There Are No Principles in Salvation

Modern Christianity has been trying to master the "principles" of proper Christian living. Paul's writing in the New Testament suggests that such a pursuit is not only not necessary, but is in fact counter-productive. For Paul (and by extension the post-pentecost Christian church), principles for living worked well when Christ did not live through us. Principles were a nice shadow of Christ. Principles gave guidance in decisionmaking. Now Christ lives through us and doesn't see our sin when we don't let Christ live through us while we try to live by "principles".

This is a big topic for me right now. I am frankly beyond the Christian acts that I grew up with: baptism (shadow of being completely bathed in Christ 24/7), titheing (I think God is big enough to take care of the Church light bill-maybe even through me, if I see joy in such giving), etc. But what is more difficult for me is that God isn't interested in my reliance of general principles, Old Testament, Hammurabi's code, Roman Law, or the Quran. He wants to BE the principle to which I look every second of the day. Every other principle for living is secondary.

Practical applications? Life is very personal, and lacks overarching principles that easily apply to all people. In essence, ethics, morals and other principles for living are fixed and too inflexible for life. The only true principle is that God doesn't change, and our life right now is to see Him express his love for us as we go through life.

Three Examples
ok, a big one.

1. Abortion.

First, just like any other part of life, if I am not letting God live through me, THAT is the sin, not the abortion as such. Is it possible to make a bad earthly decision? Of course, but the concequences are only here on earth, and nothing we do can deter His love for us. We can fall into too much principle/legalism and not realize God's moments of caring, but the truth stands that we already have (and can't ever lose) every blessing God had for us. Is abortion always a bad decision? Well, that is a principle question and God wants to live through people to answer these questions individually, so I can't say if it is always bad or not.

2. Best Governmental system

Modernists assume republican democracy is the best governmental structure, and that all others are inferior. God, when the people of Isreal wanted a government like the other people of the world, didn't institute democracy. He gave them a despot. The monarchy lasted through exactly 3 rulers: Saul, David and Solomon. (Interesting that many Christians enjoy following certain Old Testament lifestyle guidelines, but no one is talking about asking for a Monarchy here in the States. Maybe Idi Amin was right - just kidding!!)

Where does that leave us on the governance question? God tells individuals how best to live every second in the world around them. The principle of governmental forms is not all that significant. It isn't immaterial, is just pales compared with the much bigger issue of Christ's living through us or not.

3. Slavery.

I believe that in "Principle" slavery is more bad than good. Realize that my biggest concern with slavery is the lack of recourse for an abused Slave, and not the concept of "Slavery" as such. Concepts don't harm people, individuals and circumstances do. Paul never spoke against slavery. Does that mean he was for it? No, it means that a Christian slave can still have her/his life completely worked out by Christ. A Christian slave does not need the institution of slavery to change for his/her joy to increase. Joy comes from seeing Christ work in our lives. I dare say that EVERY life has difficulties which give Christ opportunity to speak to us by His working out of our lives. Every life can be joyful in Christ.