Homosexuals are eroding the traditional family unit by asking to be married under the state. Muslims are joining together to destroy America and Christianity by building mosques in America. Christ is being taken out of Christmas by godless heathens who believe that x-mas isn’t as offensive. Democrats and/or liberals are going to make America a socialist state and kill this Christian nation. The educational system is trying to convert our children to atheism by only teaching evolution. These are just few items that I hear the gospel of fear teaching.
Now if it you if you look up the word gospel in a dictionary, you notice immediately that gospel is tied closely to Jesus’ teachings, the first 4 books of the New Testament, and a set of beliefs. If you look closer, you see that the word we know as gospel comes from the English origin of godspel or good spel (spel meaning news, story) – good news, good story. If you look even deeper, you see the Greek word where we get gospel from is euangelion ‘good news.’ Why do I bring this up? First, the title of this blog, “The Gospel of Fear”, is a complete oxymoron because good news and fear really don’t go together but seems to be spreading in America. Secondly, the good news is what Jesus came to preach, to show and bring to this earth.
Sadly, it seems Christianity has been hijacked by this “Gospel of Fear.” Over the past few months (especially coming into this election season), I have heard so much of this gospel being pumped into the media, into discussions and into Christian programming. It’s like the end of the world is near… more on that later. At the same time, I can only imagine what everyone else who isn’t a Christian is thinking. I mean, really, just watch it, listen to it, see it. It’s unattractive, it’s brutal, it’s hateful, it’s dividing, and IT’S SAD!
It is sad because the Gospel was never meant to be viewed as any of the words I mentioned above. It is supposed to be GOOD NEWS! Just do a quick biblegateway.com search, and you will find it used in the Gospels 14 times and in the rest of the New Testament 14 other times. What was this good news? In short, that the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven has come. Search “Kingdom of Heaven”… 30 times in Matthew alone. And the Kingdom of GOD shows up 52 times in the gospels. Search “gospel”, and you see it 91 times in the New Testament. (I think that is a few more times than homosexuality is referenced). This thing called the Good News is referenced a lot, as it should be! And I venture to say that each of those references has something really good attached to it.
The Good News is that the Kingdom of God is here. We are not hoping for it or waiting for it. It is found in you and in me through the Holy Spirit. We see the Good News in that Jesus died for our sins, we have forgiveness of those sins if we ask for it, Jesus is coming again and we will live in a world with no sin or death or pain or hurt! What does this bring us? Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And Self-Control… just to name a few (Galatians 5:22). We see that, in the Kingdom of GOD, we love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). We see that hate is equal to murder (Matthew 5:21-26). Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12) All this and much, much more are oozing out of the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament – all talking about this Good News that the Kingdom of GOD is here.
Now I hope and realize that some of those who are propagating this “gospel of fear” are trying to help people and show them this Good News. But in reality, it is not coming across as loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, being faithful to the Word, gentle or, in some people, showing self control. I, and other people, see hate, slander, murder, and that list could go on. It isn’t coming across good!
Other times it is coming across like these Christians are scared and are defending their beliefs and culture. Beyond civil and rational discussions between individuals, I don’t believe there is any more reason to prove or defend Christianity. Apologetics should only be used among Christians discussing their own beliefs, not against the rest of the world. Why do I believe this? Jesus said about Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades (or hell) will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18) There is no reason to defend against gates… because gates can’t attack you… they are a defensive system in themselves. Another reason… Jesus tells His disciples to go and preach that the kingdom of heaven is near. He mentions to them, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” (Matthew 10:14) In other words… let it go. It goes on later to say that GOD will do the judging.
Oh yeah, and that brings me to my last point… GOD will do the judging. There is no need for us go around pointing out each and every sin that people outside our Church commit. This doesn’t mean we should sit around and let the world fall into hopelessness, especially if we believe that the end of the world is near. Again, we have the Good News. We have hope! We have a way to life and life more abundant! We have peace! We have joy! Happiness! There is good here! Why in the world would we not want to share that? Why must we show and display anything else but that… ALL THE TIME! We are to love GOD first and love others second! Jesus’ followers will be known by their love! If we spent as much time and energy on telling the good news, I truly believe Christians, the Gospel, the Bible, Jesus and GOD would be seen in a whole different light. So please stop spreading the Gospel of Fear, but saturate the world with the Gospel of Love, the Gospel of Jesus, the Gospel which is the world’s Good News to everyone.
Matt Stevens
(Programming Director at Rock Point Community Church in Chattanooga, TN and longtime member of the Florida Hospital Church)
No comments:
Post a Comment