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The Simple Gospel
I believe that we have become educators instead of communicators. An old saying states that educators take the simple and make it hard while a communicator takes that which is hard and makes it simple. Thus, are we entrusted with educating people regarding the gospel or to simply communicate the gospel?
Also, how hard is the basic gospel to understand? When we read the Bible is it designed for the well educated or the simplest of folk to understand its basic core message of salvation is Christ.
Could it be that when Jesus said do not hinder the little children from coming to me that He was speaking also of making the simple to hard to understand?
What do you think?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Colby on
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There is the gospel of Jesus Christ: simple, clear and straightforward.
And there's Christian theology, which, in all its permutations, elaborations, constructs and nuanced distinctions, can be downright mind boggling--too complex to grasp for all but the sharpest minds with advanced degrees in theology.
For example, in discussing predestination with a reformed Christian, the following concepts are likely to come up: infralapsarianism, supralapsarianism and sublapsarianism. Discuss eschatology (end times theology) and you will encounter such views as pretribulational premillenialism, postribulational premillennialism, amillennialism, preterism, and post millennialism. Then there are those who believe in the doctrine of eternal security, or once saved, always saved and those who believe that salvation can be lost (conditional security). Various denominations have their own lengthy confessions and creeds which, along with the Bible, summarize their distinctive beliefs. Great theologians such as Calvin, Augustine, and Luther have written books that go into great detail in elaborating their particular understanding of Christian doctrine and practice.
All this, mind you, comes from Protestant Christians of various flavors who essentially agree that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and that the Holy Scriptures are the final authority in matters of faith, behavior and worship.
The Catholic Church is no less complex and nuanced with its distinctive doctrines, rituals and traditions. They have a 700-page catechism summarizing the essentials of their faith, including such doctrines as substantiation, purgatory, invincible ignorance, and the immaculate conception.
It's enough to make your head spin. Somewhere, in the midst of all this, is the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, the fullness of the gospel is presented in God's Word, the Holy Bible. Everything we need to know about God's plan of salvation for us is found in the pages of scripture.
- Paul the Apostle cuts to the chase and gets right to the heart of the gospel, of what we need to believe in order to be saved, in the opening sentences of First Corinthians 15.
- What are the essential teachings of Jesus Christ, those that are at very heart of the Gospel or good news message, and where in the Bible are they summarized? The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6).
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Let me also add that the gospel is utter foolishness.
That's right. The gospel is foolishness!
No less an authority than the Apostle Paul wrote: "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Why is it foolish? Because the gospel goes against world wisdom and turns its thinking upside down. It puts God in control; not people. And because of our fallen natures, which predispose us to sin, the gospel is hard to accept.
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Permalink Reply by Charles Burwell on
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LT
Excellent discussion and one of the emphasises that I speak of on the occassions I am asked to speak at my church. I don't mean that I speak on simplicity I simple use all the limited ability I have to make things as simple as possible. If we give even the most profound theological thesis and few people even know what we are talking about we have not only wasted our time but have taken away from someone else who may have been able to simplify the Word of God to the listeners.
In the 19th psalm where David is praising the virtues of the word of God he says in verse 7b :
"the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple".
David is speaking ( in my opinion anyhow) of the word of God bringing the wisdom of God to the simpliest of us.
Also James tells us in James 1: 5 - "If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (isn't insulted by our lack of wisdom), and it shall be given him."
This ( again in my opinion only) tells men that if man doesn't make it simple for us to understand we can just ask Him and He certainly will.
As far as being "educators", I am reminded of Spurgeons response when he was asked to come to america to give a series of lectures in defense of the gospel. Spurgeon replied "I will not. The gospel is like a lion . It does not need to be defended only to be proclaimed and it will do it's own work." The quote may not be exact but it gets the point of what he was saying.
I am also reminded of Paul's declaration concerning the gospel in I Cor. 15:1-4
"Moreover brethren, I declae unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand;
By which you are also saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures;"
Nothing complicated there and God never meant it to be complicated.
I believe that many times people try to complicate the gospel to have people lean on them for 'wisdom and guidance" instead of leaning on the Lord. This happens way to much in the churches. People want others to 'marvel at them and boast of their 'wisdom and discernment' when not a one of us has learned or known one thing at all without the leading , guiding and teaching of the Holy Spirit.
