There are multiple schools of thought on Atonement. Substitutionary atonement, in which Christ takes the penalty instead of us is thought to secure our innocence before God. John Calvin, in his “Institutes ” (2.16.5) summarizes this classical understanding of Atonement:
This is our acquittal: the guilt that held us liable for punishment has been transferred to the head of the Son of God. We must, above all, remember this substitution, lest we tremble and remain anxious throughout life — as if God’s righteous vengeance, which the Son of God has taken upon himself, still hung over us.
These words are harsh and have been dropped by many liberal and progressive theologians. Substitutionary atonement makes God, whom Jesus likened to a heartsick parent, look punitive and vengeful. However, if one takes this theory and considers putting your own suffering in place of, say, your own baby, maybe there is some truth to the understanding. While I am not certain of my own “acquittal” I can be certain that suffering on every level would be my choice before knowingly allowing my child to experience the pain of suffering. Does this give me a window into God’s love for me? For you? I believe God loves us as a parent loves his child. Intimately, dearly, with high hopes and wild abandon. What do you believe? ~linda
