A bit of a short thought for today.   

Why was the Atonement necessary? Couldn’t God have arranged things so that we could overcome sin ourselves? It seems like we might have learned more that way.

Our colleague Adam Greenwood has given one excellent answer: Our spiritual education would not have been complete without the experience of being completely, utterly  helpless. However, Adam himself points out that the most exquisite helplessness comes when there is absolutely no discernible reason for our trial. Suffering for our own sin doesn’t really qualify.

I had an insight the other day into another reason: We needed redemption without pride.

C.S. Lewis talks about this (in The Screwtape Letters, if memory serves.) The moment we realize we are being humble, we lose it. I add that never becoming aware we are humble seems to be a nonstarter as well. I’m not sure I can quite articulate why, unless it’s the principle that no man can be saved in ignorance.

The Atonement seems like at least a partial cure to this dilemma. If we remember the price paid for us to be able to repent — to become humble — then perhaps it’s easier to realize we are being humble without immediately becoming proud. The cost was just too much.

But I suppose I shouldn’t be too proud of any explanation I come up with for the Atonement. Perhaps it is not well to too readily explain away something I so desperately need.