This is a very interesting point. I always think about this. Salvation by works vs salvation by grace. Some Christian churches I think believe in salvation by works - they might interpret it away saying it’s eventually grace, but in essence, it’s still works.
The dichotomy may not be as sharp as it seems except in Calvinism and partial Calvinism (OSAS). The Lord Jesus frequently distinguished people into the categories of righteous and unrighteous. You're familiar w/ the Bible so I will not quote verses. Just, as an example, there is the parable for the sheep and goats. But, even Greek philosophers before Christ realized that people cannot be perfectly righteous. I guess one doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to realize this
. So, even in non-Christian religions you find that gods are being worshipped.
If one reads Romans chapters 7 & 8 back to back, the image becomes clear that even Jews who had the Torah could not live a righteous life, and that God finally condemned the power of sin in Jesus' flesh as he became humanity's representative. Thus salvation comes by grace to those who do their best to live virtuous lives by his power. This faith is unique to Christianity but in no way implies that the unrighteous would be saved while they live in worldly greed.
Anyways. I don’t know if it’s really seen to be too good to be true. Maybe perceived to be unfair? Unjust? Both ways - for the saved and for the condemned.
From my observation, Christians might become not as motivated or serious about their faith once realizing “they got their guaranteed ticket to heaven”… It’s a big fault too, in my opinion.
This is a comment on a segment of Christianity with theology that I do not accept. It may even lead to feelings of superiority for being saved and the other person is not. Or even worse: he is not predestined to salvation.
if we take the majority of people, then I think the tendency is to be careless if there’s an idea of no responsibility for your actions
This will introduce one of 2 reactions: a) rejection: my behavior is not so bad to deserve hell; or b) acceptance: this leads to mental illness: hopelessness, anxiety, guilt, etc.
I understand. If you’ve got your carrot and there’s no stick, there isn’t much motivation left… Yes people with built-in high morals will be driven no matter what. If you take an average Joe, he would think, if I’m saved I’m saved. Not that he’ll run to sin, but there won’t be much stopping him either. “Anything goes”
It is so much better and easier with positive motivation by reciprocating the love of God who is love and who would not hurt me and will surely save me unless I reject Him first. Love has power. It replaces the power of entropy and changes me from the inside.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
Christian societies indeed have been behaving pretty badly… Wars, slavery, genocide, exploitation of colonies, discrimination, recently amoral Hollywood and rock music industry etc. Non-Christian world honestly looks at it with horror. Some nations were hurt pretty bad and don’t like Christianity (like Canadian first nations with trauma of children abuse/genocide in Christian residential schools)
This is evidence of believing in cultural superiority. It is most pronounced in Islam. Quran 3:110 You are the best nation that ever existed among humanity. You command people to good and prohibit them from evil, and you believe in Allah.
I do not minimize the atrocities, but one has to remember all the good that Christianity has provided to the world in establishing hospitals, schools, science, etc.
So in my view “saved by works” motivates better overall, and makes more sense in regards to justice. Judgement for all people based on behaviour, not on accepting a set of beliefs. Otherwise to keep this idea of “saved by grace” just, you need to add a postmortem chance to hear the gospel and accept it… Otherwise, automatic hell for an unbeliever doesn’t seem fair: there could be so many reasons for the unbelief…
We are saved by grace but judged on behavior. God is more loving and just than all of us and automatic hell for an unbeliever is not fair.