If we are calling people to be better people and to do better at following Jesus, what makes our message any different from everyone else’s? We must, instead, call people to trust with every fiber of their being in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Yes, we serve Jesus. Yes, God calls us to a holy life. But that is not what makes us any different than every other religion in the world. What is it, you say? God loves the world so much that He sends His only Son to die for us. Christ is the Way. Christ is the Answer. Christ is what we proclaim. Christ is our only Hope. Christ is the difference. It’s the gospel that should infiltrate and saturate everything we preach, everything we say, everything we do.
A friend, Carrie Kintz, who does PR for Focus on the Family, recently sent me Focus’ Director, Jim Daly’s, newest book, ReFocus. It is a powerful book. Jim shares in a section titled “The Gospel is the Way by Which Christians Grow” about Presbyterian Pastor, Tim Keller, of New York City:
“Tim has successfully identified the source of a Christian’s strength and regularly puts it into words. He regularly reminds his church members that they don’t have to perform—they don’t have to ‘measure up’ to the world’s standards. Instead, they can rest in the assurance that comes from knowing God. Living with this type of assurance is exceptionally freeing. It constantly reminds us that there is no good reason to be miserable, to carry this great burden of believing the entire world rests on your shoulders.”
If we’re not careful, we will subtly begin to preach goodness rather than the gospel. The gospel says it’s not about the good things I do, but always about the goodness imparted to me through Christ, in the gospel.
