MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Is Your Gospel Simple? How Complicated Are You Making the Gospel Message?

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Thu, May 10, 2007
Viewed 108
(36) comments so far

It is entirely possible that I am not smart enough to get the depth of these men and so I misunderstand their thinking entirely. I will entertain that fully but I must also say if I am not after 40 years of following Christ and 27 years of ministry, theological training and the likes, maybe the guy at Taco Bell isn’t either.

Much of what I read coming out of the theological world today, whether traditional or emergent makes the Gospel more complicated than Paul did. Again, please forgive my simplicity, it also seems to be more of a compilation of proof-texting and supporting currently held beliefs. My dad used to say, “Son when you see every problem as a nail, your only tool becomes a hammer.” If I am holding to a set of beliefs I can be easily tempted to recreate or reorient the Gospel to suit my beliefs. This is what I see happening in many of the seminaries and bible colleges today.

Just this week I have heard the following statements: The gospel is about the poor, The gospel is about compassion and social justice, The Gospel is about restoring man to community and self, The Gospel is about the community of the triune God revealing himself in Christ to restore man to that community, The gospel is God’s way of bringing the kingdom of God to earth and the reign of God to earth… These statements are coming from the best and brightest in our education systems.

I think Paul gives us something very tangible when he says this is the Gospel I preached to you “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15

The gospels power is found in its message. God, through Christ, did what could not be done by us. He satisfied the holiness of God on our behalf through the death of Christ. By defeating death, both spiritual and physical he sealed my salvation through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This is what Paul preached and its power was not in the information but in the resurrection.

The gospels power is found in its simplicity. By Faith access is given to anyone. There is nothing like this in the world of religion. By faith I have access is a powerful truth. The 3 year old can have access the 98 year old can have access, the derelict of culture or the good of our culture can have access.

The gospels power is found in its author. What makes the gospel good news is that the offer of forgiveness, freedom from the power of sin, life with Christ, life in the community of faith is that it can actually happen. The author of the gospel has the power to make it true. The gospel is not empty promises made by someone who cannot keep them.

Let’s not make the gospel some complicated piece of information, rather let us see it as an invitation from a God who is love, proved that love in his death, sealed that love by the resurrection of Christ and offers that love in such a way as to allow anyone the ability to say yes. Let’s not present the gospel as a set of facts, but rather let us share it as an invitation from God and let’s make sure anyone who receives the invitation from God does not miss the chance to be discipled to maturity.

Questions for discussion

Do you have a simple gospel?
Do you share it like it really is the power of God or just a set of facts?
What does your church do to communicate the Gospel clearly and regularly?
How do you help new believers in Christ grow?

About the author: Leonard Lee a regular commenter here at MMI. He is also a church planter and a veteran of over 25 years of ministry. He is married to his best friend and they have two awesome kids. He currently pastors Bayside of Central Roseville and loves to hunt, fish and play.

Is the Gospel really that simple and powerful? The trend of theologians, emergent and modern to explain the Gospel seems to be making what Paul said contained the power of God more complicated. Many educational institutions are dissecting to death what was meant to bring life. Having read Foster, Willard, theologians and several other men of God, the way to Jesus seems to be getting more complicated and headier. It is almost like a secret handshake to depth with God rather than a simple truth that give me access to God.

Comments

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Daniel on Mon, May 14, 2007

Thanks for the kind words Brian.

God bless you too. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif

-Daniel-
Brian L on Mon, May 14, 2007

Hey Daniel - just checked out your blog. You’re obviously a deep thinker. I applaud you for that.

Brian
Mike Knight on Mon, May 14, 2007

Hi Peter. Just a few quick thoughts. Most ( if not all ) conversion stories in the Bible are abridged. In Acts 16:31 in seems all it took was a simple statement for a gentile far removed from the facts to be saved. But v.s. 32 implies Paul spent the rest of the night explaining things. In Biblical culture they knew what a disciple was yet Christ still went to great lenghts to define his position. I don’t find many people quoting Christ concerning salvation. Jn 12:23-26. Everything written by Paul, Luke, or whomever must be in harmony with Christ teachings. I challenge you to start asking direct questions to people in your church about their salvation. Ask them to open their Bible and show you how to be saved. Ask them the Kennendy question and listen to the fumbling respones. And besides, if they haven’t denied themselves, picked up their cross, and are following Christ, they don’t belong to Christ at all, ( I didn’t say it , He did ).Thanks for your response Peter. And by the way, I won’t say you are implying that you have heared most pastors when you say that most are preaching the truth( smile )
Peter Hamm on Mon, May 14, 2007

Mike,

I realize (and I think I pointed out) that those conversion stories didn’t happen in a vaccuum at the very least. However, to imply that the only viable way to preach the Gospel is to give a semi-complete theology lesson is not practical. I still maintain it’s not biblical. Paul uses different cultural references at different times when he preaches, even quoting secular/pagan poets when necessary. I know LOTS of very simple salt-of-the-earth folk who are going to heaven without a complete understanding of why. They are going because they trust Christ and follow him. Many of these folks are the best examples of laying down your cross and denying yourself. I know others who are extremely knowledgeable about all things theological whose lives do not reflect Jesus as well and sometimes, to my eyes, very little. I know they also trust Christ and are going to heaven for the same reasons.

As far as the remark about what “most pastors” preach. Read our comments carefully… I only said I THINK that most pastors in Bible-believing churches are preaching the Gospel. You implied a bit more knowledge in what you said.

As far as asking people in my church “direct questions about their salvation”… I repeat what has become my mantra on this board from time to time. None of those people are saved by what they know or mentally assent to or even, if you will, by what they “believe”. They are saved by Christ’s blood, and they are justified by that faith/trust/following Jesus. We’re not, again, saved by the list of specifics of our doctrine. The price is much higher than that.

Blessings,

Peter
craig anderson on Fri, May 18, 2007

the more we analyze, define by standards, require obedience to doctrine, the more we can own and take credit for the gift/ of fiath by grace faith as earned. If we have earned our faith then we then Christ is not Lord of our lives and the truth is not in us.

that said I am sure God has used many a theology or theologian no matter how convulted and legalistic to bring people in to faith. so to God be the glory and may He have mercy on us all.
Troy McCutchen on Fri, August 24, 2007

Of course, every last bit of scripture contributes to an ever increasing depth of understand the good news. That should be our aim, to always be seeking a deeper understand of and appreciation for who God is, what He has done and does for us, who we are, and what He expects of us and so on. That is what we should always be encouraging in others: Seeking Him. But, we must start somewhere. We must understand that the good news is for the simple and uneducated as well as the “intelligent” among us. The question may be this. If I have one twenty minute shot at sharing the good news with someone, what will I say? What is of first importance when shareing the good news? Again, where do I start?