The Gospel of What? (part 2)

So let’s pick up where we left off. Have you heard the gospel stated this way?

“Ask the Lord into your heart so you can go to heaven when you die.”

I remember doing just that in 2nd grade, and you know what? It worked. I got “saved” that day! But is THAT the gospel?

Where did Jesus say it like that? Or Paul? One of the Twelve? Surely somewhere in the New Testament someone said to accept the Lord so you could go to heave when you die?

Um, no.

Soooo…

We’ve been left with a “decision” oriented evangelism and salvation. We’ve taught people to “accept the Lord” and “get things right for eternity” for decades…. and then we wonder why people don’t live like Jesus.

But we didn’t ask or teach people to live like Jesus or really follow Him. Not really. We told them to “get saved.” So they did.

Enter the “Lordship” language — y’know, accept Jesus as Savior AND Lord. Ok, that’s good. So I don’t go to hell and get to go to heaven when I die (whew!)… AND I pray occasionally and go to church every week and try not to cuss and look at women… um, I mean, I give Jesus the management of my life…

This practically means be nice to people, and love my family, and vote Republican, be a good citizen, go to church –don’t forget to tithe!– and ask God to bless my life and my business and my family and my church… oh, and then I get to go to heaven when I die.

Which gospel is this again? This isn’t the Good News that Jesus and the apostles came proclaiming. What about being “born again”? That’s what we’ll talk about next time.

What do you think about these ideas? Is this the version of “the gospel” that you’ve heard and believed?

Read The Gospel of What? (part one)

The Gospel of What?

Reading the Gospel of Mark this morning, and I was reminded of this question, one I have asked myself many times:

Why have we reduced the “gospel” to

“Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins so you could go to heaven when you die”

… when none of the writers of scripture state or echo that idea (i.e. that THAT is the gospel)?

I won’t take the time to unpack all that right now (maybe tomorrow?), but consider this:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15)

Jesus came proclaiming the Good News (the “gospel”). The Good News was that the Time had come, that the Empire of God had come near! Jesus called us to change direction (“repent”) and believe that Good News.

That’s the Gospel Jesus proclaimed. What Gospel do you proclaim?

Easter: Jesus Identified

Friday: Jesus identified with all who have sinned, all who have not loved. All who have acted and thought selfishly. Jesus identified with all who suffer unjustly. He identified with all who are sick, broken, in pain. Jesus identified with all who know shame, humiliaition, and rejection. This was real.

Saturday: Jesus identified with all who are alone. Abandoned. Forgotten. Lonely, isolated, cold, ostracized, rejected. Dead. This was real.

Sunday: Jesus continues to identify with us and brings us to new life. And as we identify with him, he redeems, restores, and breaths new life into us so that we may LIVE. So we can live God’s kind of (“eternal”) life. This too is real.

Yep, I’m back

Rather than think about “needing to start blogging again,” it’s just time to do it. So here we go. The layout may not be snazzy (at least not yet), but that’s not what it’s about is it?

 

Content.

Mid-Day Prayers

At mid-day, I am Yours

In evening, I am Yours

At sunset, I am Yours

At night, I am Yours

At midnight, I am Yours

In the middle of the night, I am still Yours

At sunrise, I am Yours

In morning, I am Yours

I have always been Yours, I will always be Yours

I live and have my being in You

I thank You for breath

I praise You for Life

And I wait

And I rest

In You

Because I am Yours

Glory to the Father

And to the Son

And the Holy Spirit

As in the beginning and before

Is now and Forevermore

Amen