God Used Nails
On a church billboard near my parents’ house in Oregon I saw this sign:
“People use Duct Tape to fix everything. God used nails.”
I guffawed immediately – but then became sober as its many meanings sank in. God used nails? Ok – maybe if we accept that Jesus Christ had to die in sacrifice for the sins of the world… did it have to be so painful? Was morbid, bleeding, ripping-of-flesh suffering required? Was it the exact measure of pain and torture that was needed to compensate for our sins, perhaps one drop of blood for every 10 billion evil deeds? Or was it his death alone that saved us? (Surely, a more human death could have been provided.) Why did God use crucifixion, rather than, say, a swift blow to the back of the head?
This is my answer: God used nails, in Christian theology, because he wanted you to feel very, very bad. Taking your sins away is meaningless, unless it fills you with crushing amounts of both gratitude and guilt. God wants you to feel the pain that Jesus endured on the cross. Guilt and gratitude are a powerful combination, virtually guaranteed to keep you submissive and humble enough to follow his commands. In fact, if I were trying to invent a religion – a way for everybody to act, a way for them to live, I would first have to give them some overwhelming motivation for listening to me and doing what I tell them to. The agonizing death of Jesus Christ and the moral reminder that he died for you, is one of the most psychologically powerful motivators in religious history.
It is much stronger than the original 10 commandments. It is even stronger than merely the punishments of Hell and the rewards of Heaven. The personal debt owed to Jesus Christ whose blood was shed for you, leaves a heavy burden of ethical obligation upon the believer. As such, it is a very useful belief. However, that doesn’t make it historically accurate at all. In addition, the meaningfulness of Christ’s sacrifice disappears swiftly when examined. Christ has existed from the beginning and his suffering lasted for… a day? How much more do cancer patients or molested children suffer, to give just two examples. Not to mention the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, put his suffering behind him, and ascended into heaven. Hardly a life-changing traumatic experience for Jesus, regardless of the amount of pain he felt.
The triviality of Christ’s sacrifice, in comparison to those tortured in Hell forever as a result of his actions, is well portrayed by one of my favorite artists, Normal Bob Smith.
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I stumbled upon your blog while looking for something on the internet. I’m not sure what your site is all about- but it’s clear that you do not believe in God- because if you did you would never post such things. I decided to click off of your page and ignore what you said but then I decided to come back and leave a comment. I’m not looking to aruge with you, I just want you to understand what I believe. I believe that Jesus died for me and for my sins, and for you and your sins. His pain is something nobody will ever be able to understand. Comaparing his pain to somone elses undermines their pain- everything happens for reasons that we may never understand why but it’s not up to us to know everything at all times. I believe people do bad things, and I believe quite often the Devil tempts people to do bad things- and if people live their life in sin and are not sorry for their actions, or lack there of, then they should be punished for that if they do not repent. They do not deserve Christ’s Salvation- the devil does not have salvation to give. I pray that you have changed your viewpoints since the time that you wrote this. I will continue to pray for you and your soul that you may find the love of God and experience it’s amazing feeling. May God bless YOU.
Thanks Elizabeth, for your reading and your prayers. I do believe in God – I believe in a God who loves me and forgives me, even my awful writing. I believe in a God who lets me think critically and make rational judgments about things – a god I don’t need to be afraid of, a smart and sensible and caring god with a sense of humor. (If God exists, and he is NOT these things – if the Real God is the God you believe in, that allows a system of eternal punishment for a few years of well-intentioned but sinful living, then I want nothing to do with him. If GOD can’t live up to your expectations, who can?
That said, I have a huge guilt complex. I feel guilty about everything, and I try always to be the best person I can be. Is my guilt enough to earn God’s sympathy? I’d like to hope so. Must I first accept that Jesus was historically crucified, despite the evidence telling me that his crucifixion was a copy of older, symbolic traditions, and if I can’t suspend my reason and believe in an event that makes no logical sense to me? I sincerely hope not. And if that’s the case, God needs to grow up.
hey Bro,thats an awesome article u have put up here!its absolutely logical and understandable!Butttt…here comes the surprise,even through these strong arguments that U have put up here,God sees the emptiness of you heart.Your family has been goin thru a hard time and God sees that.U talk so much.Do u even know how that body use use against God functions.Can u even fathom the wisdom with which it is made?forget that!u mite be writing this blog to give out those frustrations u have in your heart.U r searchin fer peace in the wrong places in the wrong ways.Come to Jesus!!!When many tell u that ure not good enuf,Jesus says “ure so worthy that I can give my life for u”God will not force these things on you.Its your choice.always.You dont have to live this way in defeat and depression.Jesus paid the price fer your smiles and your victory.God bless u bro!tc..keep writing till u see the light that will show you the darkness that ure in.and remember-satan hates u!