The Functions of Deity: Soteriology 1 (God Makes us Safe from what is Bad)

A sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ the Redeemer Church, 16 May 2010, 2 June 2024. Scripture quotes are either translations by Nate or adaptations of the ASV by Nate.

Intro: Mrs. McWilliams and the Lightning

Mark Twain wrote a short story about “Mrs. McWilliams and the Lightning.” The story begins with Mr. McWilliams waking up to the cries of his wife who is inside the closet: "You ought to be ashamed to lie there and sleep so, and such an awful storm going on… What are you doing? -- lighting a match at such a time as this! Are you stark mad? … Put it out! put it out instantly! Are you determined to sacrifice us all? You know there is nothing attracts lightning like a light. [Fzt! -- crash! boom…!] Oh, just hear it! Now you see what you’ve done! … Did you say your prayers tonight? … [Fzt! – boom…! Bumble-umble bang -- SMASH!] Oh, we are lost, beyond all help! How could you neglect such a thing at such a time as this? … Your voice sounds as if -- Mortimer, are you actually standing in front of that open fireplace? … Get away from it, this moment. You do seem determined to bring destruction on us all. Don’t you know that there is no better conductor for lightning than an open chimney? Now where have you got to? … by the window[?] … Oh, for pity’s sake, have you lost your mind? Clear out from there, this moment. The very children in arms know it is fatal to stand near a window in a thunder-storm. Dear, dear, I know I shall never see the light of another day. Mortimer? ... What is that rustling? … What are you doing? … [your] pantaloons[?] Quick! throw those things away! I do believe you would deliberately put on those clothes at such a time as this; yet you know perfectly well that all authorities agree that woolen stuffs attract lightning. Oh, dear, dear, it isn’t sufficient that one’s life must be in peril from natural causes, but you must do everything you can possibly think of to augment the danger. Oh, don’t sing! What can you be thinking of? Mortimer, if I have told you once, I have told you a hundred times, that singing causes vibrations in the atmosphere which interrupt the flow of the electric fluid…”


In time, Mrs. McWilliams consults a book on lightening and has her husband stand on a chair, with the legs of the chair all set on glass tumblers (for insulation), and him wearing a much metal as possible on his person. Then she instructs him to ring the dinner bell to ward off the lightning while she hides in the closet again. “Quick, Mortimer dear; we are almost safe.”


Mr. McWillaims continues from his perspective, “When I, mounted on the chair, had been clanging that dreadful bell a matter of seven or eight minutes, our shutters were suddenly torn open from without, and a brilliant bull’s-eye lantern was thrust in at the window, followed by a hoarse inquiry: "What in the nation is the matter here?" The window was full of men’s heads, and the heads were full of eyes that stared wildly at my night-dress and my warlike accoutrements. I dropped the bell, skipped down from the chair in confusion, and said, "There is nothing the matter, friends, only a little discomfort on account of the thunder-storm. I was trying to keep off the lightning."


"Thunder-storm? Lightning? Why, Mr. McWilliams, have you lost your mind? It is a beautiful starlit night; there has been no storm." I looked out, and I was so astonished I could hardly speak for a while. Then I said, "I do not understand this. We distinctly saw the glow of the flashes through the curtains and shutters, and heard the thunder." One after another of those people lay down on the ground to laugh... One …remarked, "…What you heard was cannon... You see, the telegraph brought some news, just at midnight: Garfield’s [been] nominated [for President], -- and that’s what’s the matter!".1


Some of the things we do when we are frightened may seem silly to others. The McWilliamses in the story thought that superstitious practices and hiding in the closet would keep them safe from lightening, but none of what they were doing was really going to make them any safer, and in fact, they had totally misdiagnosed the danger! Mark Twain’s story underlines the importance of understanding correctly what is wrong with the world and the importance of understanding correctly what will bring safety.


When we are afraid, we instinctively turn to whatever we think will make us safe, based on our assumptions about what is wrong. This is instructive, because the fourth and final Function of Deity is to provide safety – to save us from whatever is bad. When you are threatened, what is your first impulse? Despite whatever you say you believe, whatever you instinctively turn to for safety is acting as a god for you.

How did we get here?

The issues of Salvation are closely tied to the issues of Ethics, for it is not until your god has defined for you what is wrong with the world that you can proceed to a consideration of what to do to be saved from whatever is wrong with the world.


If your worldview tells you that death from lightning strikes (and other natural disasters) is all that is wrong with the world, then suddenly the field of salvation is defined for you as a consideration of ways to keep from being killed by natural disasters. If, on the other hand, your worldview tells you that the greatest problem in the world is doing things that upset the spirit world, then you will look for salvation from spiritual harm by doing things to appease spirits, and that will look rather different from seeking safety from natural threats. The study of safety, or salvation, is called Soteriology.


This progression from Epistemology, Ontology, and Ethics to Soteriology is also a Biblical progression:


We also see this progression in Jesus’ teachings: In John 14, he said, “I am the way (that’s Ethics), the truth (that’s Epistemology), and the life (that’s Ontology), no one comes to the Father but through me (There we have the way of salvation!).” In that short, but powerful statement, Jesus claimed to fulfill all four functions of deity.


Once again, I want to compare and contrast different worldviews – particularly the worldviews of Secular Humanism and Biblical Christianity – as touching Soteriology, or the study of salvation.

Ethics Review

So what’s the problem?

There are many ideas out there as to what the problem is:

Secular Security Strategy #1: Rely on your own power and smarts

Secular Security Strategy #2: Rely on other people to save you

Secular Security Strategy #3: Rely on material wealth to save you

Secular Security Strategy #4: Be good. Do good things

Secular Security Strategy #5: Ignore the problem

The Bible’s statement on the problem and solution

Conclusion

I hope to explore the comprehensive nature of God’s salvation in my next sermon, but for now, consider the way you live your life.

1 http://enrichmentfellowship.org/documents/classes/MrsMcWilliamsAndTheLightning.pdf

2 http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/index.php

3 HTTP://BOOKS.GOOGLE.COM/BOOKS?ID=J00EAAAAMBAJ

4 http://www.examiner.com/x-43100-Buckminster-Fuller-Examiner~y2010m4d27-Education-is-the-answer-to-all-humankinds-problems-There-is-an-abundance-of-all-resources-video

5http://www.buildfreedom.com/learned_permission.htm

6Sayers, The Trouble with Paris, pp. 95-97.

7Dr. George Bascom, in the story entitled “Gravity,” Deep Creek Stories, MA/AH Publishing- Sunflower University Press, Manhattan, KS. A hilarious read!

8http://www.livedash.com/transcript/glenn_beck/5202/FNC/Tuesday_March_16_2010/170882/

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