A quick thought about what it means to "preach good news"…
It seems to me that the reason a lot of evangelism methods don’t work is that they are answering questions nobody’s asking, and they tend to reduce the gospel to a system of salvation. So after you "make the transaction," so to speak (say this prayer, invite Jesus "into your heart"), it proves very difficult to talk about why in the world you should gather with other believers or worship or pray for one another or study the Bible or hear it read aloud or love your neighbor. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die and go to heaven!
If a big part of the "missional church" is discovering again the true height and depth and width and length of the gospel, we’re going to need some new ways of "evangelism" that reflect the gospel more accurately.
Two "definitions" of the gospel that would spark some great discussion as to what it would mean to "proclaim the gospel." Dallas Willard says the gospel is essentially "Trust Jesus", not just with what happens to you after you die, but with your whole life right now. N.T. Wright says that from a historical perspective, the good news is essentially, "Jesus is Lord", not Caesar, not me, not economic forces, not democracy, etc.
What does it look like to proclaim to our co-workers and fellow humans that Jesus is King of the whole world, to re-think their lives in light of that fact, to "bow the knee", as Paul says in Philippians?
Leave a Reply