What is the gospel?
Many of those who have formally studied scripture today will correctly indicate that the answer lies in 1 Corinthians 15:1-3. The message of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. constitutes the elements of first importance within the gospel.
But the same apostle Paul who wrote 1 Corinthians also wrote Romans 2:16 ("God will judge ... as my gospel declares"), a text which seems to have become conveniently lost in the shuffle during a time when the emphasis is upon the positive. Not only did Paul assert that a final day of judgment was a part of his gospel message, but in one of those few sermons we actually possess where Paul was preaching to non-believers, he unequivocally claimed that God has established a day in which he will judge the world. Acts 17:31
The message about a day of final reckoning was not limited to Paul's understanding.* For example, a number of Jesus' parables and teachings depict a day of judgment when those who were unloving and disobedient would be cast out into darkness where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 24:42-25:46
What should we think about teaching on the final judgment?
Should we ignore this part of the original proclaimed message? Is it manipulative and unhealthy to present a message which causes fear? If that message is true, should people be made aware of it even if it does cause them discomfort?
What many Americans may think about this subject is probably influenced by our cultural heritage. One old stereotype for sermons is "hell fire and brimstone." Older movies such as Pollyanna depict the "sour stomach" which frequently resulted from such preaching.
In reaction to a constant unhealthy diet built upon fear and guilt, much modern preaching aims to be positive. The result seems to be that in some locales it is almost taboo to speak about God's punishment. The current trend is perhaps encapsulated by the common question, "how could a loving God send anybody to such a place as hell?" Yes, pendulums do swing from one extreme to the other!
Our goal is to allow God's word to shape our message. Unless we do this, the message we will be proclaiming will reflect more of our thinking and culture than it will faithfully represent the scriptural message.
A healthy program
If we allow scriptural emphases to be our emphases and its minor points to be our minor points, then we will not distort the message to fit itching ears. Accordingly, we must make room, just as scripture does, to speak about the day of judgment. However, to keep this within its proper balance, we must also speak of God's loving kindness which endures forever. Since God so deeply longs to be in a loving parent-child relationship with people; He even sent his Son to heal us from our fatal spiritual cancerous condition. But unless we receive his grace gift of Jesus, we have not left a just God who can not tolerate or look upon sin with any alternative except to pronounce condemnation upon the day of judgment. As those who have been redeemed, who love the One who first loved us and has freed us from all condemnation, let's cast off all fear of punishment because perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:16-19
*Some texts for further readings on a day of judgment and escaping condemnation: John 3:36; 8:24; Romans 2:5-10; 8:1-4; 1 Corinthians 4:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 14-15; Hebrews 10:25-31
Barry Newton, Copyright © 2001
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