Timshel: An exposition of Hebrew and what we can learn about salvation and sanctification from an American Novel.

I recently read John Steinbeck's 1952 novel, East of Eden. Steinbeck defines a Hebrew word, Timshel, in his novel, a word meaning "Thou mayest" and he talks about how it has been mistranslated in both the King James and the American Standard translations of the Bible to mean "Do thou" and "Thou shalt". Steinbeck explains how a correct translation of the word is actually one of the most important and encouraging things that a Christian can hear in regards to the pursuit of righteous living. I think the novel says something important about humanity, religion, and choice:

"'Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, "Do thou," and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in "Thou shalt." Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But "Thou mayest"! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.' Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph.

Adam said, 'Do you believe that, Lee?'

'Yes, I do. Yes, I do. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, "I couldn’t help it; the way was set." But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. There’s no godliness there.'" [1.]

Though it may seem like Steinbeck is talking about works-based salvation here, he isn't. He is critiquing the belief that choices are set and that mankind has but one course of action: to put an end to sin in our lives. Sometimes it seems that if Christians cannot reject the sin we are in, we aren't Christians at all! As a Christian, I know the never-ending cycle of sin can often be discouraging and make life seem futile, but what I often forget is that the struggle is not against sin, it is against the natural tendencies of the flesh toward evil. This is an important distinction, which is identified by Oswald Chambers when he writes, "The warfare is not against sin; we can never fight against sin — Jesus Christ conquered that in His redemption of us. The conflict is waged over turning our natural life into a spiritual life." [2.]  As Chambers writes, the struggle cannot be against sin. The struggle is against human nature and is active within myself; choosing to put the natural life to death in order that Christ may raise a spiritual life within me. 

The choice to reject the natural life and its' restrictions and depravity is therefore necessary and righteous. It makes the choice, not a matter of salvation, but of sanctification. Choices we make don't determine the power of Christ's work, but they conform us to his image. Once we are saved, it is our choices and actions that determine our stature with God. Choices are our way of making our faith real in our lives. Choices are how we interact with salvation; they are our response. I believe that our humanity is realized when we are living in right relationship with God and making the choice to put to death the natural life. It is an act of restoration. I think Steinbeck would agree.

For more reading:
1. A complete quote, Steinbeck - http://www.timshel.org/timshel.php
2. A complete quote, Chambers - http://utmost.org/do-it-yourself-1/