Follow

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.  [Matthew 4:17]

What is the Gospel?  I know the word means good news but what is good news.  There is plenty of bad news to go around.  That’s probably why so many people are interested in the Gospel - at least, the Gospel as they see it.  When Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was near what did He mean exactly?  And if the Kingdom was near way back then - is it here now (or at least, closer)?  Lots of questions… and as I’ve found, lots of answers.  There are a myriad of explanations and images of what the Gospel consists of and how the Kingdom is expressed.  Some believe the Gospel to be a message and life toward social justice.  Others see evangelism and personal salvation as the hallmark of the Kingdom.  Then there are those who minister inner healing and physical healing.  Still others hold that the Gospel is all about racial and ethnic reconciliation.  These are just a few pieces of the Gospel - or gates to the Kingdom.  In reality, the Gospel is all of these things and more.  Yet, in large part, our understanding of it and derived ethos is very fragmented and with most attributes of the Gospel isolated from the others.

So… how do we bring it together?  How do we defrag the Gospel?  What is the whole story?

… to be continued.

Today, I listened to a podcast from Emergent Village featuring Scot McKnight called “The Whole Gospel” (click here to download). Scot is coming to my seminary next month to speak at our Theological Summit and also to do few additional lectures. The main thrust of the podcast is that we must treat the Gospel as more than a series of propositions - more than just a listing of truth but a meaningful revolution of hope through Christ. McKnight points out the hunger of our current and upcoming generations to find out if the Gospel really works - that the world is looking to see if Christ really does transform individuals, families, and communities. They are looking for the image of Christ in the people that bear His name - Christian. McKnight went on in the podcast to liken the Gospel to music: To the average person, the lines, notation, and symbols of a sheet of music have little meaning - they are an abstract and even irrelevant noise. It is not until a skilled musician takes the sheet of music and performs the piece that it has any real connection with anyone - but at this point, it’s value is made known and the hearer can understand how all of those lines and notes really work. Listen to the lyrics of The Rocket Summer’s song “So Much Love”…

You got so much love in you
You got so much love in you
I’m amazed that I’m talkin’ to you
You look like the songs that I’ve heard my whole life coming true

For many people, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is like an old song - like one of those songs we played in a piano recital. We worked so hard to remember all of those notes and nuances so we could perform flawlessly at the recital - years later, we probably couldn’t recall more than a couple measures. This shouldn’t be, according to McKnight. The Gospel is meant to be seen and heard and felt and experienced and documented and remembered everyday. The Gospel is found not in a policy, or ideology, or proposition - but in a man, Jesus. Christ is the the coming true of all of those songs. In Him, we see the Gospel in the flesh - and His followers (you and me) are called to carry on this performance - the song isn’t over.

I also recently saw a music video for Sara Groves‘ newest song, “I Saw What I Saw”. The video includes footage from her trip to Rwanda where she met people who have suffered such hardship and injustice only to respond with such grace and love. The final line of the song goes like this…

Your courage asks me what I’m afraid of…
And what I know of love…
And what I know of God

This is the Gospel - people that are fearless in their love just as Christ is fearless.

Father, I pray that you would release me from all fear - especially the fear that stops me from extending Christ to others. May I learn to love people that have nothing to give back to me - and even those for which loving may cost me everything.

Here’s the video I’m talking about…