I travel a lot for work. In the past 35 years I’ve flown over 2 million miles. 1.2 million of those miles are with United, and I’m a member of their Million Mile club. These are what frequent fliers call BIS miles, or Butt In Seat miles. They are actual flown miles, not earned with a credit card.
So last week while stuck at Chicago O’Hare airport (yet again) waiting a connection, I sat where I could see TSA do their security screenings. For over an hour I watched what one Israeli security expert called “Security Theater”. TSA put on a good show, and those in the show and those watching were made to feel “secure” by what they were watching, but it was just a show.
Every few months we hear another report about a test of TSA security where a large percentage of the fake guns they put through are never caught. Just a few weeks ago another test failed
I watched those that got selected for “secondary screening” for whatever reason, most of the time there was something that did not look right in the carry on back, or they tripped the metal detector. TSA would spend up to 10 minutes taking every single item out of their carry-on bag, checking it, sometimes wiping it with a paper to check for explosive residue. I watched a middle aged woman, and a collage student get this treatment. I could tell from the start they would not find anything, but the show went on and on and on.
I wonder if religion in general, and the LDS church in particular has what I’ll call “Salvation Theater” (1). The rituals performed in religion make us feel good, but is it really necessary for salvation? Some of the rituals that come to mind are baptism, taking the sacrament, and in the LDS church, the granddaddy of all “Theater”, the Endowment Ceremony. All these rituals makes us feel better about our chance of Salvation, and people watching see that we are doing the right thing. But does it really affect our Salvation? Does God really care for the show we put on? Do these rituals really stop the bad guy from “getting on the plane”, or the heathen from coming into the presents of God? Or does God have his own grand plan for who will be “Saved”, regardless of the theater we participate in during our time on earth?
(1) I use the word Salvation in a general sense, to include what the LDS church refers to as Exaltation
Wheat & Tares 
Jesus Himself asked to be baptized. I don’t think He looks on it as mere theater.
However, others will see baptism and other ordinances as a thing of naught. Even if they receive the ordinances, there will be of no salvific effect because of their own choice to see them as a thing of naught. But some of these may yet later realize the preciousness of the Gospel in its fullness.
Nothing we do brings us salvation. Not ordinances, not good deeds-nothing. Our salvation rests wholly in the Atonement. As we do all the “right things”, if we aren’t being led closer to Christ and brought to an understanding of the saving power of the Atonement, then yes, it is all just theater.
Great analogy bishop. I like what Eliza said also. Even though I have big issues with elder Oaks, I still really like his talk from 2000 “The challenge to Become”. I have seen people that Check all boxes, but they have a judgemental heart. I have seen people that have never set foot in the temple but they exude love. So I might not call it “theater”, I think many of the outward expressions of faith may be a side show for why we are really here.
It is all theatre, “all churches” have gone astray and are in apostasy, the BoM is clear on this fact. The LDS church is the biggest theatre because it possesses the greatest amount of scripture that warns you of this very theatre! The LDS church does not posses the saving ordinances, it has t for over 180 years!!! The proper order and manner of baptism is not adhered to because the LDS church was rejected by God Himself when the saints broke the covenant that they had entered into with God, the law of consecration is a big big deal in the mind of God and His perfect plan. Eliza is spot on concerning the atonement, the atonement is the remedy, the only remedy, period. When the marvelous work begins to unfold and the restoration of the fullness of the gospel is in place , baptisms, the sacrament and the temple will be authentic and according to Gods will and plan, not the theatre that we currently witness because of the precepts of man, fear and works in place of mercy and grace. So when the Lord commences His strange act and reveals His arm, that is when the story line in the BoM changes to thre will be but two churches, one of God and one of the Devil. Eliminate the false idols of the heart, mans wants and mans version and treasure up the holy infallible word of God and then the Holy Spirit has place to set up shop and work on the purification of ones heart and prepare one for receiving all truth and the way to the center stake of this promised land, Zion, no theatre required, just a broken heart and contrite spirit, no acting please, peace.
