What is the gospel? I believe this question is critical, and what I answer here is provisional not final; but I’m hopeful it will point us in the right direction.
If we take the ministry of Jesus seriously, the gospel (the good news) is the reign of God. When Jesus started his ministry he began with a simple sermon: “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1.14). Both Matthew and Luke confirm this is what Jesus preached and lived—the good news of God’s kingdom. To grasp the importance of this message, we need to understand that Israel longed for the time when God would become king, when his will and reign would start to break into history, when God would reclaim his creation and drive away all that diminishes life. Jesus came and said, in essence, that which has been longed for is starting to happen right now in my ministry--this is that. God’s world is beginning to replace this tired, old world in the ministry of Jesus.
This truly is good news. You can see how comprehensive and our holistic the gospel is. It’s not merely about trying to get souls into heaven, but rather trying to get heaven into souls, right now. Think about Jesus’ ministry: it was the embodiment of God becoming king, and it included the whole person—physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and psychological. Jesus healed people. He eliminated the shame and guilt that keeps us from others and from God. He drove out evil. He challenged oppressive systems. He formed a new community called to reflect the Triune God through reconciliation and non-retaliation. It was truly a holistic gospel.
In other words, you don’t have to be an evangelist to be a witness. You can witness whenever you rescue a child in need. You witness whenever you embrace the marginalized. You witness whenever you feed the homeless or when you teach (and show) someone that God embraces them as they are. This is the kingdom.
Recently we went to India. The question was asked, Did you go to convert people? The answer might be shocking to some of you. No! We did not go to convert anyone; conversion is God’s work. Nor did we go to build the kingdom; that’s God’s responsibility. And we did not go to change the world; changing the world is what God is already up to in Christ. We went to India to give a glimpse (partial, of course) of what God’s reign is like. And in God’s reign there is no outcast. In God’s reign there is no disparity. We went as witnesses. You see, the church does not build the kingdom; it merely points to the kingdom. This is our job. It’s that simple, and of course, complex and challenging, and invigorating. Peace!
2 comments:
Hi David:
There is a most interesting verse immediately following vs 8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it." That is the use of the verb (wait) in vs 9 "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have (waited) for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have (waited) for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." When you read aloud the text of Isaiah 25 in full last Sunday my heart was quickend by the twice used verb (waited).
In Psalm 130 which I have memorized
it refers to this worshipful action twice as well. "I wait for The Lord my soul waits, and in his Word I Hope! My soul waits for The Lord more than the watchmen for the morning, More than they who watch for the morning."
The true worship of crying out, like children, to the Lord for remembrance. (like the thief who asked Jesus remember me) each believer who calls on Him who through God we are able to be Trusting, Hoping, in the Lord who has all gifts of steadfast Love Mercy and Plentious Redemption.
and in Malachi 3;16 Then they that feared the Lord space often one to another: and The Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them`that (feared) The Lord and that thought upon his name.
"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom." "The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever." and in Psalm 130 "There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared".
Peace!
I love it, Scott. I love your heart. Keep up the good work.
David S.
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