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Imperfect, we all err and can all improve. In this article our good friend Hiram will present a Christian view on atonement. I will present a Jewish view. We welcome and encourage you to present the view of your religion, philosophy, heritage, culture and your personal opinions and thoughts on atonement.
HIRAM: Here is what I came up with. I thank my good friend Enoch for the opportunity to share our thoughts and culture in this joint article.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and who gains understanding (Proverbs 3:13). When I need to find a definition for a word the first place I go is to Noah Webster's original dictionary of 1828. It is free of the political correctness. Many times it gets right to the point. Atonement is defined as satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing or suffering that which is received in satisfaction for an offense or injury.
On the surface that can sound pretty brutal, and through out our history has been cause for brutality between nation and people. Yet if we look beneath the surface there is a value to atonement.
In Christian theology and doctrine there is a definitive value in atonement. A value which applied to all cultures and beliefs is this, according to Noah. When a man is guilty of any vice the best atonement he can make is to warn others not to fall into the like. This is something that strikes me as very profound. How many times do we teach our children not to commit the same mistakes in life that haunted us? Profound in that we can use our own missteps and faults to guide others back onto the right path. No matter what you believe or where you put your faith this is a form of atonement that can benefit us and all around us.
Taking what we know and admitting our transgressions to others can be hard to do. By doing so, we give others the chance not to repeat our mistakes. We give them the value of our experience so they can avoid the same consequences. From a perspective of Christian and doctrine has many benefits. From the beginning man was created to have a relationship with our Creator. What happened when sin entered the world is that these transgressions separated us from G-d. They built a wall between G-d and man.
Being a Holy G-d he cannot look upon sin or be in it's presence, Atonement is needed to free us of the sin which allows us to re-establish that original relationship. Atonement was first made in the form of animal sacrifice. A pure unblemished animal would be sacrificed to pay for our sin. This was the practice for thousands of years. Then G-d sent His only begotten Son to pay the final atonement for sin upon the Cross. Whoever believes in Him shall be justified.
So we may ask what the value of this atonement is? First, and most important to me as a Christian is that atonement for my sin means I can once again have a relationship with my Creator G-d. Because of the atonement of Christ I have been adopted into the family of G-d. With this atonement nothing can ever separate me from G-d.
For I am persuaded that neither death or life; angels or principalities, powers, present events and things to come; height. depth or any other created thing can separate us from the love of G-d which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8 38-39). In that relationship can be found peace, joy and contentment. We were created to have that relationship and it is only through atonement that it can be reestablished. This same atonement can be carried into our personal lives. How many times have we wronged someone close to us and through our own stubbornness refused to atone? How has that relationship suffered?
To atone means to swallow our pride, and remove the barriers our sins built to separate us. Whether it be with our G-d, our family, or friends the inability to atone will keep us apart needlessly.
The true and most wonderful value of atonement is a restored relationship and the peace it brings. Peace and blessings, HIRAM.
ENOCH: In Pre-Biblical through Biblical times in the Middle East many cultures had a place for atonement in their theologies. There is an Arabic word for atonement which means to cover sin. The Assyrian word for atonement is Kapparu. It is the closest to the Hebrew word Kippur in both root stem, and meaning. The Assyrians defined atonement as purging away sin.
In Hebrew, and in the Jewish tradition Kippur, atonement means to reconcile and restore the inward sense of a close relationship to G-d. We distance ourselves from G-d through acts of sin, evil desire, or constant brooding over sinful things. Salvation is oneness with G-d. Sin separates us from G-d. It distances us from the salvation we crave. How do we atone for our errors? The following is an eight point plan.
1. Allocute our guilt.
2. Confess our sins.
3. Plead for forgiveness.
4. Make whole those we harmed in whatever ways we practically can.
5. Create a plan to prevent the sins and errors from reoccuring. Build in tracking mechanisms to monitor results.
6. Implement the plan.
7. Periodically audit the tracking to see if the plan is working.
8. Adjust the plan as necessary to prevent sin and error from returning.
When will G-d accept our atonement? Anytime!
From whom will G-d accept atonement? Anyone, without exception!
Where can we atone? Anywhere!
Why does G-d want us to atone? Because G-d doesn't want barriers between Himself and us any more than do we!
Our souls are given to us in a pristine state. The evils of the world corrupt us. When we choose of our own accord to turn away from corrupting influences, and restore our souls to purity this indeed pleases G-d, makes us feel better, and is better for all close to us.
Pitchuli, Shaare Tzeddek. Open the gates of righteousness. Unstain your souls of sin. Break down any barriers standing between yourself and G-d. There is no feeling like it. ENOCH.
