Speaking the gospel with clarity is necessary. Crossing cultures, we learn to think about the way we share. So that it’s understood.
Distorted perceptions of the gospel put up barriers. Foster misleading rumors. Confusing those who live in spiritual darkness. Sometimes for generations.
One volunteer team encountered a false perception as they provided disaster relief.
Disaster
An area long hidden from most outsiders was opened to many from around the world through a natural disaster.
The communities affected had weathered a 9.1 magnitude earthquake.
Then watched the wave that didn’t stop. Flooding into their cities and villages. Before forcefully, relentlessly pulling out to sea.
Taking homes, furnishings, vehicles, families.
Leaving an enormous scale of loss and grief.
Distortion
Our volunteer teams began entering the devastated area. Providing relief for the suffering.
Medical help. Basic necessities. Helping rebuild.
When trying to explain who they were, they asked if the people understood what a Christian is.
One young girl casually responded. “Christians? They’re the ones who push you under the water and force you into their religion.”
We cringe at her perception. Where did that distortion come from? How long had the undercurrent of misunderstanding flowed among the people of her village?
Gospel clarity
True followers of Christ know. And seek to clarify: There can be no forced conversions. It doesn’t work that way.
God created people and gave each of us the right to choose what we believe.
We call the gospel Good News. Because it is.
God sent His Son to walk among us and to become the atonement for our sin. Through His sacrifice on the cross.
The Son of God died. Was buried in a tomb. Then, on the third day, He resurrected.
Victorious over sin and death.
Free gift
And Jesus offers salvation to anyone who repents of their sin and believes on Him. Everyone from any nation, tribe, people, language is invited to receive this free gift of eternal life.
It’s not something we’re born into or inherit from our parents. It’s not related to citizenship in a certain country. Or anyone’s political affiliation.
That’s the best news of all time. Not something we want to keep to ourselves.
Or force on anyone.
Salvation
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”
Romans 10:9-10 CSB
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 CSB
What about you?
Have you encountered distortions of the gospel where you live? How do you share the truth of the Good News with clarity in your context?
Related posts
Hope during a tsunami – Gospel conversations – The mystery of the gospel – Unexpected ways – Peace. Be still. – Open door – The rest of the story – Living bread – Witness – Lost – Living hope – Enter the narrow door – Brokenness –
John 1:12 – John 3:16-21 – John 5:24 – Romans 10:9-10 – Romans 10:13 – Ephesians 2:8-9 – Revelation 7:9-10 –
One reply on “Gospel clarity”
I remember having a conversation with a friend about a local nighttime serial on TV. I was watching it for language learning and found out that she also watched it. I asked her if her neighbors & friends acted the same way that the TV serial portrayed. She was immediately shocked and said “That’s just a show”. Then I asked her if she thought Christians acted like the western TV shows – because Christianity is explained as a “western” religion. She thought for a while and said “Probably not? Things on TV are usually exaggerated.” We had a good conversation that day about important moral issues.