As Jesus instituted the church, what we see is His theater. Much of it is instructive. The pageantry of the temple teaches us how to see the face of God, literally. But, the theater alone does not save. It did not save the Pharisees or Saducees who were zealous for the law, but overlooked the weightier matters. Plus they changed the law.
While the ordinances alone do not save, they are required. For example, part of the sacrament is a pledge of fealty to God, without which we can’t be saved. Further this repeated and ongoing acceptance of Jesus as our Lord which happens in the sacrament is also required. If we take the sacrament unworthily, meaning we do it only for show or continue to willfully break commandments, then we do it into our condemnation.
Anything symbolic is theater, and yes, ordinances (and ancientmy, sacrifices) are symbolic of salvation. Certainly someone can have the right ordinances and not be saved, and Joseph Smith taught that many would be saved who didn’t have access to the right ordinances in life. So what is the role of ordinances? Even if it is theater, it points to something greater.
It is only necessary in that it helps us to believe we are acceptable to God. Why would God need any of this stuff done? He knows our heart, so he does not need words said over us to make us clean or prepare us for exaltation. He knows if we really repent, or say we are sorry in words but our heart has not changed. We are the ones who need to feel like our sins are washed away before we will trust that God loves us. We are the ones who think we need some kind of ceremony to make us special, or as someone said above, to teach us to see the face of God. God does not need any hokus pokus said over his children to know we are his children.
But it is human nature to feel unworthy, so baptism makes us feel worthy. It is also human nature to want to feel like we have something more, a special covenant to make us God’s favorite, the chosen people, better than our neighbor down the street. I think Joseph Smith knew humans well enough to know how to make us loyal to the church he started. And why did Christ get baptized when he was without sin? Only to set an example for us. Because Christ knew human nature and weakness and knew we needed such ceremonies. So, he set an example of what would be important to us.
So, it is all theater to help us humans accept ourselves. It is a way of saying, “I want to change my life and leave the desire to sin behind me.” And the endowment is a way of saying, “I want to progress to become more like God.”
We need this. God doesn’t. So, all the generations before us, they may have progressed without such ceremonies, just like we flew in airplanes before airport security. We reached our destination without the theater. Or, if they have not been able to progress without such ceremonies, then we do it for them. But God doesn’t need it done. It just helps us breath a little easier feeling like our sins are washed away. We could do it every morning in the shower if we believed it worked.
But like any placebo, we need to believe it works, or it won’t.
” or the heathen from coming into the presents of God” I think that all will receive the gifts of God. I can’t imagine the ordinances as a way to keep anyone from receiving those.
I’m an a business owner. I hire people to help further the purpose of my business. As an employer, I need to evaluate the performance of those I hire. When I see dedication and a strong work ethic I am grateful to paid such individuals. When I see the opposite, I do what I can to discover the reason, an if possible, correct a employee’s under performance.
After reading this post, I suggest Bill remove the the title of Bishop when he post and just refer to himself as Bill. The title of Bishop connotes that the holder of this title sustains and supports the mission of the church. He is welcome to think that the ordinances of the church are just salvation theater, but he shouldn’t use the title of Bishop at the same time. It is like those individuals who wear metals that honor military valor but never earned such metals. Those who do so are seeking honor for something they never did, it is referred to as “stolen valor”. Is Bill using the title Bishop in much the same way?
What’s your opinion? Should someone use the title Bishop who suggest that the ordinances of the church are “salvation theater”?
Jared, I think you should use a new name. You are no match for the faithfulness of the Brother of Jared, and shouldn’t be taking his name in vain. Please use another name.
Come on brother, that was a bit ridiculous. Comment on the post, not the person.
If the Lord (as seen by LDS understanding) sees fit to call someone as a Bishop (and Bishop Bill has made it clear he was called) and the SP and his ward sustain him, I don’t see how judging the correctness of that calling is the business of random people on the internet.
