The Gospel? Part 2

I apologize to my three readers for my brief absence. My family and I went off the grid to camp. In the first chapter of Bock's book he begins by asking us to see the gospel as more than merely the forgiveness of sins. It's not as though it's not true or insignificant, but he wants to illustrate that the gospel is much more than God forgiving or acquiring our sins. In fact, he argues that the forgiveness of sins is a means to something far greater, namely the restoration of a lost relationship with the living and true God.

This is in fact a major component to our Gospel. Our sins are a huge deal because it separates us from God. However, God didn't solve our sin problem in order to leave us spiritual orphans. He solved our sin problem and then gives us his Holy Spirit in order that 1.) we may have an intimate relationship with him and 2.) empower us to actually walk in a manner that is pleasing to him. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are actually impotent or unable to obey and know God.

I assure you, people do not seek God, obey God, know God, etc. on their own. We need God to pursue us and do something within us...and this is what the Holy Spirit does. He enters our lives and begins to transform us into what God intended us to be. Bock states it a little more eloquently when he says, "Here is the Creator God reaching down to touch a rebellious people's heart through a sacrifice that He himself brings, so that those He created may experience the life they were originally designed to live--a life in harmony with creation because it is in accord with the Creator. The gospel is not about a death but a death that leads many into life."

Therefore, forgiveness of sins is a huge deal, but the gospel isn't merely about forgiveness. The point of forgiveness is to demonstrate that there is a huge chasm or barrier that stands between God and mankind and God solved that issue through his Son and by giving us His Spirit so that we can know and obey Him.

The Gospel?

I am starting to read a book by Darrell Bock that is entitled, "Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News." I'm excited to read this book because it describes how a lot of churches are have lost what the Gospel truly is....or only present part of what the Gospel entails.

Bock states the Gospel can often times be presented as a therapeutic call where God is there to help us become a better person or more prosperous. Other times the Gospel is only presented as a spiritual transaction--whereby Jesus seems to take our moral debts from us (e.g. sins). There are other presentations of the Gospel that have to deal with politics and liberation from oppression. In other words, Jesus came to deliver mankind from oppression, slavery, etc.

What is the Gospel?

Clearly, Bock believes the cross (e.g. Jesus dying for our sins and raising from the dead) is central to Christianity. In fact, he believes the cross is the hub of the Gospel. But he believes that the Gospels entails much more than just the forgiveness of sins. On what this is...stay tuned.

Who's Laughing Now?!

So, the infamous toe injury is back! I know what you're thinking...I had another whooper didn't I? Well, it might come as a surprise, but I didn't have a Whopper. So, I thought I'd do some investigating on this mysterious toe pain. My new self-diagnosis is gout. Don't roll your eyes or mock me. I know what you're thinking. A lot of great people in our human history have had gout...so why wouldn't I? If I recall from my elementary days...Mr. Benjamin Franklin had the gout. I would like to add that the great website of wikipedia also informed me that gout effects the big toe...in the exact joint that is giving me pain.

Here's the kicker...I was talking to my mother-in-law and she informed me that her father has gout and it's triggered by things he eats. Guess what's one of them?! A Whopper!!! That's right...who's laughing now?! Well, actually she didn't say a Whopper, but she did say, "red meat" and unless Burger King is false advertising (which is entirely possible) the Whopper is in the red meat camp! Once I get some good insurance (Sept 1), I'll be making my way to a doctor to confirm my online medical diagnosis.

If any of you has a mysterious medical problem, feel free to email me and I'll be sure to help you out.

The Bachelorette

I don't know how many of you watch (or are willing to admit they watch) the TV show, The Bachelorette. I have been meaning to post a comment on this show the last couple days, but have been sidetracked by our move across country. I have to say that The Bachelorette is an awful show. I wish I could say that when I say, "it's awful" that I am making a crack at all reality shows. I'm not....even though I wish I was! I'm one of those saps that can shamefully admit that I like a handful of reality shows and even some other shows that are popular amongst the ladies (i.e. Glee). I'm sure I lost a few blog readers after that comment. Who am I kidding? I only have three followers...nobody reads my blog!

Back to my main point...the Bachelorette is awful because I refuse to believe that is how we should find love or enter into a relationship. I couldn't fathom being a guy or girl that simply gives their heart away to ONE individual who goes around "test driving" a bunch of different people. There's a reason these relationships don't work...it's built on fantasy and make believe. I can see why people get frustrated with reality shows...it's not based on reality. It makes for some good drama and some great gossip, but in actuality it destroys a lot of people's hearts. God did create us to enter relationships that way. Yet how many people give their hearts away like these people?