Salvation: Isn't it More Than Just "Where Do I Go When I Die?"

Invitation to A Study on Salvation

 This invitation is available in print here, and also at our Facebook study page.  If you want to see the video version, you can find it here. 

Hi, I'm the Rev. Dr. Curt Karns with the Presbytery of Yukon.  I am aiming this primarily at participants in Presbyterian churches in Alaska as a way of encouraging adults in their growth as Christians.  The idea for this study developed after talking especially to young adults in Kaktovik and Anaktuvuk Pass, who wanted to grow as Christians in order to help teach and show their children how to become the best disciples of Christ they can be.  As one parent put it: "We haven't had Sunday School or other Christian training in or village for a long time.  We need more if we are to really serve as examples for our children."

With that in mind, I am presenting this experimental, five-week study on "salvation."  This is an experimental study, because I have never taught long distance.  I have been wondering what would make this really effective for Alaskans.

I have decided to try a multi-media approach.  For people with computers or tablets, and adequate download speeds, I am providing a video segment of the study for people to view in advance of the scheduled study date.  There will be recommended scripture passages for people to read, and some basic information that will give participants something to think about before we come together for a time of discussion.

I will also be able to seek out folks to interview regarding how salvation has shown itself in their lives.  I look forward to interviewing some of our elders, and maybe others as the class discussion reveals various needs for discussion.

In these five weeks we will look at salvation from a variety of angles.  This is important, because people have begun asking if salvation is just about where we go when we die--that is, is salvation only about going to heaven and not hell--or does salvation important for our day-to-day life?  The answer, of course, is that all of life is affected by the love of God we experience daily, and that we are opened to especially through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, in the salvation of Jesus Christ the love of God sometimes seems to leap out at us.  We experience it in the warmth of the sun on our faces, in the glint of the frost on the grass and in the taste of the food in our mouth.  All this beauty is a part of the grace of God, as is the way our hearts are created for compassion and meaningful relationship, and the way our lifetimes are fulfilled through meaningful participation in families, communities and all relationships.

Most of all, salvation is about the transformation we experience throughout life as a result of becoming open to an the active relationship with God made possible through Jesus Christ.  The transformation is so profound and so wide reaching that I want to look at it from four different biblical perspectives.  The first week (Oct 20) will be about setting the stage, discussing our need for salvation and how Jesus let us know that he is the answer to that need.  The next four weeks will look at four different salvation stories in the Bible, all of which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

• The second week (Oct 27) will look at the salvation of Jesus Christ restores our relationship with God, and transforms our relationship with all creation.  We will take a fresh look at the creation stories and other scriptures and celebrate what this can mean for our lives.  Salvation changes our relationship with God, and with God's beloved creation.
• The third week (Nov 1) will look at the teachings of the prophets and Jesus on how essential it is for God's people to make sure our communities and societies are characterized by the justice and compassion of God.  That is, we need to be at work building our families and our societies in a way that helps everyone, and all creation, to thrive.  Salvation changes the way we live in our communities.
• The fourth week (Nov 8) will look at the teaching of both the Old and New Testaments on how God is present and active when some kind of tragedy seems to shatter our world.  In the Old Testament we especially see it in the scriptures on the exile, but in the salvation of Jesus we find that it applies to all sorts of tragedy.  It helps us to make sense of the question of "Where is God" when our families crumble, or when we become victims of abuse, or in many other situations.  It also helps us to understand the Christian experience at such times, and what faithfulness means at such times.  The healing of God is about healing for our whole selves, body, soul, and even our life's story.
• The fifth week will especially look at Jesus' message of forgiveness through the cross and how that forgiveness fulfills all these meanings of salvation.  Indeed, being restored to right relationship with God through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ brings all things in our lives into God's grace, including death.  The resurrection of Jesus helps us understand ourselves with God in all of life.  And life, it turns out, is eternal in quality and in eternity.

 I am hoping to post a new entry to this blog on the Friday before each Bible Study.  In that blog entry I will give the scriptures to study in advance of that Bible Study, and some information to help people prepare for the study.  Because some people form their relationships on Facebook, I will also publish the same information on HERE on Facebook.  Because some folks are more interested in learning from video sources, I will publish a similar teaching HERE on YouTube.

The study itself will be ready to take place on Tuesdays.  There are three ways to participate.

• Here on this blog through comments to that week's posting.
• On the Facebook page, through comments to that week's posting,
• Or through a conference call discussion and prayer time.  You can join Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at one of these phone numbers:
• Cell phones: 276-1095, or
• Land lines: 1-866-298-1095

In all cases, I hope we will pray for all who participate.  It is just as important to form praying faith communities as it is to hold intellectual studies. Maybe we can also share hymns that seem to speak to the messages that we are learning through the Bible study.  We need to experiment with how to share the worshipful, experiential side of Christian life.

In fact this whole study is an experiment.  Can we do meaningful discipleship building long-distance?  Can a study like this help a local faith community either to form, or to grow stronger?  We will spend five weeks exploring this and at the end decide if we should pick another topic and continue.

For all who feel moved to participate in this experiment, I look forward to meeting you in this study.  AND if anyone has questions before we begin, feel free to give me a call.  I am the Rev. Curt Karns and my phone is 907-350-3969.

I pray for an awareness of God's blessing for all who read this.

In Christ's service,
Curt Karns

(I have to go now.  I will finish writing this piece soon)