Roman Catholics, Hindus, and American Evangelicals: Finding Unity in Their Atonement

The Hindu does not think he needs Christ’s righteousness, he is able to do all the gods require through his earnest sacrifice.

The Roman Catholic does not think he needs Christ’s righteousness, he is able to earn this himself by his sacrifice and penance during Lent.

The Evangelical does not think he needs Christ’s righteousness, he is able to cleanse his guilty conscience by just resolving to act more like a Christian.

In each of these cases the worshiper is worshiping, but he is worshiping himself. He is making self atonement to satisfy his own standard of righteousness and as a result he is getting all of the glory. Meanwhile Jesus, the righteousness of God, is devalued, marginalized, and obscured by all of the incense we are pruning on this sacred altar of self.

This is nothing more than grade ‘A’ paganism. And any worshiper who has no need for Christ is guilty of it. (Irish Calvinist)