Employment Theory of the Atonement

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the real mystery.  While, I am profoundly grateful and striving to appreciate and accept the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me; I cannot ever claim to fully understand it. Many Protestant and Evangelical Christians understand the nature of the atonement in terms of what is called the "penal substitution theory".  

The penal substitution theory of the atonement is illustrated in the story of the school-age kid who takes the punishment for his hungry classmate who was caught stealing food.  While the kid taking the beating is noble, the teacher in the scenario ends up concluding, "someone's got to get a whipping to pay for the crime".  While this attempts to address the justice vs. mercy paradox, it feels inadequate. 

Another inadequate theory is illustrated in Cleon Skousen's, "Meaning of the Atonement" which presents an "injustice theory" where the atonement situation was such an injustice,  who could possibly accuse Christ of being unjust for saving a sinner considering the injustice Christ faced and overcame.  

However, when it comes to the teaching that "mercy cannot rob justice;" justice is not a monster that God is forced to appease. God's justice is God doing exactly as He has said.  Likewise, God's mercy is doing, exactly as He has said.  Accordingly, as God has said, the consequences of sin is death, but there has been prepared a way for mercy based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the "conditions of repentance".  The conditions of repentance is the good news of the gospel. (Hel 5:11)

The atonement theory I prefer comes from the scriptures called the "employment theory of the atonement". In the employment theory, as we all fall short from the glory of God and sin in this life, we are serving the devil.  Consequently, we will then all receive the wages of sin, which is death.  

Romans 6:23  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". 

However, a way has been prepared whereby we can resign from our fallen employment and get a higher and holier calling as a disciple of Christ.  As we labor for God, strive to continually repent and improve to the end of our lives, we are promised to be saved. As we serve God, we come to know Him and become like Him.  Our repentance and sanctification makes us more fit for His service. 

Alma 3:27 "For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey"

Rom 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

2 Tim 2:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

#1 The Moral Influence Theory

#2 The Ransom Theory

#3 Christus Victor

#4 The Satisfaction Theory (Anselm)

#5 The Penal Substitutionary Theory

#6 The Governmental Theory

#7 The Scapegoat Theory

Romans 4:4 - "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."   

Paul is talking about circumcision and the non-moral requirements of the Law of Moses. Yes. we are unprofitable servants, and our employment by Christ is an unmerited gift of grace. 

Employment Theory of the Atonement

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the real mystery.  While, I am profoundly grateful and striving to appreciate and accept the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me; I cannot ever claim to fully understand it. Many Protestant and Evangelical Christians understand the nature of the atonement in terms of what is called the "penal substitution theory".  

The penal substitution theory of the atonement is illustrated in the story of the school-age kid who takes the punishment for his hungry classmate who was caught stealing food.  While it makes the kid taking the beating look good, the teacher in the scenario ends up concluding that "someone's got to get a whipping".  While this attempts to address the justice vs. mercy paradox, it feels inadequate. 

Another inadequate theory is illustrated in Cleon Skousen's, "Meaning of the Atonement" which presents an "injustice theory" where the atonement situation was such an injustice,  who could possibly accuse Christ of being unjust for saving a sinner considering the injustice Christ faced and overcame.  

However, when it comes to the teaching that "mercy cannot rob justice;" justice is not a monster that God is forced to appease. The justice of God is God doing exactly as He has said.  Likewise, mercy is God doing, exactly as He has said.  Accordingly, as God has said, the consequences of sin is death, but there has been prepared a way for mercy based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the "conditions of repentance" = good news of the gospel. 

The atonement theory I prefer comes from the scriptures called the "employment theory of the atonement". 

Book of Mormon is a Type of Christ

I love the symmetry between the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you look close, you will see that the Book of Mormon is a type of Christ. First that the book contains the word of God just as Christ. Second, that it was sealed in a stone box (cyst, ossuary, ark) and came forth out of the Earth just like Christ rose from the dead from the Garden Tomb. Third, that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was accompanied by angelic beings. You will remember that angels who attended the tomb at Christ's resurrection. Fourth, that both the body of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon were in the custody of a Joseph: Joseph of Arimathea and Joseph Smith respectively, and Fifth, that Both the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ had 12 special witnesses of their divinity. 3 of which were given a more powerful spiritual manifestation while the others a more physical witness (idea from CRAIG R. FROGLEY, CES).

