Since at least the time of Augustine of Hippo and Pelagius, western Christianity has been embroiled in a debate about salvation and grace. The two extremes have been represented as salvation by grace alone and earning salvation by our own works. Theologians and Church leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have generally followed a middle way. On the one hand, we believe in the free will of humans and that actions like baptism, temple ordinances, good works, etc. are necessary for salvation. On the other hand, however, we read in the Book of Mormon that we must \u201cremember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved\u201d (2 Nephi 10:24). Thus, it seems that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we hold both extremes in tension but try to find a way of balancing the two extremes.<\/p>\n
Recently, I was reading a book by the Eastern Orthodox bishop and theologian Kallistos (Thomas) Ware where he described an Orthodox approach to the subject that I felt resonates well with Latter-day Saint theology. Ware wrote that human beings \u201cpossess free will,\u201d since \u201cGod wanted sons and daughters, not slaves.\u201d As such, \u201cthe Orthodox Church rejects any doctrine of grace which might seem to infringe upon human freedom.\u201d He goes on to explain how this is balanced with grace in their beliefs:<\/p>\n
To describe the relation between the grace of God and human freedom, Orthodoxy uses the term cooperation or synergy (synergeia<\/em>); in Paul\u2019s words: \u2018We are fellow-workers (synergoi<\/em>) with God\u2019 (1 Corinthians 3:9). If we are to achieve full fellowship with God, we cannot do so without God\u2019s help, yet we must also play our own part: we humans as well as God must make our contribution to the common work, although what God does is of immeasurably greater importance than what we do.[1]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This concept of synergy or cooperation between humans and God seems to be a good way to frame the discussion. We are working together for salvation.<\/p>\n
The first part that I felt went well with our theology is how Ware frames this approach as a way of preserving human will. He wrote: \u201c\u2018Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in\u2019 (Revelation 3:20). God knocks, but waits for us to open the door \u2013 He does not break it down. The grace of God invites all but compels none.\u201d[2]<\/a> His statement, cited above, that “God wanted sons and daughters, not slaves” reminded me very much of something President David O. McKay taught: \u201cFree agency is the impelling source of the soul\u2019s progress. It is the purpose of the Lord that man become like him. In order for man to achieve this it was necessary for the Creator first to make him free.\u201d[3]<\/a> Otherwise, we would be \u201cmere puppets in the hands of a dictator, and the purpose of man\u2019s coming to earth would have been frustrated.\u201d[4]<\/a> The Latter-day Saint emphasis on moral agency goes well with Ware\u2019s discussion of preserving human will through synergistic salvation.<\/p>\n
The second part that I felt went well with our theology was Ware\u2019s discussion of how we have a role to play in our salvation, even though it\u2019s small compared to God\u2019s role in our salvation. When Elder Dale G. Renlund\u2019s spoke in the most recent general conference, he discussed blessings in similar ways. Elder Renlund\u2019s perspective is that \u201cblessings are never earned, but faith-inspired actions on our part, both initial and ongoing, are essential.\u201d[5]<\/a> He compared God\u2019s grace to a pile of wood set up to light as a campfire\u2014full of potential energy but needing the small action of striking a match to start the combustion reaction. \u201cIn a similar way, most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part\u2014action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. \u2026 The required action, though, is always tiny when compared to the blessings we ultimately receive.\u201d[6]<\/a> This feels very similar to Kallistos Ware\u2019s statement that: \u201cWe humans as well as God must make our contribution to the common work, although what God does is of immeasurably greater importance than what we do.\u201d[7]<\/a><\/p>\n
Ware also addresses an interesting paradox that came up in Elder Renlund\u2019s talk. Brother Renlund stated that: \u201cYou don\u2019t earn a blessing\u2014that notion is false\u2014but you do have to qualify for it.\u201d[8]<\/a> I felt that this was a bit of a difficult statement to unpack. My initial feeling was that he had effectively shifted the discussion from directly earning blessings to earning worthiness and then God would give us those same blessings. Elder Renlund went on to explain that \u201cour salvation comes only through the merits and grace of Jesus Christ,\u201d but the works are the \u201cactivation energy\u201d needed to receive blessings.[9]<\/a> Kallistos Ware addresses the same basic of issue of reconciling salvation through grace with the necessity of certain actions from an Orthodox perspective when he wrote:<\/p>\n
\u2018It is for God to grant His grace,\u2019 said St Cyril of Jerusalem (died 386); \u2018your task is to accept that grace and to guard it.\u2019 But it must not be imagined that because a person accepts and guards God\u2019s grace, he thereby earns \u2018merit\u2019. God\u2019s gifts are always free gifts, and we humans can never have any claims upon our Maker. But while we cannot \u2018merit\u2019 salvation, we must certainly work for it, since \u2018faith without works is dead\u2019 (James 2:17).[10]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Thus, the Orthodox perspective seems to be that grace is a gift from God and salvation is not earned, it is given. Yet, just actions are the activation energy needed to receive blessings, we need to work for our salvation all the same, guarding the grace that God has given us.<\/p>\n
My point in sharing this is that the Eastern Orthodox idea of synergeia <\/em>might be an interesting idea to explore in greater depth from the perspective of Latter-day Saint theology. I feel like we generally approach salvation and grace from the perspective of the works vs grace debate that has been the usual framework for the discussion in western Christianity since the time of the Protestant Reformation. This approach from eastern Christianity gives us another framework with which to approach the subject.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[1]<\/a> Ware, Timothy. The Orthodox Church (pp. 215-216). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n
[2]<\/a> Ware, Orthodox Church<\/em>, p. 216.<\/p>\n
[3]<\/a> David O. McKay, in Conference Report, April 1950, 32.<\/p>\n
[4]<\/a> David O. McKay, in Conference Report, April 1950, 34-35. Compare also Lehi\u2019s words in 2 Nephi 2:26-27<\/p>\n
[5]<\/a> Dale G. Renlund, \u201cAbound with Blessings\u201d, CR April 2019, https:\/\/www.lds.org\/general-conference\/2019\/04\/41renlund?lang=eng<\/a><\/p>\n
[6]<\/a> Renlund, \u201cAbound with Blessings.\u201d<\/p>\n
[7]<\/a> Ware, Timothy. The Orthodox Church (pp. 215-216). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n
[8]<\/a> Renlund, \u201cAbound with Blessings.\u201d<\/p>\n