The predominant message of Christianity today is that through Jesus Christ we can be saved from sin and death, and that God’s judgment of every person will precipitate eternal salvation in heaven for the worthy and eternal punishment in hell for the unworthy.

However, Christianity also supports a dissenting and contrary vision of Christian salvation. This vision of Christianity emphasizes God’s call to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others in this earthly life, thereby seeking to provide God’s salvation to this world in this life through acts of justice, grace, and compassion. This call to Christian discipleship dismisses any focus on a future salvation or eternal life that follows death.

This theological divide within Christianity raises fundamental questions.

• Is salvation a present state or just a future reality?
• Is salvation earthly and even political, or is it just spiritual?
• Is it even Christian to focus on securing my personal, spiritual salvation when many people need salvation from lack food and medical care, while enduring crippling injustices?
• Does God save us for this world or from this world?

These are the questions I ask and the answers I seek—maybe you as well. Today’s topic will challenge many popular Christian assumptions and beliefs. My intent with this topic is not to convince anyone that what they believe is wrong but to enable us to reassess and reclaim what we value, what we believe, and how we should conduct ourselves in the sacred interactions we call life.