What About Moral Influence Theory?

Did you know that you could believe that you have been saved and still not be saved? I used to ponder on that possibility until Smart Christian confirmed it in a presentation. But what then must one do to be saved?

Over the centuries, several theories have been proposed to explain what the death of Jesus Christ signified and how it applies to the world. Of such theories, we have the Moral Influence Theory. But what is it, and what about it?

The generally held belief is that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ achieved for mankind the atonement. That is, at-one-ment, being the reunion with God. But how does this union become effective in an individual's life? This is where the Moral Influence Theory plays an explanatory role. So, let's delve into its meaning and consider whether or not it is a welcomed concept in Christianity.

What Is Moral Influence Theory?

Moral influence theory is a set of ideas that explains how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus atone for the sins of humanity. It supposes the sufferings of Christ and the glory that followed set a premise and act as a preamble for sinful man to have a change of heart and live in obedience to God.

While the Bible speaks of the coming of God's wrath on the children of disobedience, Jesus Christ is shown to be the child of obedience. He is the first of many, setting a clear path for others to follow to get to God and be one with God. Consider the exemplary nature of the following verses from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

Hebrews 5:7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

Hebrews 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

Hebrews 5:10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The above speaks of Jesus, the one who learned obedience in suffering and became a source of eternal life to the obedient ones. The moral influence from his suffering is the impact of his experience on those who are privileged to learn about him. It speaks to the love of God for sinners and his expectations from human beings, as Jesus Christ exemplified. Consider the following, according to NASB.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Remember that God expressed his love towards us that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. However, according to this theory, his death was not a payment to God for sins committed, but an example from God on how we are to treat one another. My understanding is that Jesus had the ability to lay down his life and pick it up. So, in laying it down and picking it up, he taught us selflessness and genuine love. That is what God requires from us: to love God and one another, and our love for God is expressed in our love for one another.

Therefore, it is written, “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Lovely, isn't it?

What About Moral Influence Theory Of Atonement?

Previously, we had a discussion on why most Christians are going to hell. In it, I mentioned a brother who claimed a majority of the world's population of Christians were hypocrites. My understanding of his reasons as a Protestant ranged from the supposed unscriptural lifestyle of many professing Christians to core differences in theological viewpoints.

However, I presented the young man with a different perspective held by some believers in Jesus Christ, which he rejected and suggested that such people will be damned. Guess what? It was this theory, Moral Influence, that I presented to him. But since he subscribed to penal substitution and satisfactory theory (as I understood him), he believed other views wouldn't work! And he is not alone on this.

Many Christians love Moral Influence Theory but believe that it doesn't satisfy the wrath of God, his judgment on sin, nor God's justice met by Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It is worth noting, however, that this theory was developed after Anselm's theory of satisfaction in objection to it.

Peter Abelard, a prominent philosopher, theologian, and perhaps the greatest logician of the 12th century, is credited with formulating the Moral Influence Theory of atonement. In objection to Anselm's satisfaction theory, which posited that God needed payment for sins and was satisfied in the sacrifice of his son, Abelard developed the moral influence theory. Succinctly, his position was that Christ's death primarily served to demonstrate God's love and required man's imitation of this example in their interactions with one another. Yes, this is what we've been talking about!

As a standalone, the moral influence theory alleviates the perceived absurdity of God the Father sacrificing his innocent God the Son to himself to satisfy his anger against mankind's sinfulness. However, it leaves us with a powerful dramatic artistry from God about what humanity should be about: love for one another.

But those who insist that God was mad at mankind and needed an innocent blood to satisfy him may continue to differ from this view or perhaps incorporate it with other theories, including the satisfaction theory. Turning to you, I ask, what do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts.