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March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
Reclaiming "Gospel"
by Ken Westby
The other day I tuned in to a cable religious program
and was treated to some big muscle "gospel weight
lifters" breaking boards and tearing telephone books in
two . . . for Jesus. What was the point - "Follow Jesus
and you'll build intimidating bulk!" OR "Look, not all
Christians are weenies!"? . . . The point seemed to be
"Gospel" sells.
Drive down to the gospel book store and check out the
"spiritual power" books on the rack under the sign
"Gospel Sale 50% Off!" While you're there, buy some
"gospel" music by the hottest "gospel" artists. Pick up
a "gospel" bumper sticker ("Honk If You Love Jesus!") -
and maybe a "gospel" wall plaque on your way out. Then,
relax while listening to "gospel" radio on the way home.
What is "the Gospel?"
Has the word "gospel" become generic, like Kleenex, for
anything religious? Is "gospel" just another undefined
punch word used by raspy-voiced TV revival preachers OR
merely a common verbal condiment to be sprinkled
liberally over sentimental church-talk? Has "gospel"
become so trivialized that all sense of its original
majesty of meaning is lost?
The biblical word translated "gospel" comes to us from
the Greek (euangelion) and has a specific
meaning: "Good News." Its usage comes from the "good
news" of victory proclaimed by a messenger returning
from battle; the "good news" was the content of the
message. We see that Christ used this standard Greek
word to announce the revolutionary content of His
Gospel/Good News; . . . the question is, "Good News" of
what and for whom?
"Jesus went throughout Galilee . . . preaching the
good news of the kingdom" (Mat 4:23). "The time
has come," He said, "the kingdom of God is
near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark
1:14-15). The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the
central message of Christ and His apostles. It is the
news that some day God will rule over all - that Christ
will literally end all war and suffering, raise the
dead, usher in a marvelous age of universal peace and
prosperity, and rule on earth for one thousand years (a
millennial Sabbath) - as the first step toward eternity;
(See Isaiah 2 & 11, Rev 5:10, as well as chapters 19
through 22). That is God's Good News: there is a new
world coming - His!
The biblical idea of the Kingdom of God is deeply rooted
in the Old Testament teaching: that there is one eternal
God who has a plan for mankind and that He has revealed
Himself unto those whom He created in His image. Christ,
as the Son of the Living God, came to reveal His Father
more fully and with a mission to show men and women how
they might enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 20,
7:21). Christ's mighty works proved that the King of
that Kingdom had come among them; His parables
illustrated truths of the Kingdom. On the eve of His
death, He reassured His disciples that they would
happily share His fellowship again - when He would bring
the Kingdom.
After His resurrection Jesus did not swerve from this
message: "He appeared to them over a period of forty
days and spoke about the Kingdom of God" (Acts
1:3). At the heart of His model prayer Jesus taught His
disciples to pray to our Heavenly Father: "Your
kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven." This prayer petitions God to come and
reign, to manifest His power and wisdom as King over all
the world.
The fact is, the Kingdom of God is not one built by
men. It is not voted in, nor gradually constructed in
the hearts of men, nor brought about by religious
revivals or massive socio-political change (on any human
level). The Kingdom of God is the governmental rule of
the Eternal Majesty and His divine Son. As an act of
God, with splendor and great force, it will soon be
brought to Earth.
God's Kingdom is miraculous and supernatural. It is
wholly of God's design and working. It is also
holy because it will be filled with the
presence of God- just as, in the paradise of Eden, the
holy Sabbath hosted God's peaceful fellowship
with man. What began on a Sabbath will be completed on a
millennial Sabbath: the Kingdom of God- the heart of the
Gospel.
Where do we fit in? To Christian men and women, the
Gospel message has been entrusted. We've been
commissioned with the high responsibility to proclaim
the Good News of God's Kingdom, complete with its
salvation announcement of how one and all can now come
under God's loving rule. At the personal level the terms
for entering God's Kingdom are these: repentance of sin
(which is rebellion against God's righteous rule and
principles), acceptance of Christ as our Savior and
King, and commitment to live a new life - now, under His
rule rather than our own.
On God's part, He offers both to pay the cost of our
sins and to forgive them. When we, in faith, accept His
holy grace, God further gifts us with His Holy Spirit -
to help us become like Him in righteous mind and
character. The indwelling of God's Holy Spirit is our
guarantee to His promised gift of eternal life: making
us a son or daughter in His Family - the crowning
blessings of great rewards and an eternal inheritance.
The Kingdom of God belongs to the present as well as the
future; but, to enter the future realm, one must
willingly submit oneself in perfect trust to God's rule
here and now. This spiritual contract for citizenship
into the Family and Kingdom of God is perfectly
symbolized by the rite of baptism (see Romans 6). It is
signed with the blood of the King Himself.
We do not know when Christ will appear in the heavens -
bringing His rule (soon hopefully), but it is certain
that we had better take seriously the charge to share
God's Good News far and wide. Jesus said, "And this
gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole
world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end
will come" (Matthew 24:14).
This true Gospel is spectacularly "great news" - both at
the personal level (forgiveness, grace, salvation) and
at the global level (crime, war, suffering, and
injustice giving way to happiness, peace, and
plenty). The whole world desperately needs this news -
as it nervously moves into the third millennium AD. As
our culture decays in sin and cynicism, young and old
alike cry out for meaning and hope. Will they hear the
Good News of the Kingdom of God - or just the sweet
whine of Nashville "gospel"...and the sound of "Jocks
for Jesus" tearing telephone books?
The best way to reclaim the word "Gospel" is to focus on
sharing its Good News: The Kingdom of God - mankind's
last, best and only hope.
Kenneth Westby is Director of the Association for
Christian Development and host of the weekly Virtual Church, live
by phone (918-222-7158) 11 AM Pacific Standard Time
Saturdays.
TSS
March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
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