A Fresh Perspective - January 9, 2009
A lot of "gospel preaching" today in evangelical Christian churches simply bypasses the "gospel" that Jesus proclaimed and embodied in his life and ministry.
Many evangelical presentations of the gospel assume that the major issue is going to heaven when we die. And they assume that the only way to get to heaven is by believing the right things about Jesus: that he was God's Son; that he died on the cross for our sins; that he was resurrected from the dead, etc. What is usually left unclear in most of these presentations is how believing the right things leads to a transformed life. How does faith in Jesus as personal Savior (usually understood as Savior from "hell" or "God's judgment") result in being "saved" from one's selfishness, greed, prejudice, and other destructive attitudes and behaviors? How does believing in particular doctrines "about" Jesus transform one into a more loving, compassion individual who is "like" Jesus?
The gospel that Jesus proclaimed was focused almost exclusively on God's kingdom (God's new world) coming on earth, bringing reconciliation, peace, and justice for all God's children. Jesus' gospel was much more action-centered than belief-centered. It was more oriented around "being" and "doing" than "believing."
For example, in the parable of judgment in Matthew 25, the criterion for judgment has nothing to do with confessing Christ or believing in Christ. Rather, it has everything to do with how one treats Christ.
Those who stand before Christ at the judgment bar do not even know Christ and are completely unaware of the implications of their actions. To those who are found worthy to enter into "eternal life" (another way of talking about the fulfillment of God's kingdom on earth) Christ says: "I was hungry and you gave something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
They are perplexed because they cannot ever recall showing such kindness to Jesus. They didn't even know Jesus. But Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
They served Jesus by serving their sisters and brothers in the human family, providing for their needs.
Many evangelical Christians could experience a radical conversion in their faith if they took the gospel of Jesus seriously.