Roma and the Jesus Steps

So we just got back from a weekend in Rome. We had a great time and really enjoyed getting to experience another culture, as much as a few tourist could.

We got to see the Coliseum, the Palatino where the senate met and the Emperor lived, the Vatican, and a ton of other really old stuff that bears some significance. But I think one of the most memorable things was the Santa Scala, or the Holy Steps.

They are believed to have been the same steps Jesus passed on his way to being tried by Pilot. There are even traces of blood believed to be that of Jesus. They are now covered by wood and people who want to climb to the "Holy of Holies" at the top of the stair case can only do so on their knees.

At the bottom of the stairs, there was a plaque that explained how it all worked. Apparently if you climb the stairs during Lent you will receive full penance, but on any other day just half penance.

This really bothered me.

Aside from the point that they were pushing the idea that you can receive any kind of forgiveness from climbing stairs on your knees, how do you gage degrees of forgiveness? Partly forgiven? Don't even get me started on the fact that they were using a bunch of stupid stairs to gain that forgiveness.

But, that's the problem with a legalistic perspective on scripture and the Christian life. If you truly believe that doing those "good" things will earn forgiveness, then you'll do them. And I'll even add this, if you think by doing "good" things will maintain salvation, then you'll do them. The problem with this is, well, the bible.

The sad fact is though, whether it's Jesus stairs on lent or church on Sunday morning, Catholic or Southern Baptist, we are all in danger of turning our lives and our faith into a merit based religion; pointing away from trusting Jesus for everything concerning salvation and forgiveness to how we must try to please a God who may just already be pleased with us.