What is the Good News?

What is the good news?  Evangelism is the sharing of good news: it comes from the Greek 'eu' for good and 'angelion' for message.  When we talk gospel we are talking good news.

So what is the Good News?

God's love, manifestly present in the person of Jesus, is the Good News.  It is good news because it is God's love (and not judgment) because we have concrete examples of how that love is lived out (in all the stories of Jesus) and because, since it comes from God, it is eternal (rather than temperal).

When we gather around Jesus the Christ to worship, we are  not just gathering around the person of Jesus. Rather we gather around God's good news to all of creation in the person of Jesus, called the Christ.  The difference is between worshipping the man (historical, physical) and giving worship to the God whose love for all creation became human, living among us as the person of Jesus.  


If this is the Good News, then what is the Bad News?

The Bad News is that the world is not generally like this.  The world does not love us so that we may blossom and be all that we might be.  The world isn't interested in the health of our body or our souls.  Any reward that comes to us from this world comes as a result of our hard work and frankly, can disappear overnight.  The Bad News is that this world doesn't forgive, doesn't make us whole from the inside out, and too often won't even cross the street to give us a hand.

The Good News is that the one who created us for this lifetime is also waiting for us in the world to come.  The Bad News is that the race in this world is only to the swift and will leave all others behind.

The Good News is that everyone is invited, welcomed, considered valuable.  The Bad News is that only some are valuable, only some are welcome and few are invited in.

The Good News in Jesus is that healing is possible, your race is not a factor and it doesn't matter if you are male or female or something in between.  God is at work in Jesus bringing into existence the world to come: a world founded on mercy where all are made whole and live in peace and comfort in the presence of God.  

The Good News is that this kingdom of God breaks into our world everytime there is healing and forgiveness and invitation.  We get a foretaste of the wonder to come.  We can participate in that glory today, in this place.  We can bring that new life into being by being instruments of healing, forgiveness and welcome.

So if Jesus was such Good News, then why the cross?  That's for tomorrow.

When were you last the Samaritan woman?

When were you last the Samaritan woman?

When was the last time the truth about your brokenness, sinfulness or just plain bad behavior didn't stop you from proclaiming God's goodness and mercy?

You and I are much like the Samaritan woman at the well.  Here is a quote from Jeff Christian, preacher at Bering Drive Church of Christ

             "We are members of the tradition of unlikely preachers who could do little better than to
              stand before God with open hearts.  A few of us even try to resist God at times.  We are
              God's little misfit children that keep coming back with stubborn gratitude.  But because of
               an undeniable salvation that God keeps offering to cracked pots like me and Nadia and
               probably you, we say, even with a little trepidation, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.'"

Rev. Christian wrote this in an open apology to Nadia Bolz-Weber for the hurt that the Church of Christ and inflicted on her when she was a member.  Bolz-Weber is now a Lutheran pastor. When Rev. Christian heard her speak, he knew it was time to speak the truth about her experience.

He heard Nadia speak; he heard the gospel proclaimed.  He was touched both by God's message brought by Nadia and by the sin that had been committed against her.  So he spoke the truth and wrote an apology.  The truth, however inconvenient, was not to stand in the way of the proclamation of the good news.

Sort of like the Samaritan woman.  Sort of like you and me.

Keep telling God's story and your story and listen closely for the thirst in the other.  When you are focused on that, all the other stuff just fades away.

Give me Jesus

It's an old African American spiritual.  Give me Jesus. You can have all the rest, give me Jesus.

You'll never ask for Jesus unless you have some need for forgiveness and grace in your life.

You'll never ask for Jesus if you are convinced that, by your own effort, all good things will come to you.

You'll never ask for Jesus if you stand so deeply in the darkness that you cannot breathe.

Those who truly know the power of a living God of forgiveness and grace in your life, who have walked in the darkness and now see light, who are thankful that someone else is in charge of the big picture of life.....we are called to carry the truth of Jesus to those who do not know.  When our neighbor asks for Jesus, we are to show up and walk with them.

Love God.  Love your neighbor.  That's our calling.

Which part of 'angel' don't you understand?

It's a pretty cheeky response to a wonderfilled story of Gabriel's visit to Zechariah. (Luke 1.5-23)

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth have been unable to have children.  This would have been a terrible grieving for them and society could have  decided [and most likely did] that Elizabeth's barrenness was due to her 'unrighteousness' before God.

Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the inner portion of the temple to tell him that God has gifted them with a child: a boy - a very special boy.  His name would be John "God is gracious" and would call his people to repentance. 

Zechariah's response was, "What sign will you give me that this will happen?"

 

What?  An angel wasn't enough? 

He couldn't wait to see if Elizabeth gained some weight?

I can't even begin to figure out why the visitation by an angel was not enough for Zechariah.  Perhaps he was babbling, but certainly his request for a 'sign' was not received well; he was struck mute until the day John was born. 

I just wonder if maybe we have been visited by angels and couldn't see them for what they were:  messengers from God, bringing good news, bridging the gap between our reality and divine reality.  I wouldn't be surprised if I have been guilty of wanting a sign, being unwilling to wait, or simply ignoring the messenger. 

Even though I would expect an angel, certainly one as important as Gabriel, to show up with bright lights and possibly wings, perhaps God doesn't work according to my expectations.  [Perhaps??]

Let us be on the look out for angels inviting us to be a part of God's great plan for this world, and just possibly, remember not to ask for a sign!