I like how you seem to be equating atonement with ordinances and covenants or that without ordinances we are forever unworthy including the “ordinance” of resurrection, a la 2 Nephi 9. I’ve been pondering the idea that without ordinances there is no atonement, that ordinances (and faith in Christ) are what link us to what happened in Gethsemane and Calvary, Section 84: 20-22. Therefore, it seems to me that taking the sacrament makes us worthy to take the sacrament, if we do so with a broken heart and contrite spirit as a way of coming unto Christ. Grace for grace…

As Joe explains in slightly different terminology in “An Other Testament” we have a pattern of Creation, Fall, Atonement/Covenant, and Restoration to God’s Presence. He notes that Nephi’s introduction in 1 Nephi 1, actually has these points. In the BoM, we find this pattern noted many times, including 2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11, etc. We believe in Christ, we repent, the atonement comes to us in a covenant form (baptism, Sacrament, temple ordinance), and we become worthy (or more worthy) to enter God’s presence. The Sacrament is our re-baptism, or renewal of covenant with Christ, wherein we promise obedience and faithfulness in exchange for becoming Christ’s seed. Then, as we keep the covenant, we receive a member of the Godhead (in this case, the Holy Ghost; in the temple it is the Lord’s presence).

Reading scripture in the right way is itself is one of the most practical consequences of all these theoretical issues Joe is wrestling with (and helping us wrestle with). That is, scripture study is itself a practice, and therefore it is the most practical thing that we do in a strong and robust sense. The most important practical thing that we do each week might just be scripture study in our families, in our wards, in our communion with God, etc.

On this view, to give a more concrete(/practical) example, consider having a conversation with a non-member friend who is confessing how burned out he’s feeling with his job and the rat-race of life. If we have a proper “theoretical” understanding of grace, then we naturally see how this burned out feeling is a classic symptom of refusing grace, and we start talking about this with our non-member friend in the most natural way. Suddenly, this conversation turns into what we often refer to as “a missionary opportunity” (scare quotes because I think we often have a wrong-headed approach to missionary work…). If we have practiced our theory, so-to-speak, then the concrete implementation of grace will never happen.

So, although we are accustomed to thinking about practical issues rather than theoretical issues, this is really just a symptom of our failure to really immerse ourselves in scripture study and make it the foundation of our lives….

I wear a shirt that says, “Sure, it works in practice, but does it work in theory?” There’s something very right about that question. One of the things I think we’re supposed to learn from grace is that our demands for concrete practical application are part of the problem. We shout at the heavens: “Just tell me what you want from me! Just tell me what to do to make you happy!” And God answers, yet again, by asking whether we’re done pouting. So if by “practical level” you mean to ask what we’re to do, there’s no answer—no unchangeable answer.

But if by “practical level” you mean to ask how we’re to be, there are plenty of answers, I think. I stop working for my salvation, and I finally start working for the sake of working. I stop reading my scriptures in order to get blessings, in order to be good, in order to follow God’s commandments, in order to be an example, etc., and I start reading my scriptures in order to see what they say, in order to make sense of their giftedness, in order to hear God’s word, in order simply to enjoy their truth, etc.

I’ll be coming in later posts to the “importance of works,” but it won’t be a question at all of balance. There’s a completely different way to address works in scripture. It’s absolutely baffling to me how obvious it is, but how completely we miss it….

And Rameumptom,

Thanks for your overly kind words. I have the same hope.

Joe is helping us see Robinson’s book two decades later, in view of how many LDS are now beginning to understand and see grace. I applaud him for this effort. Why? Because, if we do not understand grace, then we do not understand what the “practical level” actually is. And Joe has noted what we must do on the practical level.
His version of the parable of the bicycle flows from what he’s written on the book so far: stop rebelling and pouting. Humbly and gratefully accept the atonement and grace of God. Stop walking away from God, because we want things our own way. Stop being miserable, and accept Christ’s joy and love.
It really can be that easy, but our minds just do not want to believe it. We mortals love to complicate things, and sadly, we’ve complicated the heck out of grace (or did we mix heck into it to complicate it?).

I also agree with Joe mournful statements about Mormons not knowing the Book of Mormon. I also harp on this. Sadly, we’ve gotten used to skimming stones across the ocean of doctrine, rather than diving in to experience its richness in the deeps. (It actually surprised me to see that in the PH/RS George Albert Smith manual, they are discussing missionary work for 3 chapters, instead of just one!).

I truly hope that the current group of scholars, Joe included, will help the Church to find its way into actually learning what the Book of Mormon says, and not just use the 25 seminary scriptures.

I’m sure we could also find plenty of examples in scripture. I thought of Isaiah 6 yesterday. When Isaiah is brought into God’s presence, he says, “Woe is me! I must be silent!” He sees his own inadequacy before God and volunteers his silence (unlike Zechariah in Luke 1, who should have stopped his speaking, but doesn’t). Ironically, he speaks to stop his own speaking. I wonder how often our stopping/repenting might entail the same kind of irony.

Awesome posts, Joe! We’re loving them!