Do We Actually Know the Gospel?
When Dustin and I were dating, I would wonder and break down at times, overwhelmed with a sense of worthlessness. It’s embarrassing now looking back, but I even said to him once in the middle of a fight, “you don’t have to be with me, no one’s making you!”
This is the result of unbelief and agreement with lies in my own heart. The Lord has transformed me so much this year, delivering me from lies the enemy has been whispering and planting in my heart ever since I was born. As a result, my heart breaks as I look at so many of my brothers and sister in the Church that are struggling but most of us in the Church, even well meaning friends and pastors, I too used to think and say, “well, maybe you should” fill in the blank with a book, a prayer, a conference, a worship CD, a counselor or inner healing session.
Don’t get me wrong, inner-healing helped me out so much and I am so thankful for it. But doesn’t it seem funny that as Christians, we don’t usually point each other to Jesus?
In fact, when it comes to Christian life and experience, many of us have understood the gospel as the thing that gets us in, while the thing that then keeps us in (we assume) is our own effort and performance. We recognize that the gospel ignites the Christian life, but we often fail to see that it’s also the fuel to keep us going and growing as Christians. (Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything, 37)
Oftentimes, the Gospel is the last place we look when we’re in pain and troubled. We may first seek a Christian book, movies, shopping, eating, exercising, hanging out with friends, isolation, praying and reading the Bible even but even in the midst of that, we are not connecting with God. We are actually trying to DO what’s RIGHT to make things RIGHT again in our lives when in fact we are already RIGHTEOUS, holy and can approach the throne of God.
But often we dismiss Christ in our problem solving process because in our minds we believe that we KNOW what’s right and what we NEED TO DO already! At least that’s where I was.
I knew I needed to get up earlier, I knew I need to read and study the Bible more, I knew I need to take a class on theology, I knew I need to pray that prayer, I knew that being in the prayer room would be better and on and on….. But those are just actions, without deep, honest connection with the heart of God, The Gospel, we are no different than a Buddhist, a Muslim or a Hindu.
This is why “Millions of people, both inside and outside the church, believe that the essential message of Christianity is, “if you behave, then you belong.” A friend of mine told me the other day that the reason his now-deceased father never went to church was that he didn’t think he was good enough. He said his dad thought church was all about a good person telling other good people how to be better people. But that’s not what the Bible says. (Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything 53)
But how do we have a relationship with God? How do I “connect” with Him? Simple, by saying anything along the lines of, “God, I can’t fix this (heal myself, fill in your own condition you’re struggling with), help me! Amen!” That’s it! It’s a good beginning. Other things that will help also is to simply be honest and talk to Him about how You feel. Don’t tell Him “how” you think you should feel, but be honest with Him. You don’t have to clean yourself up before you approach Him. He’s already done that for you on the Cross. He’s the only one you can vent to and complain to.
Another important thing is agree with His truth in faith. Just proclaim the truth out loud, “Your name is a strong tower, and I run in and I am saved.” (Proverbs 18:10) The Psalms are full of full of the honest cries and proclamations of God’s truth of David.
Try it out and let me know how it goes! I’ll keep on posting more on the topic of the grace of God and the power of the Gospel. If you’re interested in reading more on this subject, I highly recommend Tchividjian’s book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything and this blog post of his on the Gospel Coalition’s site. I also highly recommend Dustin’s blog. He writes about this subject a lot based on the revelation and the journey the Lord has taken him on.
I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line or a message : ) Have a super blessed weekend.