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I’ve been reading Adam Miller’s book ‘Future Mormon’ and this was posted right as I was working through his chapter on Paul’s writing on The Law in Romans. (I had to graph it all out to puzzle though what Miller/Paul were saying, but it is well worth it).
The ordinances and temple are very much part of The Law.
Miller shows Paul writing that The Law is a medium of education (needed to define righteousness) but also a medium of sin. Focusing on The Law creates pharisaical thinking, obsession with checklists, competitiveness, guilt (for failing to live up to the law) and self-satisfaction/superiority (when one sees oneself as living up to the law). All of these are traps of sin.
The actual goal of The Law then, is not to obey The Law but rather to fulfill it. Similar to how Jesus fulfilled the law of sacrifice in the old testament. He didn’t do that using the OT temple rituals or by killing animals. He rose above that to sacrifice himself. If we want to be a disciple of Christ, we must fulfill the Law we live under in the same manner. And how do we do that? Accepting and giving Grace, Love, and Charity to/from God and our fellowman. If we do that, then we rise above The Law to the Higher ground which is fulfillment (rather than obedience). The moment we go back to obeying, we trap ourselves in sin again.
So how does this all related to Religious Theater…? Well, I don’t think the Ordinances need to be pigeon-holed into just one thing. They can be seen as a way to become focused on/encourage obeying The Law. I’d say most of Mormonism falls into this category. Certainly it is what a good lot of LDS leadership is preaching: Follow the Prophet, Keep your Covenants, Keep the Commandments, Renew your Covenants. (It is also the primary purpose of our Sunday Worship services.)
or The Ordinances can be seen as religious theater (Miller would say these are they who The Law has no power over because they ignore it, don’t *see* it as powerful). I will admit I am here when it comes to the temple. The sexist God who set up (somewhat silly, to me anyway) Masonic rituals to allow his children into his presence is not the God I know. I probably see the other ordinances this way as well right now, although I recognize this is a fault in me – definitely not a positive.
or one can fulfill The Law and fulfill the ordinances because through grace, love, and charity. I don’t know what this looks like. I wish I did. Maybe Miller (or the apostle Paul!) does. I think Miller (and Paul) are correct though. I think it is possible and even the temple is part of it.
By the way Jared, there is a new post that discusses the scriptures and whether Jesus was married. I’d love to get your scriptural expertise on that topic, especially concubines. It’s right up your alley on the scriptures, right?
This is a really interesting analogy, Bishop Bill. (May I call you “Bishop?” Would it be better for me to call you “President” to signify that I’m voting against Jared’s attempt to demote you?) If I understand right, lots of Protestants would totally agree with this line of thinking, since they don’t think ordinances are necessary. I think you’re right too that we Mormons are probably overly concerned with them. I think that while they have benefit for individuals (e.g., joining the community at baptism), they serve the needs of the Church more. It’s important for the Church to see measurable outward manifestation of a person’s commitment to the institution, so ordinances–and lots of them–are great. The temple is really ideal in this respect, as you’re never done going there, so there’s a good reason to have endless institutional loyalty checkups (temple recommend interviews) to keep the boundary bright between the really devoted and the great unwashed.
Jared, I’ve not been an serving bishop for over 12 years, yet every Sunday somebody at church will call me bishop. This Sunday I’ll keep track of who calls me bishop and pass them to you so you can take care of their malfeasance!
There’s a post for you–this weird tendency to call retired bishops “bishop” forever more. If nursery leader is really the most important calling (because it’s always invoked to be the most important which really means it’s the worst calling), we should call retired nursery leaders “leader” forever.
The whole history of creation is Salvation Theater.
So this whole theatre thing may be just fine for those kinaesthetic learners amongst us, might well make some sense in societies or times past with low rates of literacy… but as I’ve said before, I’d far rather just read. I get on so much better in an endowment session when the captions are up on the screen. I’m learning nothing with all this play acting, just getting hot and bothered trying to keep up with what I meant to be doing next.