First divine witness of the golden plates and angel was Mary Whitmer before the 3 and 8 witnesses.The stone box contained golden plate containing the covenant. Anciently, the Ark of the Covenant was a gold box carrying stone tablets and other artifacts. The golden plates with the other artifacts (urim and thummin,  breasrplate, Liahona, sword of Laban) in a stone box constitute an ark of the new covenant. - Don Bradley

Latter-day Prophet on the Latter-days

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." 

—Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” April 2018

“I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.”

—Russell M. Nelson, “Come Follow Me,” April 2019

"You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures within you!"

—Russell M. Nelson, Facebook, September 12,  2019

“This is not the end of the world but merely a test. A trial run for the Second Coming if you will—physically and spiritually. If you’ve been following the counsel from the prophet about ministering, emergency preparedness, and at-home Church, you have no need to fear, you passed the test.”

—President Dallin H. Oaks on March 14, 2020.

“Of course, we can store our own reserves of food, water, and savings. But equally crucial is our need to fill our personal spiritual storehouses with faith, truth, and testimony."

—Russell M. Nelson, “Opening Message,” April 2020

—Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” October 2020

“[I]t is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures—perhaps measures we have never taken before—to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. …"

“My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.”

—Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” October 2021

“We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now, to counteract the speed with which evil and the darker signs of the times are intensifying. Positive spiritual momentum will keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and armed hostilities. Spiritual momentum can help us withstand the relentless, wicked attacks of the adversary and thwart his efforts to erode our personal spiritual foundation.*

“Many actions can ignite positive spiritual momentum. Obedience, love, humility, service, and gratitude are but a few.”

—Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” April 2022

“As I have stated before, the gathering of Israel is the most important work taking place on earth today. One crucial element of this gathering is preparing a people who are able, ready, and worthy to receive the Lord when He comes again, a people who have already chosen Jesus Christ over this fallen world, a people who rejoice in their agency to live the higher, holier laws of Jesus Christ."

“I call upon you, my dear brothers and sisters, to become this righteous people. Cherish and honor your covenants above all other commitments. As you let God prevail in your life, I promise you greater peace, confidence, joy, and yes, rest.”

—Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” October 2022

—Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!” October 2023

—Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” April 2024

“Using a baseball analogy, we are in the last half of the ninth inning,” President Nelson declared. “Our Heavenly Father and His Son chose you to be on Their team when the game is on the line. This means They know you, They trust you and will help you fulfill your personal mission on this earth.”

—Russell M. Nelson, FSY 2024

“Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority."

—Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” October 2024

The Reason for God

"If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead."

Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

“Each of us has to face the matter — either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing.” —President Gordon B. Hinckley

Faith and Trust

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We talk about having faith and trust in Christ.  What is trust?  I think trust comes down to who I trust to look after my dog while away on vacation or who I trust to babysit my daughter on datenight.  

Charles Blondin was a French acrobat and tightrope walker in the who was famous for walking across Niagra Falls Gorge first in 1859. On one occasion he carried his manager Harry Colcord across. 

Blondin gave his manager the following instructions: “Look up, Harry.… you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. Until I clear this place be a part of me, mind, body, and soul. If I sway, sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself. If you do we will both go to our death.”

I think this is exactly the kind of faith and trust Jesus Christ is asking of us. Or in other words, this is exact kind of reliance we can have on our Savior to get us safely across the chasm of mortality. 

Smithsonian Magazine

Jonathan Browning: The Covenant of Virtue Over the Sword

Jonathan Browning, a 19th-century American gunsmith renowned for his innovative firearms, presents a striking paradox: a man who crafted instruments of defense yet insisted that true preservation lay not in weapons, but in *covenants of virtue and righteousness*. His life and work, deeply rooted in his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), offer a profound lesson on the interplay between moral integrity and societal survival. Here’s an exploration of his philosophy and its enduring relevance:

1. The Gunsmith and the Gospel: A Paradox Resolved**

Browning’s firearms, including early repeating rifles and the iconic "Harmonica Gun," were tools of survival in an era of frontier violence and westward expansion. Yet he engraved his weapons with the phrase **“Holiness to the Lord Our Preservation”**—a declaration that physical defense was secondary to spiritual and moral fidelity. For Browning, even tools of war were sanctified only when wielded by a people bound to divine principles.

