What is the gospel? I know,
let’s start with the softball pitches. The gospel is the message that Jesus
died on the cross so I can go to Heaven when I die. This is the gospel. At
least, this is the gospel as I heard it. Lately I have begun wondering if it is
really the gospel. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that Jesus didn’t die
and that Heaven isn’t in our future. What I am saying is I am beginning to
wonder if this gospel is a bit small, if this gospel somehow misses a large
part of what the gospel was meant to be. I begin to wonder when I read how
Jesus talked about the gospel.
When Jesus went about talking
about the gospel, he talked about it as good news. Alright. I am good so far.
Certainly, the gospel is good news. It is after the good news part that Jesus’
and my versions of the gospel diverge. Jesus begins to talk about the gospel as
God coming to town, physically showing up. He talks about the gospel as God
taking charge in this messed up world. Jesus talks about the gospel in ways I
have never really heard. When I listen to Jesus I realize just how big his
gospel is.
Jesus’ gospel isn’t just big.
It calls for a big response. God is coming to town. People can physically
encounter him. In this encounter with God there is the need for a response.
Actually, the response is quite simple. Basically, to encounter God leads to
the call to give up on my way of viewing and navigating this world so that I
can come under God’s rule and authority. To encounter God is to give up on my
agenda, my way of being and to allow God to set the sails. Here is where Jesus’
big gospel comes to a sticking point for me. In my small gospel I get to stay
in charge, but in Jesus’ big gospel there is no room for me anymore; at least
there is no room for me to be in charge. Perhaps that is the most troubling.
In my small gospel, God and I
work out a transaction. I say that I trust Jesus and he forgives me of my sin
and lets me into Heaven. It’s a pretty good deal, one that lets me live my life
in the present pretty much on my terms supported by a great eternal life
insurance policy. In Jesus’ big gospel, there is no transaction. There is only
surrender. God is coming to town. I can personally encounter him if only I will
fully surrender and live under his rule and authority. I wonder. Is that what I
really want to do? Do I really want to stop being king and allow a new king to
rule in my life?
There are benefits to being
king. The king gets to do what he wants. He sets the rules and determines
reality. The king answers to no one. Not a bad gig, but there are downsides to
being king. The king is responsible for defending the kingdom, for exacting
tribute, for making sure everything works. In real life terms, being king means
I am responsible for my own protection and provision, for figuring out how to
settle problems like crummy work situations and angry spouses. Being king means
I have to fight to make sure people revere and respect me. Perhaps worst of
all, as king I have to spend countless hours figuring out how to get all those
other people who think they are king bend to my will.
If God is king, then I can
give up on all this. If God is king then I can give up on image management for
it becomes the king’s job to take care of me. I don’t have to worry about
provision or protection. That’s his job. I don’t have to spend long hours
determining the right agenda. That is his purview. Perhaps best of all, I can
release the impossible task of bending others to my will. I am after all, no
longer king. Not being king is a whole lot easier, more restful than being
king. The question is do I really want to stop being king? Do I really want to
encounter God personally and live under his rule and authority? To say “yes” is
to respond to the real gospel.
A fellow traveler,
Blake
Shipp
Spiritual Formation Pastor
What
is my next step?
I
encourage you to consider the following as a way of handing off faith to your
family. . .
Pause and ask Jesus: We may
verbally acknowledge that we live under the reign and rule of God while we
practically live as our own kings. This month, consider pausing in major family
discussions to pause and pray, asking Jesus for his wisdom and guidance. These
discussions might involve things like discussions about what movies to watch as
a family or where to go on the next family vacation. You need not make this
something formal or rigorous. You might simply pause in a discussion and say,
“Let’s pause for a moment before we go further and ask Jesus to guide the rest
of our discussion.” You might pause in silence or offer a simple sentence
prayer. The physical break and prayer insert moments for you and your family to
recognize Jesus’ physical presence and guidance in your lives.
I
encourage you to consider the following as a way of nurturing your own faith. .
.
Surrender to God as king: The
gospel is the encouraging message that we can personally encounter God and live
under his rule and authority through the person of Jesus. Responding to the
gospel takes acknowledging that God is truly King. This week, consider
responding to God with this simple prayer. “Jesus, you are king.” Attempt to
speak this prayer as you breathe throughout the day. As you inhale, speak the
word “Jesus.” As you exhale, offer the words, “you are king.” Do this as you
move about your activities and relationships so that this prayer becomes woven
into the fabric of your life. If you become distracted, begin again when you
recognize your distraction. Do not beat yourself up or fret that you were
distracted but be gracious to yourself. Rather, use your distraction as an
illustration of your great need for Jesus as your king.
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