The “5 Step Plan” and the Gospel: Part 4–The Formula (and What’s Missing)

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Part 4: Issues with the List as a Formula (and what’s missing)checklist-310092_960_720

It’s very important to point out that the “5-step plan of Salvation” does not appear in scripture—not as a list, anyway. The scriptures themselves never group these 5 things together and present them as an ordered list of things to accomplish in order to be saved. This does not make them untrue, but rather tell us that these five steps in this particular order are not something the Holy Spirit seems to have had in mind for us to memorize in order to evangelize, or to recite as a systematic creed that defines us.
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The “5 Step Plan” and the Gospel: Part 3—Looking at Each Step

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Part 3: Examining Each Step in Focus

We last looked at the history of how the “5-step plan of salvation” developed, shaped Church of Christ teaching, and was challenged over the last hundred years.

Now let’s look at each step and examine it for its own merit as a “step to” salvation as an event:
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The “5 Step Plan” and the Gospel: Part 2—Church History

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Part 2: A History of the “5-Step Plan of Salvation” [read the intro here]

While the Gospel has been around for about 2,000 years, the “5 Steps of Salvation” list is much younger. We can trace it back to Walter Scott, a Restoration preacher associated with the growth of the American Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ of the 1800’s.
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The “5 Step Plan” and the Gospel: Part 1 (of 5)

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Growing up in the Churches of Christ, it was advertised to me as long as I can remember—in sermons, in Bible classes, at camp, in outlines and tracts, on bulletin boards, on websites, and in personal Bible study with someone about to become a Christian. God had a plan for us to be saved, avoid Hell, go to Heaven. It was obtainable in five simple steps: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, be Baptized. It was easy to memorize, easy to count. It was a bullet point plan to perfection. It was a reachable solution that I myself could perform to be a good Christian. And for a number of years in my youth, I assumed it was the best way to view the operation of being saved by God.
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Reading Dave Eggers’ “Your Fathers”: Room 53—Christ

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Room 53: Aggravation, Christ, and Congress [see previous post on the West]

—I saved you for last because you were the only one Thomas saw as a mentor and I think you complete the religious imagery that is there abut would have been more there if Eggers was religious and had a more religious agenda.

—I understand, son.
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Reading Dave Eggers’ “Your Fathers”: Room 48–The West

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Room48: Cannons, The West, and Dream Girls [see previous post on radicalization]

—I can see why you looked like his dream girl.

—Thanks?

—Not hitting on you. Just saying you’re an important character, an embodiment of an ideal.
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Reading Dave Eggers’ “Your Fathers”: Room 55—Radicalization

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Room 55: Radicalization, Apocalypse, and Mothers [see previous post on Conspiracies]

—I’m sorry to visit you like this, but as Thomas’s Mom you have some things to teach us about his background, why he did what he did.

—You’re here to lecture me on how his actions are my fault?

—No. But they do play a part. It’s not so much about you as what you saw in him. How he turned out.
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