Welcome class to 1550.1 Evangelism 2: Mission and Our Post-Modern World. I hope that we will have some stimulating conversations about the mission of God and how it intersects with our post-modern world we all live in. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say and learning from you.
For next week (7 November)
1. In what ways is your understanding of the “gospel” being challenged?
I find that my view of the “gospel” becomes challenged because of the society I live in. We have become so used to personal rights and freedoms becoming the common goal in life that it’s hard to imagine anything being good news that might challenge those views. The thought of being under a Lord almost sounds akin to being in slavery, just under a different master. This challenges my view of slavery and servant hood – practices that hold very negative connotations within the society I live. That Jesus Lordship might actually ‘turn on their ear’ the ‘liberties’ our societies have been fighting for can be a shock to many.
ReplyDeleteFor some people it is hard to understand the message of the gospel, but there is something about it that is, sometimes, deeply offensive to human nature. If your comment is the common view of our society, I think it is all about pride. The gospel offends our pride because it gives no credit to us at all. It tells us that we are not on our own but under the Lord’s authority (Matt 28:18). Personal rights or freedom…a part of it maybe but not really about liberty but our pride. Some people love the idea of being in authority but resist the thought of being under authority (especially the Lord’s authority). :)
DeleteI couldn’t agree with you more Dea that for many people the good news can be deeply offensive and difficult to understand. So many causes (sometimes even well intentioned Christian ones) have flown under the banner of liberty, freedom and personal rights and many have fought and lost their lives in the promotion of those causes. I believe you are right when you say pride and individual’s desire for significance in and of themselves (Rom.8:5-8) is the paramount obstacle to the gospel. How I long for a day when humanity is in agreement that it is far better to willingly submit to His Lordship than go through the painful experiences of trying to promote our own causes (Matt. 11:28-30).
DeleteI suppose that back in the 1st century, the news that there is another Lord and his name isn't Caesar was "good news." They didn't have a choice about being under the lordship of someone. What makes this "good news" is that the Lordship of Jesus is for humanities salvation, not their exploitation and degradation. Thanks.
DeleteI agree Peter that the good news of Jesus being Lord and ruler of our lives to the ears of someone who doesn't believe sounds like a major turn off. Its hard to imagine successfully sharing the gospel to a lot of people my age back home because why would they want to give up their fabulous fun life style for a "stricter" lifestyle. It seems super backwards to the life that is being promoted and celebrated today. I guess it would be then getting to the core of their being and having them recognize the brokenness that actually is their life.
DeleteMen have many marvelous things to teach us. When the gospel is presented, it is a challenge for me to understand and make clear that the gospel is not merely interesting and meaningful but TRUE to the Scripture. Some slightly twisted the gospel and this made their message all the more deceptive. Also, there are people who claim that they have a revelation from God. We have to be careful not to easily regard a message as being from God. When sharing the gospel with courage to others, I should do it with love and not think that I am morally or spiritually superior who is speaking to an inferior one but one who have been redeemed by God’s grace pointing others to Him in Christ Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one gospel Paul says in Galatians. Dea, you are right. We need to announce the good news with a heart of love and humility. We are not superior to others but all are under the lordship of Jesus whether they voluntarily submit to him or not. We can only point people to Jesus. They have to make decision to follow or not. Thanks.
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ReplyDeletePersonally, the "gospel" really is good news for me; through the gospel I could see a better and successful life, the gospel will guide my future in a safe way, loving God and loving one another this rules is benefit to human being. However, for most people, they were not easy to accept the "gospel", because they could not get out from the evils around their life, such as the temptations is everywhere. The challenged of the "gospel" is the temptation which full of our life and people be more stubborn than before, people turst their current knowledge and science too much.
DeleteYes, Bonnie, the good news about Jesus is that in his death and resurrection he defeated the enemy (sin and death) and, therefore, rescues us from sin and death. Jesus calls us to follow him. Thanks.
DeleteYeah Bonnie, the gospel is good news though I am cautious about saying it is a means to a ‘better and successful’ life. A definition of what constitutes a better and successful life needs some clarification lest we end up ‘selling’ something that God has not ‘put on the market:’ a how to get rich scheme whilst getting to heaven. Many people sell the gospel as a means to monetary gain and wealth which is no more than seeking worldly goals and status (1 Tim.6:3-10). Such seeking often comes with great cost to relationships, health or the exploitation of others. I feel that the real “good news” is a change in world order under which believers can see a brighter future for all of humanity, where wealth and ‘prosperity’ do not become boundaries between the “haves and the have nots,” but a meeting of the needs of all to attain real life.
DeletePeter, I like your words "the real “good news” is a change in world order under which believers can see a brighter future for all of humanity", your view is matching my thought. I always hope everyone could be better. Using Christian words, everyone is blessed through Jesus.
