the lost gospel

One of the issues that has baffled me ever since re-entry has been this rampant lack of belief. It's understandable in places like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, et cetera where access to the gospel is limited. But why is it, that in one of the most--if not the most-- churched nation in the world, there is such a tragic dearth of faith? An interchange I overheard the other day captures our situation well:

"My friend calls herself a 'Roaming Catholic.'"

"Haha. That's like my friend who's a 'Born Again Atheist.'"

As I listened to their conversation, I began to wonder: How can the living and active Word of God, the double-edge sword, which penetrates to divide the soul and spirit, joints and marrow fail to pierce their hearts? Are our hearts so hard? Or has this sword become so dull that it fails to pierce hearts? I think it's a combination of both.

Let's start with the gospel (that's always a good place to start). What do I mean by it has become dulled? The best analogy that I can think of is that to the cross. We have "dulled" the cross. Whenever the cross is depicted or crafted, it is made into a clean-shaven intersection of two rectangular prisms. But the true cross is more like the one a student once gave to me. I don't think she understood the implications of her gift, as she was only about 8 years old and her only exposure to the gospel was a chapter out of John, but it had such a profound impact on my life. Her gift was a crucifix necklace. In the US, they're made of silver and gold and studded with diamonds. But this one was made of iron and the only adornment was a broken man hanging on that tree. The cross--the dulled cross-- that we often see is appealing and beautiful on the surface. But the true cross is heavy and crude. The cros on which redemption hung is rugged and unattractive. And yet it is beautiful--so, so beautiful-- and it is glorious. It is only when we look to this cross that we find forgiveness of sin.

In much the same way, we have dulled the gospel. We have altered it to suit our own likings. But in making it more attractive, we have stripped it of its power. In many Christian circles, the focus has been shifted to social justice and equality or personal gain. Don't get me wrong, social justice great. Christians don't do enough in this realm. But that is not the heart of the gospel. Nor is the gospel about what you will gain in this life. I still remember a speaker from last year talking about his life getting better as soon as he became a Christian. It is simply not true that your earthly life necessarily gets better just because you become God's son or daughter. In fact, Paul tells us that if we are truly living out our calling, we had better be prepared for it to get worse.

"And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."-2 Timothy 3:12

A gospel centered on social equality and personal material gain is not a gospel at all. It leaves us helpless to help others in the long run and it leaves us hopeless. The only gospel that wields any power is the true gospel, centered on the cross and the glory of God. Without the cross, we are still dead in our trespasses.

At prayer meeting, we often pray that this truth would pierce the hearts of our non-Christian classmates. But equally important is the prayer that the gospel would continue to pierce our hearts. There are so many songs focused on the beauty of the cross, I wish I had time to quote them all, but I think just one speaks volumes:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! - Horatio Spafford, It is Well with My Soul

Does that not evoke a gamut of inexpressible emotions in your heart and soul? I hope it does. But so often it doesn't. Why is this? Paganism might be the most prevalent religion in other nations, but idolatry is the most rampant in the United States and the developed world. We are lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure-- anything but lovers of God. So much threatens to draw us away from the Father. But thank God, "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass" (1 Thess. 5:24). Rest in his grace. Cling to what is good.

"Oh the wonderful cross bids me come and die, and find that I may truly live."

Oh, how wonderful the cross!

My good friend Erik also wrote about this topic. You should check out his Tumblr: http://createdforhisglory.tumblr.com/