I have a few guidlienes when I am called upon to share the Word in the assembly that I attend. My guidelines are 1) make it simple
2) keep the scriptures in their proper context
3) Always have scripture to support anything that you say
I guess that comes from reading so much of A W Tozers writings . He strongly states that " If you don't have chapter and verse he doesn't want to hear about it." He was mostly referring to any 'new' thing someone claims that God has revealed to them but I take it as governing anything we try to share with others.
Again. as Spurgeon said before about the gospel needing to simply be proclaimed and let the Spirit do what He chooses to do with it.
Also , when atttempting to make the scriptures simple we must strive to keep them in their proper context. Too many cults have risen from taking scriptures out of their context and leading themselves and others to destruction.
Sorry that this is so long it's just that 'simplifying things'(especially the gospel) is a strong conviction of mine and I can get wound up on the subject. I guess that I'm not to simple when it comes to longevity.
God bless
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Charles,
Well said .... and feel free to get wound up :-)
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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I wish I was a better communicator. I think of what was said of Saint Paul in 2 Cor 10:10. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” That’s me. I can be forceful in writing but anyone who has ever talked with me or met me will tell you that my voice is weak and quiet and I have no charisma.
For me, learning sound doctrine has been important. Jesus was known as the Teacher. He said, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am” (John 13:13, ESV). There’s no doubt in my mind that Jesus was a wonderful communicator.
He went on to say, 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
I think we forget at times that we are serving and loving others as well as teaching them and therefore, we aren’t really communicating the gospel but trying to pound it into peoples' heads and hearts. IMO
One definition of communication is the process of shared meaning through symbolic interaction -- D. Fabun.
The account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet certainly fits this definition of communication.
There are different kinds of communication. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extra-personal.
Intrapersonal is self-talk. That never-ending dialogue in my head, often very negative. That’s me communicating with myself.
Interpersonal is when we interact with others, and extra-personal is talking to your dog, cat, or yelling at your car or the door that just smashed your finger. Lol
I think those who are good communicators have a true gift. I suppose anyone can work on developing better skills at it. In college, one of the classes I had to take was a communications class, and most of what I’ve said about defining communications is coming from what was taught in that class.
We begin relationships with communication. It’s our way of sharing our ideas, our values, our personalities.
Part of the problem with effective communication is not being a good listener (and I've observed this even here in the forums in written replies and responses) -- almost no one really listens to others. IMO
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I hope you haven't really given up on responding. When I feel that things are going against me, I withdraw, too. I fail in many ways in communicating. My replies are often too long and I get off topic and that's just for starters. I was surprised by this comment from you for I thought I had alienated you in another discussion. I can be mean.
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I think it's easier for me to communicate in writing than it is face to face. I'd rather communicate in writing anyway. I know that I often misunderstand what others are saying and I often feel misunderstood. I have noticed, like in bible study or another group, people lose interest in what I'm saying and I think it's because I tend to get nervous. I let others do all the talking. Sometimes I get called upon. I feel uncomfortable when that happens.
You said: I really don't get offended, if I'm wrong, I'm not afraid of the consequences of being wrong...only of the consequences of not admitting that I'm wrong.
I hate being wrong but I'm humble enough to admit that I'm still learning. What has hurt me most is not knowing that I'm wrong. Sometimes I don't understand why God lets us go on in wrong beliefs for so long. :(
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It's difficult for me to trust -- when I'm being open-hearted and revealing painful emotions that are very negative, showing, as you said my deficiencies and failures -- it's difficult for me to trust that others will respond with support and will care and sometimes others don't respond well and sometimes it's been difficult for me to cope with their response -- the negative feedback -- and then I risk feeling worse than I may already be feeling, but, at the same time, it's also hard to keep hiding these painful things.
But ... Wow! I'm really blown away by your response here. I always expect the worst. I always expect to be hurt and rejected. I was just telling someone this earlier today -- how I always expect people to reply with the worst. I said people can like someone one day, and then wish death on them the next. So I can't trust it's what they really mean when they say nice things to me. I've trusted in the past and when people turn, it really hurts. So it's better just to take everything with a grain of salt and know that they probably want to love and care about me but they, too, are running from painful emotions and fighting to resist those emotions and have a lot of unresolved grief.
But now, after reading your response, I feel bad for thinking and saying such things. It's just that I have trouble thinking anyone could really care about me. -
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Permalink Reply by ribbon on
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I cannot even speak His name without crying,
Grace to you, I hope to some day love Him that much . I know your comment is to Amanda, so sorry for interrupting, but that's all I am going to say.
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