Monday, 11 July 2011
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Telling The Gospel Story
By Sam at Creative Theology
I have some pretty strong convictions about how we should handle the telling of the Gospel story, especially to those who haven’t placed their faith in Jesus. His story, which we are now invited to not only tell, but participate in, has the power to turn hearts and transform lives. For this reason, we must tell the story well, resisting the urge to cheapen it with emotional manipulation.My wife and I were at the downtown Des Moines farmer’s market a couple weeks ago, and there was a street-corner preacher standing on a box, telling passersby about finding faith. To supplement his words, he was handing out wallet-sized pamphlets. On the front was a picture a the Titanic, sinking into the ocean. While I have the desire to go on a rant about this, I will retrain myself and simply share a thought about creativity and the telling of the Gospel story.
The man’s pamplet equated, both in picture and written content, the story of humanity with the fate of the Titanic. Basically, it communicated that we are living in a sinful state and are doomed. Which has some theological truth to it, I guess. However, this is not the story of the Gospel. The story that Christ told, and lived, and invites us into, is about life, not death. The story is about hope, not despair. The story is about renewal, not destruction. Yes death, despair and destruction have minor roles in the story, but they are not the focus of the narrative.
We must remember that telling the Gospel story is a powerful thing. So when we create, whether that be with our words, our art, or (most importantly) our lives, we must focus on the true story about freedom and justice and life. It’s a much better story.
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About the Author
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- From: SamMahlstadt
- Name: Sam
- About Me: I am a graduate of the University of Iowa, where I studied English and Religious Studies. I am passionate about seeing the local church living in genuine relationship and maintaining a global mindset.
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Comments (4)
To those who don't share a belief in Christianity, those carrying placards and shouting words of condemnation just validates their already secure belief that Christians are wackos. I'd like to ask the women who protest outside abortion clinics with pictures how many women they've brought to Christ, and was it done through fear? Because if we bring people to Christ through fear, we've just stepped on the 2nd commandment to give pure and simple love. Instead of showing others how exclusive we are, picking all the scriptures the Romans interpretated and added with damnation, we need to find the plethora of texts in the Bible that are inclusive of all, and then give our personal testimony of Christ.
Your sharing leaves me thinking and praying. Thanks for that! I'd love to add more, but both the thinking and praying take a while. Please keep writing.
"The story is about hope, not despair. The story is about renewal, not destruction. Yes death, despair and destruction have minor roles in the story, but they are not the focus of the narrative."
Can you find me hope in the gospel contained in 1 Corinthians 15? Paul says that if a man preach any other gospel (Galatians 1:8-9) that we let him be accursed. The hope of the gospel is laid up in heaven (Colossians 1:5). The life of Paul wasn't made any better by the gospel because he despaired of life (2 Cor. 1:8), Jesus said in this life we will have tribulation (John 16:33) and that the whole world growns with birth pains (Romans 8:22).
Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Jesus spoke more about hell than about anything.
"The story that Christ told, and lived, and invites us into, is about life, not death."
If it isn't about death then why get saved?
I agree more with the street preacher.
In response to the street preacher: I once watched a Nooma (with Rob Bell) about preaching the gospel to individuals as a love story. His introduction was that of a man standing in the street with a megaphone and a box of pamphlets, trying to preach as if he was preaching out of Revelation, how the world was going to end and all these people, unless they repented, were going to die and live in Hell forever. First of all, you must speak to an individual, get to know them, help them, not proclaim Doom's Day on the head of hundreds of people you don't know at all. Second, what he is preaching is referred to as the Good News! Not the Bad News or Death News or Hell News or Condemnation News!
"He said to them 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."(Mark 16:15-16)
In response to Chuckt, and the question 'if it isn't about death then why get saved?' I have had many people ask this, and sure, after death is a major part. But why do you have family? Why do you have a pet? Why do you have a job? Why do you have a house? A car? A spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend? Because of love and life. God wants a relationship with you, he wants to help you and make life good for you. But in return he wants you to live for him, to die for him, do everything you do for him. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) God gives us something worthy enough for us to life for. he gave us our lives, our breath, everything we love. In accepting his gift of his sinless son, we worship him and give thanks to him. That is why we "get saved" because it is worth it.