i haven't written much as of late, because i've been wrapping my mind around the ridiculous amount of papers i've had to write. while i might not be recording my thoughts, i still tend to be consistently coming up with questions and consistently seeking answers.
recently i had a thought, which has unravelled into a question/predicament. first of all, let me set the stage by saying that my spiritual views are not defined by a set of actions that one should do or not do in an attempt to achieve "morality." morality, you see, is a subjective term (societally). what is permissible to me may be an abomination to another, yet may not be that big of a deal at all to someone else.
my question though deals with the entire concept of people "saving souls." why is it that, so commonly, sermons that are trying to "save souls" are simultaneously arguing that souls need to be saved because the person is engaging in "immoral" acts?
let me explain my issue with the notion. the thing is, first - we are dealing with the concept of the soul. if a person happens to believe that people have souls, a person would (most likely) agree that the soul of a person is not hinged upon physical being. the entire concept of there being an afterlife gives the philosophical/spiritual assent that, because a person has a soul, a person can exist (as a soul) without their body.
with that said, why is the biggest concern dealing with how a soul exists, often things that are physical desires? drinking, sex, drugs... these are very physical desires, very much linked to our bodies. yet, we seem to gather that by a person doing these things, their soul is in jeopardy?
i guess i just believe these concepts are rather discordant, when i think about them. the crux exists in the fact that i do believe that a person's ontology is marked by the coexistence of their body and their soul. this would, of course, seem to suggest that i do think physical actions affect the soul. the thing is though, i don't believe that. while i believe they coexist, i'm not sure i believe that one of the two factors results in a soul being "in right standing," and such.
i guess the bigger crux, though, is that i am not comfortable with anyone being the legislator of this subjective morality and i do not believe that any person has the ability to "save souls." the entire idea of saving souls would stem from a person believing that they had an otherworldly power that gave them such rights. while i make the spiritual assent that many are called to do good things in the Lord's name (i believe the sacraments offer ontological change as well as mystical change and influence), i believe even these callings do not lead someone who is still living in their body, that tattered coat upon a stick, to do what i believe only the great I AM could do.
and, in closing, i just can't tell you (in good conscience) that i believe that i or anyone else existing physically knows how, exactly, to "save souls," because knowing how to do so would mean knowing a soul fully and it is hard for me to believe anyone on this earth knows any soul fully -- even their own.
(i enjoy having questions. there is a peace within knowing that i am striving towards perfection and testing everything and discerning what is good.)
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Amen. Only God can save us-the whole of us. That is very piece of theology that has messed up our modern churches. People cannot save themselves or others. We can pray that God would do it, but we cannot.
I believe that when the Bible tells us that we are made in God's image it's saying that we have souls, not just physical bodies like animals; therefore, we cannot tear our humanity into two parts (physical and soul) because we are one being. The physical will eventually pass, sure, but we could not exist with the soul. We simply haven't been made that way.
One final thought. Morality tends to get legalistic most of the time so it's difficult to say we should strive for that. BUT, we are told to strive to be holy (for He is holy) and I believe that our outward actions are landmarks, if you will, of our spiritual journey to holiness. We cannot, as James taught, strive to be godly without having loving actions outpour as a result.
Whew... thanks for making me think tonight.
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