You may or may not be familiar with the large iconic neon Jesus Saves sign atop the landmark building in downtown Los Angeles (see pic). That phrase, “Jesus Saves,” has been mostly popularized the last 50 years or so, though the phrase can be traced back to the 1889 Scotch Church hymnary. Back in the 80’s the Church of the Open Door occupied the building and the pastor and I became friends after I had met him through a friend and invited him to be a camp speaker for the camping ministry which I directed. I always wondered what the secular, non-church world thought when they saw that towering, glowing sign beaming over the top of Los Angeles…. the city of my own birth, by the way, the City of Angels.
We still hear Christians use the word “saved” in several ways. “Is she saved?” or “I was saved in 1977” or “We need to save the lost” and so on. What does “saved” mean to you? I can only imagine or guess as to what secular peeps think when they see that huge sign in LA or hear someone mention the idea of being “saved” in a religious context. If I had to guess I’d say most secular folks might think “saved from hell.” Do you think that is what most Christians think when they use the word “saved”? Saved from eternal separation from God in a state of eternal torment? Perhaps so. Heaven and hell is black and white, one or the other, in or out. We like that.
We know believing in Jesus does not save any human being, from being subjected to bad luck, accidents, heart attacks, cancer, ADHD, depression, tornados, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes or any of those terrible things that happen in our lives and the lives of those we know and love. We give thanks to God if we survive or recover from whatever disaster or ailment befalls us being indeed thankful. I’m most inclined to consider being “saved” to mean saved from a meaningless life, saved from a life without a supernatural sense of direction toward wisdom, humility, purpose and love. Saved from losing a sense of destiny and hope when those terrible things in life afflict us. When Jesus healed individuals from afflictions, he often said something like, “Go, your faith has saved you” or “…your faith has made you well.” The word saved has that meaning of “making you well.” Think, "it is well with your soul" kind of well.
Personally, in my nearly 50 years of following Jesus I’ve never used the phrase. I’ve always felt too many people use it to mean “in or out” or “heaven or hell” referring to certain people or groups of people. I’ve met a lot of Christians over the years that still need to be saved from addictions, self-destructive behaviors, narcissism and the pursuit of a life without purpose. I need to be “saved” from myself quite often when I get turned around and go the wrong way in life…. away from Jesus. You too, right? Jesus can save us from drowning in a sea of guilt and shame that Christians deal with living a very, very imperfect life as he tosses us his lifeline of grace, mercy and love without end. “Lord, help me! Save me!”
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