The church is very clear on its understanding of Jesus. This understanding is present in the symbolism you see (death on a cross), the songs that are sung (death for our sins) and the sermons that are preached (we are saved by Jesus’s death).
Ultimately, it is all to do with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, his death and his resurrection. There is obviously more that is taught than this but these key elements are always present. These are also the elements that can turn people away from Christianity as the idea of God requiring the sacrifice of his own son as forgiveness for our sins seems morally wrong. It implies a God that cannot forgive without a sacrifice.
This approach to Christianity is known as the “death tradition”. It is found in the creeds, where all that matters is that Jesus was born then died to save us. It is found in the symbolism – there is a cross at the front of the church – which represents Jesus’s death. His life and teachings may have been recorded in the New Testament, but are ultimately not what matters.
In contrast to this is the “life tradition” that focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus. What matters in this approach is what Jesus taught and the life he lived. This isn’t necessarily a Christian approach as non-Christians can read what Jesus taught about love and forgiveness without being Christians. They can follow the teachings of Jesus without being a Christian.
The church will point out that they teach both traditions. But it is the “death tradition” which must be present for Christianity to be Christianity. If only the “life tradition” is taught then this can lead to problems, as the key message of Jesus in Matthew, Mark and Luke all appears to be about what you do, rather than what you believe.
But is it the “life tradition” that actually brings spiritual life and the “death tradition” the one that is causing all the problems? Can Christianity be separated from the “death tradition” or do we also have to move beyond Christianity to discover the teachings of Jesus?
