There are a growing number of voices in the Christian community that are marginalizing, even mocking, “the propositional Gospel.” Over the last several years I have had more and more conversations about this from philosophizing seminary students to grinding youth leaders to well-seasoned Bible professors to disillusioned pastors.
Those who believe in the power of the Gospel message to save the lost can sometimes be looked down upon as simplistic, even foolish. In a conversation about this not too long ago I was even asked, “Which Gospel are you talking about, the propositional Gospel or the Gospel of real equality and racial unity and systemic transformation?”
This is an important question that must be answered. This is an important conversation that must be explored.
According to the dictionary the word proposition means…
“a statement of the subject of an argument or a discourse, or of the course of action or essential idea to be advocated.”
And the New Testament, again and again, presents the Gospel as a set of divinely empowered propositions. Romans 1:16 puts it this way, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16
How can there be power in an “argument” or a “discourse” or an “idea“? How can a simple set of propositions be strong enough to bring about the salvation of everyone who believes in them?
I have no idea.
But what I do know is that, time and time again throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus preached the Gospel out loud with words. He shared it with the religious and the rebels. He declared it to the Jews and the Gentiles. And lives were forever changed as a result.
He was crucified, not for the radical life that he lived, but for the radical message that he preached.
After Jesus ascended and the Spirit descended, Peter stood up and preached these same propositions in front of thousands of his fellow Jews (Acts 2:14-41).
The Apostle Paul preached the message of the Gospel again and again in synagogues (Acts 13:5).
His three famous missionary journeys were really just one big “out loud with words” Gospelfest.
For 2,000 years Jesus has built his church through everyday missionaries who were unashamed to verbally declare these propositions as truth.
