IS THE GOSPEL GOOD NEWS? PART 2

IS THE GOSPEL GOD NEWS?

                                        PART 2: Fire and Brimstone!

"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

Have you ever wondered why, if this is such good news, people aren’t clamoring to get inside the church doors? Why so many Christians far too often (myself included), neither look nor behave like we’ve heard such good news that we just can’t keep it to ourselves? Why we aren’t so excited about what we’ve heard and learned we just can’t wait to share this good news with everyone we meet? Why love, joy, peace, and compassion are so conspicuously absent from our lives?

I certainly have. Remember the bumper sticker or poster that says, "If it were a crime to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I was seriously thinking about that the other day. To my utter shame I had to confess that I'm not sure. Most people who know me might acknowledge that I am a good, moral, nice person, as are many Christians. But, then again, so are a lot of unbelievers good, moral, and nice. So what is it in our lives that identifies us as Christians? Do people look at us and say, "He has been with Jesus,” or, "She has been with Jesus?" Do they look at us and say, "I see the peace and joy in your life. Tell, me what can I do to get that in my life?” Or do they look at us and say, “Why on earth would I want to be like you? You’re self-righteous, up-tight, judgmental, and hypocritical; you look miserable, you aren't kind, and you have more problems than I do! If this is what your Jesus brings to you, I'm better off without him."

And they would have a good point, because before we can effectively and accurately share the good news, we first have to understand it, receive it, and live it ourselves. Some of you may be like me – I grew up hearing a lot of “fire and brimstone” sermons. The message fairly thundered from the pulpit: “God hates sin, and you are a miserable sinner! Jesus loves you!  He came to save you! If you don’t believe that, and receive Him as your Lord, God will send you to burn forever and ever in the fires of hell!” I tell you I could smell the sulfur in the air, see the raging flames, and hear the screams of the damned.

I think many people are scared into saying the sinners’ prayer, and I do think God honors their prayer; but, when you come to the Lord in that manner, it’s hard to see God as a loving father. He is more apt to be seen as a “cosmic bully” that you have to work really hard to please than a compassionate father who loves you more than you can imagine. Many times those who hear the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God!” (the classic sermon by Jonathan Edwards) type of message just outright reject both the message and its God; for them, God, if there is one, is seen as not only angry, but cruel and vindictive, as well.

Yes, my friend, it is true that Scripture does indeed say that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23, NIV), and Paul reminds us that “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23), NIV) There are terrible consequences for sin, in this life and beyond, and we must evangelize and share the good news that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ; but, before we can do that in the power of the Holy Spirit, we ourselves need to understand that the gospel is not “fire insurance for the hereafter” or a "get out of hell free card."

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not saying we don't need to pass out tracts or knock on doors or preach and teach about the consequences of unrepented sin. But if that’s all we know and teach and preach, or even the primary thing, we are misrepresenting both God and the gospel. If we are serving God from a position of fear, we cannot truly know Him or love Him.

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

If it were a crime to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?

How did I come to know the Lord? Did that influence how I view God? In what way?

 

Join us next week for

 

Part 3: Is God a Cosmic Bully?

 

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As always, I pray you are blessed by today’s sharing, and I invite your comments and prayer requests. (Please do check the guidelines first, though. They are important, and can be found in the "About" section.) I hope to meet you here again next Monday.

 

Love, Hugs, and Blessings!

 

Syandra