DeleteHaha, it's my pleasure to study in SPBC, it gives me more sense and knowledge about God. Actually, I was confused the gospel for a long time, and misunderstood as the gospel just only about the God. Now, i found the gospel which is more meaningful than i understood.
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ReplyDeleteThe dictionary defines challenge as “to say or show that (something) may not be true, correct, or legal; to question the action or authority of; or to dispute the truth or validity of especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded.” My understanding of the gospel was not challenged but rather enriched. I see no contradiction in the gospel about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4) and the gospel that “Jesus is Lord” (Acts 10:36). It is both/and with me. I preach Jesus. I do not teach that “hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized” is the gospel. These are responses to the gospel and expressions/proofs of one’s obedience to Jesus as his/her Lord.
ReplyDeleteThat is encouraging to hear that your understanding has been enriched. You are correct in making the distinction between the gospel and the response to the gospel. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that made him Lord. That's Peter's conclusion to his sermon in Acts 2:36. He is the world's rightful Lord and as the world's rightful Lord, he calls all to follow him. Thanks.
DeletePerhaps sir the struggle/challenge that I will be facing with is how not to use the diagram (which is about hell, sin and going to heaven) in explaining the goal of the gospel. I am referring to the diagram that illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ (the cross bridge), to die in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. It is good that I learned about the Revive diagram in our Evangelism class. It is a fresh way of sharing my understanding of the gospel. The said diagram will help me not to revert to the previous one I used anymore.
DeleteBefore I came to the bible college, my understanding of the Gospel was this - we are sinners; Christ died for us; believe in Him; and we will go to heaven. But I actually did not understand the concept of Jesus is Lord, and the meaning of the Kingdom of God here on earth. The initial understanding affected my approach to sharing the Gospel with people and also how I live my life as well. We need to recognize that the Gospel is centered around Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. We need to remember that the Gospel is not about us, but it is about Jesus' lordship over us and His reign in this world and in each individual's heart. By coming to term with this, my attitude towards the Gospel has changed. Humbleness becomes a part of my life and personality. And when I share the Gospel, the purpose is not to guilt people into believing in Jesus anymore. The purpose of my sharing the Gospel is that Christ still reigns today, and that's the message worth sharing to everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat's been my journey, too, Minkster. Before I came to Bible College (and even after I've been here for some time), my understanding of the "gospel" was "you are a sinner, God is mad at you, but God did something in Christ, trust in him and when you die you go to heaven." (Of course that is a simplified and characteratured summary). But a whole new world opened up for me when I understood that the gospel is announcing that Jesus has become the world's true Lord through his death and resurrection and in that death/resurrection achieved God's good purposes for the world - conquering sin and death and providing a future that is more grand and meaningful than I ever imagined. Thanks for your comments and heart that wants to know God more.
DeleteMink, my approach to the gospel was pretty much the same. It was either you believed or you'd try and make people feel bad that they didn't believe haha. I actually just had no idea what was going in regards to the gospel. Which is a bummer because you'd think after 20 years in church I would have learned something? It's such a blessing to be imparted with the knowledge that the gospel is relatively simple JESUS IS LORD. It's a message that even I can understand hehe.
DeleteMink, you are really smart in christianity, and understood quite deeply. Like your words "Humbleness becomes a part of my life and personality.", you are a humble person, i need to learn from you.
DeleteI guess we all have common beginnings in our understanding of the gospel. We have understood the gospel as “fire insurance.” We generally have received and understood the gospel through the Priestly lens or story: unholy people becoming holy by brokering a sacrifice. I am thankful that I now clearly understand that the gospel is: Jesus is Lord and was made Lord through His death and resurrection. But I am thankful and in deep gratitude too to the ones who taught me the “gospel” before I became a follower of Christ. Their explanations and approaches might be somewhat flawed, but I know that they shared to me the gospel (that they know of or that which was handed to them) in good faith and out of noble and godly concern. We are privileged now to have this clear understanding about the gospel and it is fair and just and responsible for us to live and share this to others with boldness and a sense of urgency.
DeleteIve never had a clear understanding of what the gospel is. I always knew that the gospel was something we, Christians, were supposed to share with non-believers, but that was difficult when I didn't know what the gospel actually was. I believed it to be the death and resurrection of Jesus, but I wasn't sure how that necessarily pertained to the world besides being a "ticket" to heaven if believed. Now, with the understanding that Jesus is King there is more clarity. Everybody needs to know that whether they accept it or not Jesus is King over everything, and will continue to be king even through their rejection. My understanding will help me to better communicate to the world that they need Jesus. In order for us to be part of the kingdom of God.
ReplyDeleteTelah,
ReplyDeleteThe gospel seems so clear now but before we had all this baggage that we didn't know we had in our understanding of gospel as simply a ticket to heaven to those who believe in Jesus. Sure we have to believe but the good news is that Jesus is king but in becoming king he defeated the powers of darkness and death and offers his followers life eternal in a redeemed creation. Thanks.