So there I was sitting in an interview for a chaplaincy position at the local Christian organization, when I was asked the dreaded question, “Do you believe in eternal security?” “Uh, um, well,” I said, as I shifted a bit in my chair. I knew what the appropriate answer was. I knew what they were looking for. This was an evangelical Christian institution after all. One that was decidedly on the Calvinist (not the comic strip, but the theologian) side of life as well. But I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t say what I didn’t believe. I looked at the inquisition board, I mean the three guys interviewing me, and said, “No, I don’t.” Then the objection came from one of the interviewers, “What do you tell a guy who has come to faith in Christ, but has a relapse or a moral failing?” I said some things about God’s love, God never giving up on us if we continue to come back to him, and something about God pursuing us. At the idea of God pursuing us one of the interviewers asked, “Do you have a verse for that?” I didn’t, but as I started thinking (a little frantically) this conversation between Peter and Jesus came to my mind.
John 21: 15-19
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
What I love about this passage is that the question that Peter needed to hear was not, “Can a person lose their faith/salvation?” Which is completely the wrong question, btw. The better question and the one Jesus asks Peter is, “Do you love me?” Our salvation is not something that we possess like a prize or a trophy. It is not something that we can win or lose. Our salvation is loving Jesus enough to live like him. Therefore the question should be, “Do you love Jesus?” And if you do, if the answer is yes, I love Jesus. Then we must follow him, because living in his life is our salvation.
This conversation between Jesus and Peter may seem like a strange passage to use as a focal point for one’s ministry. However, it is great to know that no matter how big my screw ups are (seeing that Peter’s were pretty big) God will continue to call me to follow him. My tendency after denying Jesus as Peter did would be to give up and go back to the old way of things, but I think God calls us all to follow him into the future. And somehow the screw-ups, the loses, and other humbling experiences in life make us better equipped to do the work God has called us to do.
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