
B M-C: Oh, thanks!
Woman: Are you saved?
B M-C: Umm...uh....well.... I just graduated from seminary and I'm waiting for a call.
Woman: Well, Jesus is the only way to Heaven, and most people don't believe that. But He is.
B M-C (and me): Oh, well, um, thanks... 'bye!

Becca and I talked about this conversation afterwards, and she said something like: "I don't really know what to say when I'm asked that question... as a Lutheran, I don't really believe that I gained salvation at a specific moment... and I'm not really comfortable with the 'saved' language."

This made me think. Usually, I have the same reaction when someone asks me if I'm "saved." If the question was, do you believe in Jesus Christ, I would answer yes. If the question was, do you think you have eternal life because of Jesus, I would answer yes. But the minute the word "saved" comes in, for some reason (like many other mainline protestants) my tongue gets tied up.

I believe that one of the main reasons many mainline protestants are adverse to the "saved" language is because the language is so tied-in with conservative fundamental Christians. Even as a Christian, I am sometimes put-off by the aggressive evangelism tactics in which the goal is to "save the lost." I'm all for sharing my faith in Jesus with others, but there is a time and a place. And a (perhaps less heavy-handed) technique.

I don't think I have an adversity to saying that I'm saved (because I am), I just have an adverse reaction to it because of its negative connotation from those who use it too aggressively.


These thoughts in my head about "saved" language continued when I attended the Friday night of Greg Laurie's 3-night Harvest Crusade in Philly at the beginning of October (see picture above). Christians attending are encouraged to "bring an unsaved friend." Numbers are tallied of how many people come up at the altar call at the end of the event, to see how many people came to Christ.

I'm thinking that, although I am dubious about these "crusades" (and the use of that word is a bit disconcerting in of itself) as an evangelism tactic, I think that revivals in general are great. Revivals aren't something that is usually used in mainline Protestantism, but revivals have the ability to bring in new people to the church and to fire-up church-goers who have gotten a bit too comfortable in their faith. The revival idea that "Evangelical Christians" use is something that can be really great and a "mountain top" experience.

So here's the thing: "Evangelical Christians" are on to something-- and mainline Protestants could really benefit from taking some pages out of their book(s). They are unabashed about their faith in Jesus and how it has changed their life. They do not shy away from the connection of emotion with that of the Gospel message. They are passionate about sharing Jesus with others in a way that mainline Protestants are usually lacking. Their revival services are a great way to wake people up. They use music in worship that stirs in me a way that traditional hymns do not (although, conversely, traditional hymns also affect me in a way that contemporary worship music does not).

This discussion was further deepened for me this past Sunday. I was blown away yesterday by a guest-preacher's sermon at a non-denominational, Evangelical church near my parents' house. This church is one that I've sort-of adopted when I come visit my parents (since my home church is in Philly), and I enjoy the change of pace by worshiping in a "contemporary Evangelical" setting, even if the theology may be something that I don't agree with all of the time. But this past Sunday, a guest preacher preached on the passage in Mark having to do with the young rich ruler asking Jesus: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" And, lo and behold, the preacher preached one of the best sermons on grace alone that I have ever heard in my life. "There is nothing we can do of our own merit to inherit eternal life," he preached. "Only God can do that. Jesus did that for us on the cross. He died for you and saved you so that you can be with Him forever."

I don't think I have ever been so struck by the Gospel as I was in that moment. I have heard this message numerous times and have been very moved, but the fact that I was hearing it in a non-Lutheran, somewhat conservative "Evangelical" setting struck me in a way it never had before. I was amazed.

And now I know that there is so much more depth to non-denominational, "Evangelical" Christianity than I ever thought possible. There is more than just conservative-leaning agendas and law-heavy, fear-laden sermons about choosing Heaven or Hell. As Christians, we all hold the same core beliefs, that we are saved through the grace of God and through the Holy Spirit's gift of faith in Jesus Christ. We are sisters and brothers in Christ all the same, no matter the denomination or theological emphases.

I do think that there's some middle ground-- a way to incorporate this "Evangelical Christian" outward passion for Jesus and His Gospel in a way that does not automatically offend or become over-the-top, and still have a theology that is very much Lutheran. I am definitely a changed person when it comes to viewing Christianity in general, in all its ecumenical glory. I hope to take this change and apply it to my preaching and leading in the future, so that there can be the best of both worlds-- a Lutheran, grace-filled Gospel with passion and emotion and excitement!!