The title of this post mimics the cover story title for Christianity Today's recent publication. The article (I confess I did not get through the entire thing) calls into question the "new" theories of atonement that are displacing Subsitution Atonement Theory.
The focus is all wrong. We should not be fearing the change to a "doctrinal" statement that does not even appear in the Nicene Creed, but rather we should look to see how that incorporates into the salvation economy. I, like the evangelicals that CT mentions think that Substitutionary Atonement sells atonement too short. Instead I propose Reconciliation Atonement - redundant, yes.
Atonement is broken down as "at-one-ment", i.e. reconciled. If the cross is our only point of reconciliation, then why did we even have a resurrection. Substitutionary Atonement sells the resurrection, the great commission and the eschaton short, not to mention the incarnation and actual life of Christ.
Map with me:
Incarnation - God desires reconciliation with the creation - mostly people, but all of creation can be argued here. God becomes human, and has taken the first step toward reconciling with creation. It requires this active initial step for the reconciliation process to begin.
Life of Jesus - At-one-ment is not just vertical, but horizontal. God is in and breathes through the entirety of creation. Thus creation must be reconciled horizontally in order to achieve full reconciliation with God. The life of Jesus, besides proclaiming future events, also provides the model to live a reconciled life. With just the cross we would have no Beattitudes or Sermon on the Mount. We would have no miracles and compassionate hearts upon the poor. But for creation to be reconciled horizontally, these must be so and Jesus infused that into creation - leaving the Holy Spirit to continue on the work.
Death - Cross. Necessity to die for our sins, cleaning the slate so that we can be ushered into a life of reconciliation. Substitutionary Atonement works here, but is limited to this event and must be only a portion of the salvation economy, not made the entire or even most central theme, but one of the major themes.
Resurrection - Christ overcomes death, our hope for future and the power over death symbolizes the power over sin. Because Christ rose from the dead, sin is no longer a master. This piece is so very important in God's scheme for atonement, for if sin's sting was not defeated in this way, though humanity's slate was clear, nothing stopped the death of sin from enveloping people again. We have seen this lack of power before in the law. It was very important, but never took power over sin.
Great Commission - Here we return to horizontal reconciliation. The active part of creation. Jesus sends his people to preach the Good News and make disciples. He sends them to be reconciled and respond to God's steps of reconciliation. The Church, beginning here, is charged to bring the news of reconciliation to the world.
Eschaton - This is the culmination of reconciliation. The New Heaven and New Earth begin in the form that God so desires. Creation is at-oned with God. This is the hope for which we live now.
There are probable holes to this quick Atonement theory summary, but it seems pretty comprehensive in scope. I can see issues of universalism and stuff like that...which please, comment on if you so will. Find the holes or add to it. This is a thought I've been trying to develop for over a year.
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