Struggling with the Gospel

To be honest, the recent discussions I have been having about the nature of the Gospel have been frustrating me -- in a good way. There is no better teaching than that which causes you to think, re-think and think some more.

I have been in chaos mode regarding the Gospel. What is it exactly? Is it only a salvation message? If so, then why do we not concentrate on getting the message of the Good News out above anything else. I have been raised in my Christian (and adult) years in evangelicalism where the Gospel is essentially “Jesus died, was buried and raised on the 3rd day according to the Scriptures” so that you and I can go to Heaven.

But....

Is that all it is? I don’t think so! I don’t see the Gospel as just escape from hell - a “fire insurance” policy, if you will. Seems to me that when Jesus came to earth, He came to shake things up in a big way here on earth -- not just to pave a way to Heaven. He challenged the status quo with His “you have heard, but I say” statements - for example, Matt. 5:21-22 says, “You have heard the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”

OUCH! That should change the way we speak to each other and that has no direct impact on whether or not I am saved or stay saved (depending on your theology)! It’s simply a reflection of how we view a part of God’s creation - us! - and how we are to honor Him by honoring each other.

More musing on this later... I gotta go work out!

Good humor still lives!

Last night, I was privileged to attend a high school variation & rendition of “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It was re-set (in some ways) in “turn-of-the-century” times and was hilarious.

If you read this blog and live in the Phoenix area, I encourage you to attend the performances that will take place at Valley Christian High School tonight and tomorrow night as well as next week Thursday (April 27) and Friday (April 28). Their address is: Valley Christian High School
6900 W. Galveston St
Chandler, AZ 85226

web site: http://www.vchstrojans.org/

And, yes, there is a cost to the tickets though I don’t know how much they are because my family & I were blessed to attend at someone else’s expense -- anonymously, but we’re pretty sure we know who paid (thanks t.r. and l.b.r!)! ;-)

What a hoot! Linda didn’t get to go because she was sick, but she’s planning to attend this next week (as are Caleb & Hannah) -- heck, I may go again as well -- so much fun and laughter. Praise God for good humor, good fun and good friends!