One of the constant tensions I feel as I continue to work and preach with teenagers is how I should present the gospel message. On one hand I can speak the truth and then on the other hand I can preach what is often presented as truth.
There are times when truth to me is going to be offensive and make people angry. I honestly don’t believe you can talk about the love , grace and mercy of God without clearly communicating the WHY he is full of love, grace and mercy. The fact that God had every right to be angry and full of wrath because of our ongoing disobedience as a result of our sinful nature. Without communicating His hate for sin there is no gospel, no need for Jesus to die, no point.
BUT, this point of view isn’t popular. What is popular (and often preached) is that God loves us (which is true), wants us, and even needs us because he is somehow desperate for our fellowship. Thereby presenting God as a needy character who is lonely. If this is communicated and preached the result is that we develop young people who believe that God is in their pocket and can drop Him whenever they wish because there are times when life is tough and appears that He is not keeping up His “end of the bargain”. This teaching leads to a belief that the gospel is about what we get, rather than who we come into relationship with (God).
The gospel, properly communicated creates (by His power and choosing – Rom 1:16) Christians who are eternally grateful because they recognize that they don’t deserve anything from God other than His wrath. That Jesus died for God’s glory first (Is 43:25) and that we (by His grace) are allowed to join the eternal “Dance” (as CS Lewis describes the trinity) in Their community, joy, peace and love.
This gospel begins with God and ends with God – we just get to join in. The other ‘gospel’ starts with man and ends with man – I am uncomfortable with that.
When I preach this though, I do get criticized. The criticisms often centre on the belief that I am being too harsh. That teenagers need to be ‘loved’ into heaven. That by preaching about God’s anger, hatred and wrath towards sin (which is a ‘mega’ theme in the Bible) I am putting teenagers off God and stopping them coming into a relationship with Him. The problem with this argument that you can’t preach about grace and mercy unless you also communicate why the grace and mercy of God is so amazing… we deserve nothing but God’s wrath. This is propitiation – a central theology – the transference of wrath from us onto Jesus.
I agree that teenagers need to be ‘loved’ into heaven. The most loving thing I can do as a pastor is to preach the truth – even if that upsets people.
Easy said though – I am still struggling with the need to be liked!
Manly hugs and back slaps…G
However, we can see how we should present the gospel in how Jesus did. He loved people, and the ones who were “offended” (as I’ve heard you say that the gospel is offensive) were the self-righteous who thought they had it together.
Zacchaeus, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery. Jesus asked to come to his house, offered her living water that would fill her up, said, “Neither do I condemn you, but go leave your life of sin…”
God’s love is a central theme of the gospel, that binds it all together. “For God so loved the world…” not “For God so hated sin…”
Also, as a friend of mine (a fellow youth-worker) has said, “It’s not up to us to convict or point out kids’ sins. The Holy Spirit will do that. It’s up to us to point them to Jesus.”
I agree, completely about God’s love being incredible. I recognise how deeply God loves me because I understand how much he hates my sin. That “while I was still a sinner…” he loved and died for me. If anything, God’s hatred for my sin intensifies my sense of His love for me while I was still a sinner. Without an understanding of WHY Jesus died for us there is no understanding of Christianity at all. The reason Jesus died was not because God was lonely and wanted more friends (Acts 17:25) but because God hated our sin and there would be justice. Jesus’ intense love for us was shown in Him being will to die for that justice – propitiation (Heb 2:17). If this is not communicated effectively then what are people being ‘saved’ from and to?
In terms of us convicting young people – I agree. Rom 1:16 clearly states that that is the work of the Holy Spirit. However, Paul made it his business all through the NT to point out sin and identify idols. Understanding that there is sin in our lives is the first step towards recognising our NEED for a saviour.
HOWEVER, all this must be communicated in love and gentleness – absolutely. Even when it is – the story of the cross still offends (1 Cor 1:23, Gal 5:11).
Thanks for your comments!