Words have a way of morphing. When reading something from even as little as sixty to seventy years ago it is necessary to have a period dictionary at hand to understand what the author is saying. Words that were in common usage seemingly disappear or their meaning actually changes. Salvation is one of those words. Few, even those in the soul saving business, rarely use this word. Most people if asked have only heard it in regards to those kettles manned by folks in curious uniforms outside malls and stores at Christmas.
Salvation : n
1. act of saving from harm: the saving of somebody or something from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure
2. means of saving somebody or something: somebody or something that protects or delivers somebody or something else from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure
3. Christianity: deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ: in the Christian religion, deliverance from sin or the consequences of sin through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross
4. Christian Science philosophy of life: in the Christian Science religion, belief in the supremacy of life, truth, and love, and in their destruction of such illusions as sin, illness, and death (Encarta)
Who hasn’t tried to employ the first definition with our children and those we love or the second with even strangers or new acquaintances by simply providing a phone number for a good mechanic or tax preparer. Every time you saved a lizard from the cat or stopped and waited for a mother duck and her brood to cross the road you engaged in an act of salvation. See, demonstrating salvation is not that hard. Sounds a lot more impressive when you can announce to the world you provided an act of salvation today versus you let some baby ducks and their mom pass. On a more serious note when we demonstrate through our living the new basis we live on, salvation becomes reality.
But what of three and four? These are issues left for you and your consciousness to deal with. What is required of those Living on the Spiritual Basis is to remain open minded, even when we do not completely agree with a particular approach to a relationship with God, there is still much to learn. If nothing else take the time to place yourself in the others shoes and, whether you agree with them or not, look through their eyes, for never lose sight of the ultimate truth that they are children of the Divine just as we are. As is written elsewhere: “Be quick to see were religious people are right. Make use of what they offer.” This does not mean you have to buy the whole cow, but if you can remain open-minded, you may stumble across a couple of steaks and a nice roast.
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