Gospel of Christ

IS THE GOSPEL RELEVANT?

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / Leave a comment

In a day of depressing headlines and the uncertainty that has fallen across our land like a huge dark shadow, a voice proclaiming good news would be a welcome sound. Every time our nation faces a moral or spiritual crisis a question arises from the depths of the collective predicament society finds itself, “Is the Gospel relevant in the face of such mounting woes?”

The answer is, “YES!”

The Gospel is not to be a sterile theological term to be argued and debated behind the four walls of the church, but is a message to be boldly proclaimed of its sufficiency to confront the issues of society. The word “gospel” means “good news.” The word “gospel” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word godspel, which means “good story” or “good news.” The Greek words often translated as “gospel” are euangelion and euangelizo. meaning “to bring or announce good news.” The Christian Gospel is not a message contrived by man but initiated by God. The Gospel is about a Person. The power of the Gospel is found in the One who is the subject of the Gospel, Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is relevant because it is true. The Gospel of Christ transcends political forces, and has survived the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations. The Gospel can not be divorced from social concerns. The Gospel is a verb, it is an action word. The Gospel is able to penetrate the worst of humanity to turn ashes into beauty. Where there is found injustice, the Gospel calls for accountability and responsibility. Where there is hatred, the Gospel beckons us to love one another. Where there is confusion and chaos, the Gospel calls us to walk in peace. Where personal revenge is sought, the Gospel extends forgiveness. Where there is darkness, the Gospel’s Light illuminates. Where there is fingering pointing, the Gospel points us to the One who with His finger of grace writes in the sand, “I do not condemn thee, go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Where there is doubt, the Gospel brings faith. Where there is destruction, the Gospel brings re-creation. Where there is loneliness, the Gospel surrounds us with God’s presence. Where there is uncertainty, the Gospel brings assurance. Where there is weakness, the Gospel infuses strength. Where there is hopelessness, the Gospel instills hope. Where there is death, the Gospel breathes forth eternal life.

Yes, the Gospel seeks to invade the societal concerns that confront us. The Gospel is sufficient and powerful enough to take our tragedies and turn them into treasures, to turn our pain into a purposeful path, and take that which sin has deformed and bring about transformation. The Gospel of Christ invites us to come and drink from the fountain of living waters, in order that His healing streams may quench the thirst of our souls and turn our parched land into flowing springs.

If you have not,  will you not today embrace the Gospel, the Good News found in Jesus Christ. In the midst of societal questions and confusion, we need a renewed encounter with the Gospel of Christ….for He is the answer.

Blessings,
Dr. Dan

The Gospel of Christ vs the Gospel of Meism

/ Dr. Daniel Merritt / 1 Comment

One of the most dramatic chapters in the Bible is found in Acts 9. It is the story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who after his conversion to Christ became known as Paul the Apostle. As Saul of Tarsus he was a zealous enemy of Christ. Acts 8 ends with Saul consenting to the brutal stoning of the Christian martyr Stephen. Fueled by his hatred of Christianity, the Scripture records, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this Way [Christians], whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2). Saul’s plan was to see more Christians silenced and Christianity snuffed-out from the earth. Little did Paul know, as he made his way toward Damascus, his life was about to take an abrupt detour that would change the course of Christendom!

In Paul’s own words he recalls the life-changing incident, “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me” (Acts 22:6). “And [I] fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And [I] said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:3-5). The Resurrected Christ confronted Saul with his life and his kicking against the pricks. “Kicking against the pricks” was a Greek proverb, which was familiar to anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The prick or goad was a pointed stick that was used to urge some stubborn animal to move. There were at least four pricks Saul kicked against: (1) The extraordinary life of the historical Jesus, (2) the bold life of the Christians, (3) the serenely, victorious death of Stephen (4) and his own dissatisfaction with the Jewish religion. Those four “pricks” were inescapable for the restless conscience of Saul, culminating into an encounter with Jesus Christ.

The rebellious heart of Saul, who became Paul, was captured and transformed by holy-love and there prostrate in the dirt the Bible records, “And he trembling and astonished said, ‘Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?’” (Acts 9:6). “And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do” (Acts 22:10).  Later standing before King Agrippa, Paul recalled the Lord’s instructions to him, “For I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; [for unto] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-17). Paul adds, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:18). From that day forward Paul lived his life in obedience and service to Christ and reaching others for the sake of the Gospel. He put Christ and others first, with no thought of his own welfare, esteeming others above himself (Philippians 2:3).

When meditating on Paul’s encounter with the living Christ, one discovers differences in his response with those who today spout the Meism Gospel. The Gospel to which Paul surrendered was anchored in a Christocentric question, “Lord, what will you have me to do?” The Gospel of Christ, which Paul proclaimed, was first and foremost about obedience to the Living Savior who died for the sins of humanity and to whom all men owe a debt of gratitude. Paul’s encounter with Christ produced in him a profound obligation to share the glorious message of Christ’s redeeming holy-love with Jew and Gentile. The Gospel Paul espoused was about being a living sacrifice no matter the cost, even if it meant the loss of one’s own life. The Gospel Paul preached was not about being focused on saving one’s self from difficulties, but in spite of difficulties pointing others to the salvation in the resurrected Savior. The Gospel Paul declared was not about becoming comfortable in one’s sins, but repenting and forsaking the very sins for which Christ died. The Gospel Paul expounded was not about using people to get what one wanted, but helping others to discover their need of Christ. The Gospel which motivated Paul to sacrificially travel the globe proclaiming, was not about clinging to vanishing earthly possessions but admonished others to focus on the riches found in Jesus Christ. The Gospel for which Paul willingly gave his life was not about getting one’s way, but about walking obediently in His way. The Gospel that transformed Paul was not about self, but glorifying the name of Christ (I Cor 6:20).

On the other hand, the Meism Gospel preached in many circles today is Humanistic, it is all about self and putting self first. The Meism Gospel is about what can Christ do for me, not what I can do for Him. The Meism Gospel is more concerned with earthly possessions, not in laying up treasure in heaven. The Mesim Gospel is about Christ being my bell-boy, not me being His surrendered servant. The Meism Gospel is about Christ being accommodating of me in my sin, not about turning from my sin. The Meism Gospel is about other’s honoring and recognizing me, not me esteeming others above myself. The Meism Gospel is about how the church can benefit my life, not about how I can serve the church and benefit those who are members. The Meism Gospel is about giving excepting something in return, not giving out of gratitude because Christ saved my soul and if I happened to receive something in return that is an added bonus. The Meism Gospel is about God yielding to my will, not me in sacrificial obedience being yielded to His will. The Meism Gospel protects self at all costs, not about protecting the honor of Christ at all costs. The Meism Gospel is easily offended, not in extending forgiveness to others. The Meism Gospel puts self-interest first, not what is the best interest of the whole Body of Christ. The Mesim Gospel exalts self, it does not exalt the Name that is above every name, the name of Christ.

It is clear to see, the Gospel of Meism is so consumed with self-interest that it causes one to take their eyes off the true Gospel of salvation, surrender, sacrifice, soul-winning and service to the risen Savior. Since the Meism Gospel is self-absorbed it stifles one’s compassion, is annoyed with inconveniences, paralyzes evangelism, is at home with self-sufficiency, and is apathic about the welfare of the Church if it is not feeding their “needs.”

Without question we need a return to the glorious Gospel of the living Christ, which Gospel resulted in Paul in surrendered worship asking, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Paul writes to the Corinthians that “you do not belong to yourself” (I Cor. 6:19). Christ purchased us with the price of His own blood in order to set us free from the pursuit of the false gospel of Meism. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

Blessings,
Dr. Dan