Theological Musings

’m not sure where the notion comes from that the best way to be a witness of the hope that is within us is to speak so judgmentally about the world around us, but I think it’s high time that we as Christians learned how to engage the culture around us instead of just avoiding it.

Currently, I’m working on the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, a well-known musical that is loosely based on the story of Joseph in Genesis.  We’ve been in production for several weeks now, and frankly, I’m having a blast playing the show.

Involved with our production is a youth choir from the region, many of whom are from Christian homes.  It’s been interesting to see the different perspective of some of the parents.

One person sent an email out to their homeschool group mailing list telling people that, even though their child was involved in the production, they would not be inviting anyone to the performances.  And they pretty much gave the impression that they didn’t think other Christians should see the show, either.  They proceeded to explain how they felt the story was not faithful to the biblical account of Joseph, and how the treatment of the incident with Potiphar’s wife was very risque, etc.

Now, let me say up front that yes, it’s a rather suggestive scene.  But let’s face it — that’s pretty much what happened!  In fact, if I recall correctly, the Bible indicates that Joseph fled the scene less than clothed because he left his outer clothing in the hands of Potiphar’s wife!  In our staging of the show, Joesph gets his shirt ripped off, but that’s it!

Now, contrast that with the discussion I had today at intermission with another mother of a child in the choir.  She, too, is a homeschooler and Christian, and she talked to me about how much she was really enjoying the show.

Without giving specifics, I mentioned the perspective of the other mother.  The response of this mother was, “People aren’t coming to Sunday School when they come to see the show.” In other words, why expect biblical accuracy when attending a play loosely based on a biblical story?  Why should that even be something we expect or demand?

That got me thinking about the two perspectives — and how much I can identify with the second response.  Rather than judge a non-Christian theatre for performing a play loosely based on a Bible story, I’d rather take advantage of a situation which can spark dialogue.  And believe it or not, I have actually been part of several interesting discussions in the green room with cast and crew about this show.

One position says, “Stay away” and the other says, “Let’s put this in perspective.”  My question is, if our tactic is to avoid, how do we possibly shine light into darkness?  How do we possibly show Christ to a world that so desperately needs to see him and experience his love?

Did Jesus avoid the world? I don’t see how we could possibly construe his actions as anything but rubbing shoulders with people who didn’t even know how much they needed him.  And I’ve said it many times before, but his harshest words were for those who thought they were doing God favors!

So, let’s not avoid the world around us.  Let’s engage those around us. Dialogue with them. Listen to them. And by all means, if they’re doing something that doesn’t seem right to you as a believer, be mindful of where they’re at!  Should we expect someone (or an organization) that is not rooted in Christ to be consistent with Christ in its actions?

I work in theatre.  I hear all kinds of language, the roughest of profanity.  I see all sorts of lifestyle choices.  There are many things that I would not choose for myself.  But I can be myself and maybe others will ask me for a reason for the hope that lies within me.

Until next time (whenever that may be!),

steve

t’s not uncommon for there to be discussions among believers as to what information, what message, what truths are the heart of what we call “the gospel”. Answers will be almost as varied as the number of people asked!

Lately, I’ve been really mulling this question over in my mind. During the course of my 39 years, I have been through several phases of what I believed was central to the gospel message. And I have heard many different explanations of what the gospel message truly is.

Part of this question is made difficult because it appears that different presentations of the gospel in the New Testament took different approaches to the subject matter. There is not one “method” of evangelism displaying predominantly in the New Testament. Nor is there one set “sermon” that was given. There may be something to note in that. But that’s not really the point of this post.

The question of what information is part of the gospel message can lead to some heated debates. Some would propose that it is necessary to present five very specific propositions (I won’t go into specifics, but the acronym might or might not spell the name of a particular type of flower!). Others believe that it is only necessary to present the fact that all have sinned, and that there is a Savior who has paid for that sin. Still others believe that an “orthodox” understanding of the Godhead is necessary to be presented.

Some preach the gospel with an emphasis on the bad news. “Sinner! Sinner! Sinner! Sinner! Oh, and there’s a Savior.” Others skip the bad news and just preach a message that basically says, “You got problems? He’s got solutions.”

In recent years, I have been looking at Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 as the basic gospel message, and the only message necessary to proclaim. I got this from the fact that Paul says he delivered that message to the Corinthians “as of first importance”.

However, lately, I have been rethinking this. Let me explain why. Paul’s list of what he “passed on” doesn’t stop at the end of verse 4. So, if I were to say that Paul’s statement of what was “first importance” reflects the heart of the gospel, I think I would have to do justice to the grammar and sentence structure by including the fact that Jesus actually appeared to certain people and certain groups of people after his resurrection.

Now, these are all very positive things to share with people when proclaiming the gospel, but I’m not sure that they are the very central elements of the gospel. They help explain the gospel, but what is the very heart of it?

In thinking this through, I have begun looking closely at 2 Corinthians 5, specifically 2 Corinthians 5:14-20. Allow me to quote it here for you:

[O]ne died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

A couple of things stand out to me in this passage:

• The truth about Jesus is all about reconciliation. Reconciliation of the whole world to God.
• That “word of reconciliation” has been committed to us to proclaim to the world, “as though God were making an appeal through us”.

It seems to me that what Paul is saying is that the heart of the gospel message is that God has already reconciled the world to Christ. We have the privilege of proclaiming this great and glorious “good news”!

Furthermore, it would appear that when Paul talks about “recogniz[ing] no one according to the flesh”, it would appear that he is referring to the idea of seeing everyone to whom we proclaim the gospel as reconciled to Christ. I may flesh (no pun intended!) this out in a future post, but wanted to make mention of it here because I think it may be significant.

This emphasis on a ministry of reconciliation seems to parallel very nicely with what Paul proclaimed in Acts 17:22-31 in Athens, Greece. He quoted a poet/philosopher in saying that we (mankind) are all God’s children, and that we “live and move and have our being” through our Father. (That phrase has often been quoted referring to life in Christ, but Paul is not using it in that context.) And while his audience did not know this “unknown god” prior, Paul proclaimed him to them.

So, the heart of the gospel? We are reconciled to God through Christ!

The gospel is not a weapon with which to threaten people. It’s not a guilt trip to make people feel awful about their lives in ignorance of the good news. It’s not a call for behavior modification. It’s not a sales pitch. It’s not a way to build our own human empires. It’s the good news of a loving Father with whom mankind had a relationship that was severed, which relationship has now been restored!

It’s already been done…and that truly is “good news”!

Until next time,

steve