Do Exoplanets Shake Your Faith?

Exoplanets

Courtesy of NASA/JPL

Not that long ago it was a doubtful idea that we would ever find planets outside our solar system. Yet according to Wikipedia we've now found 3,537 extrasolar planets since 1998. Once in a while you will see this fact (or the possibility we may find life on one of those planets) offered by journalists as something that might, well... shake the faith of Jesus' followers right down to our boots.

Because faith is such a precious, fragile little thing, you know.

There are a number of reasons people offer as to why life on other planets might disturb us, one of which is the notion that Jesus would have to visit each and every one so he could die horribly all over again. As one theologian recently put it, "It's been argued for a couple of centuries now whether one incarnation of God as Jesus Christ for the entirety of creation is sufficient."

Fortunately, early Christians have already been there and done that.

Cosmic

According to the Apostles, the sacrifice of Jesus is of cosmic significance. It isn't limited to the planet it took place on; it isn't limited at all, in fact. In any way. It touches every person that exists.

The early Christian movement was pretty clear on this. Paul the Apostle, for instance, told Jesus' roman followers that, "the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God," (Letter to the Romans 6.10). The Letter to the Hebrews is even plainer: "He came to offer himself only once. And that once is enough for all time. He came at a time when the world is nearing an end. He came to take away all sin by offering himself as a sacrifice," (Hebrews 9.26 ERV).

"Christ died for all," Paul succinctly puts it, "therefore all have died," (Second Letter to the Corinthians 5.14).

"Once for all" -- One death and resurrection, infinitely valuable, is able by itself to put the sins of the universe right -- and what other universes there may be.

"...the port of divine forgiveness..."

Meditation for a Sunday Morning

"In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace."

Letter to the Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7 ERV

______________________________

Tertullian, a writer during the days of the early Christian Movement, declares that there is no sin that God will not forgive.

To all sins then, if committed by flesh or by spirit, if by deed or will, the same God who has destined penalty by means of judgment, has truly engaged to grant pardon by means of repentance, calling to people, 'Repent, and I will save you' (Prophecy of Ezekiel 18.21)... That repentance, sinner, like myself (actually less than myself, because I claim first place in sinning as my own) hurry to embrace like a shipwrecked man would the safety of a random plank. It will pull you out when you are sunk in the waves of sin, and carry you forward into the port of divine forgiveness.

Tertullian (AD c. 160 – c. 225)
"On Penance," chapter 4

Jesus and the Universe

Not that long ago it was a doubtful idea that we would ever find planets outside our solar system. Yet today news comes that extra-solar planet number 700 has been located. Once in a while you will see this (or the possibility we may find life on one of those planets) offered by journalists as something that might, well... shake the faith of Jesus' followers right down to our boots. Because faith is such a precious, fragile little thing, you know.

There are a number of reasons people offer as to why life on other planets might disturb us, one of which is the notion that Jesus would have to visit each one and die horribly all over again. As one theologian recently put it, "It's been argued for a couple of centuries now whether one incarnation of God as Jesus Christ for the entirety of creation is sufficient."

Fortunately, the Scriptures have this covered.

According to the Apostles, the sacrifice of Jesus is of cosmic significance. It isn't limited to the planet it took place on; it isn't limited at all. In any way. It affects all of existence.

"Christ himself suffered on account of sins, once for all," St. Peter tells us, "the righteous one on behalf of the unrighteous. He did this in order to bring you into the presence of God," (First Letter of Peter chapter 3, verse 18, CEB). The Letter to the Hebrews says much the same thing: "We have been made holy by God’s will through the offering of Jesus Christ’s body once for all, (chapter 10, verse 10, CEB).

"Once for all" -- One death and resurrection, infinitely valuable, covers the sins of the universe, and what other universes there may be.

St. Paul put it so succinctly: "One died for the sake of all; therefore, all died," (Second Letter to the Corinthians chapter 5, verse 14, CEB).