"What was the gospel? What is the Gospel? It's the tangible life of God flowing into every nook and cranny of our everyday life. No, blessing doesn't mean our financial 'cups running over' or the absence of disease or pain. But it does mean that the 'other-world' life does make a tangible difference that can be felt in this life. And when this other-world life shows up, even in the smallest form, it is attractive, and people unconsciously move toward it like thirsty horses stumbling toward a watering hole." (p90)
Okay, this sounds very different from the 13 point presentation I learned in high school about how to share the gospel with someone. This sounds much larger than 4 little laws that can be written down on a napkin. Frankly it sounds much bigger than what I often experience as the gospel. For most of my life, I have viewed the gospel as information needed to complete a heavenly transaction. I would be nervous about sharing that "gospel" with others. Now I am embracing this incredible truth that the gospel is a lifestyle, not just a list of information. The gospel is about reaching out and helping others. It is about moving outside of my comfort and reaching into the lives of people like those Jesus hung out with.
Often, when people express an interest in our little church, they often want to know how they can be a part of this little venture. They want to know how they can serve on Sundays, or they simply commit to coming. The difficulty comes because that is not our invitation. Our invitation is to embrace a following of Jesus that penetrates every area of our lives. It's not just about readjusting our church life to The Springs, but it's about re-orienting your whole life around the Gospel of the Kingdom...in very tangible ways.
"In Adullam, during our membership process, I make it a point to ask people not to be 'evangelistic.' I tell them that I don't want them to try to figure out how to share the gospel with strangers. Sometimes I get a funny look. Instead, I ask them to open up their hearts to a much larger view of life, at which point we talk about the Kingdom. I do ask people to live out and try their hand at Kingdom life, and I tell them that if they live out Kingdom life, they will have plenty of opportunities to share different aspects of Christ with people. The difference is that instead of having to pursue people, people will be drawn toward them with curiosity and openness." (91)
It's no longer come-and-see, but come-alongside me-and-see. For most of us who have spent a lot of time in church, these are two very different approaches.
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Last night I asked the students how people know that we’re Christians and got some good answers. But the one that sticks out was, “by what we do and how we act”. If we’re doing the things of Christ we don’t have to tell others that we’re Christians and I think the same applies to the gospel. I’ve shared that it took two dear friends living out their faith to reengage me in my own walk. They could’ve talked to me about what the gospels meant til they were blue in the face- but seeing it in action gave me hope that I to could live that way.
I am so very encouraged to be part of a community that is truly trying to live out the gospel. My family has been going through a rough patch of late and our brothers and sisters in Christ have rallied around us in such an incredible way that it’s impacting many lives outside our community. I had a conversation this morning with a family member that has volunteered to pick up one of my boys everyday from practice and she commented on how people have come out in droves to help my family and that was nice but since we’re “family” we should always be there for one another and that we needed to call on them too. I didn’t disagree with her about calling on family more but explained that the people helping out were our church family. I went on to tell her that many of the people who were helping haven’t known us for more than a month or two but were opening their homes, offering their cars, emailing, texting, providing meals, loving on the kids, and just being here both physically and emotionally for us. This changed the tone of our conversation a little (gave it more of an eternal perspective on both ends)- we’ve experienced the gospel being lived out and I was able to tell her that without quoting a verse or going through a presentation. She is not a Christian but knows the story and because of the blessings of others has seen it being lived out again in my family’s life.
With that said, I pray that our community can continue to live out the gospel in good times and bad. It seems much easier when someone’s hurting or down to rally around them and be there for them but are we around when all is well? In my recent experience- yes but that hasn't always been true.
hey cubbie, great comment...it seems that your last comment is a bit counterintuitive...why do you think it's harder to be there when all is well?
You're right- it doesn't make sense but I've experience it too often.
I've been at fault when life is going along without problems and I put the cruise control on and just coast. I'm slow to return calls, emails, or just am withdrawn around others. It's not that I'm upset or trying to be rude- it's just that their isn't any urgency or crisis to jump into so it's really easy to kick back and watch.
Almost hate to say it but sometimes wish the chaos would stick around to keep me alert at the wheel!
Yeah, I can get that way too. Sometimes it is a so easy to just coast. I get up, go to work, come home, repeat... Not very motivated at times to engage. It takes extra effort to be intentional to engage. Crises tend to prioritze your requirement to engage and force you to do that.
"I tell them that I don't want them to try to figure out how to share the gospel with strangers."
How often in the evangelical church are we confronted with someone pushing us to find ways to evangelize strangers (maybe not as often as I think, but it seems like often).
It is almost as if it is an unwritten rule that most of us disobey. "One of the things that Christians do is to share the gospel with strangers...except for me. I don't do a whole lot of that and I kinda feel guilty..."
I would much rather be transformed into someone who has an overflowing heart...someone who loves like breathing...someone who just naturally affects those around them (strangers/friends/family/anyone) at the right time.
hey loser, had qdoba yesterday! there is something cool about Peter's admonishment
1Peter 3.15 (MESSAGE) Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
That doesn't sound like a canned speech to me, but a "come alongside" approach to living and loving without an agenda...
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