Browning’s craftsmanship was not a contradiction to his faith but a reflection of it. He recognized that weapons, while necessary in a fallen world, were ultimately *secondary* to the covenant-keeping that ensured divine protection and societal cohesion. As the Book of Mormon teaches, “The Lord would preserve a righteous people” (Alma 62:41)—not through firepower alone, but through righteousness.

2. Covenants vs. Carnage: The LDS Framework

In LDS theology, **covenants** are sacred agreements with God that bind individuals and communities to holiness. These include commitments to honesty, charity, chastity, and consecration. Browning’s emphasis on covenants reflects a broader LDS worldview:

- **Moral Foundations**: A society grounded in virtue (e.g., integrity, self-reliance, and mutual aid) fosters trust, stability, and resilience.  

- **Divine Preservation**: Covenants invite God’s favor, as seen in the LDS pioneer exodus to Utah—a community that survived hardship through collective faith and discipline.  

- **Accountability**: Covenants reject narcissism and entitlement, demanding personal responsibility. Browning’s guns, in this light, were tools for defending *principles*, not indulging pride or aggression.

3. Lessons from Rome: Why Weapons Fail Without Virtue

Browning’s warning echoes the fall of Rome, where moral decay—not military weakness—precipitated collapse. The Roman legions, once invincible, became reliant on mercenaries (*foederati*) as citizens abandoned civic duty for decadence. Similarly, Browning foresaw that societies prioritizing weapons over virtue would crumble from within.  

**Modern Parallel:**  

Today’s debates over gun rights, social fragmentation, and technological dependency mirror this tension. Advanced technologies like photolithography (essential for AI) require not just technical skill but a society disciplined enough to sustain them. Moral decay—drug abuse, apathy, or corruption—erodes the social capital needed to maintain such systems.

4. The Balance: Defense and Devotion

Browning’s philosophy does not reject practical defense but subordinates it to higher principles:  

- **Weapons as a Last Resort**: Firearms protect life and liberty, but their ethical use depends on a people trained in self-restraint and justice.  

- **Virtue as the First Line of Defense**: A covenantal community deters conflict through unity, trust, and moral authority. As Proverbs 16:7 states, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  

5. A Warning for the 21st Century

Browning’s engraving speaks directly to modern crises:  

- **Technological Fragility**: AI, microchips, and photolithography depend on a society disciplined enough to maintain cleanrooms, honor contracts, and educate engineers. Moral decline threatens these foundations.  

- **Cultural Narcissism**: A society obsessed with victimhood, entitlement, or hedonism cannot sustain the virtues required for long-term survival.  

Browning’s Prescription:

- **Renew Covenants**: Prioritize family, faith, and community accountability.  

- **Sacred Stewardship**: Treat technology, defense, and labor as holy callings.  

- **Reject Exception Culture**: No one—elite or “victim”—is exempt from moral duty.  

Conclusion: Holiness as Preservation

Jonathan Browning’s legacy transcends firearms. He reminds us that *true preservation*—whether of a frontier settlement or a digital civilization—flows from holiness, not hardware. Weapons may defend a people, but only covenants can sustain them. In an age of AI, climate crises, and geopolitical strife, Browning’s message is urgent: **Societies survive not by the weapons they wield, but by the virtues they keep.**  

As the LDS hymn declares, “Do what is right; let the consequence follow.” For Browning, and for us, righteousness remains the ultimate safeguard.   (DeepSeek R1)

Kindergarten Recess

I really appreciate Jared at Christian Homestead for making this comparison. Jared compared this mortal life to kindergarten. There is a saying and a book entitled "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum. That list includes:

1. Share everything

2. Play fair

3. Don't hit people

4. Put things back where you found them.

5. Clean up your own mess.

6. Don't take things that aren't yours.

7. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

8. Wash your hands before you eat.

9. Warm cookies and cold milk are good.

The point of the Book is that these basic kindergarden rules are really the same basic rules for a good life.

The point I appreciated by Jared was that, all the many worldly pursuits we get wrapped up in is like kindergarten recess. Like kindergarten recess, it's important to take a break from the lessons and get some fresh air and run around, but the running around is not the point or purpose of it all. Accordingly, we should be careful as we make career, vacation, expenditures plans and sacrifices that we are not wasting all our effort trying to "win" at kindergarten recess.