JUST Preaching the Gospel is not Enough

The words echoed through the auditorium while I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. In one way the words were not wrong, and every man on the discussion panel would affirm them. However, they were short sighted words conveying an idea that is in one sense biblical, yet not representative of the whole of the Bible.

Before I repeat what was said let me explain the context. Three men are on stage discussing how churches should react to and navigate through COVID, mandates, masks, and vaccines. As the conversation unfolded many facets of these topics bounced around the stage. It quickly became clear that among brothers there were some strong and differing views.

One of the…very well known pastors eventually spoke up and said, “Just stick to the gospel; preach the gospel. That’s what we need to be about.”

In a nut shell he was encouraging people to not be so concerned with the operations of this world but to consider how to best live for the kingdom of heaven: proclaim the gospel.

This has been a common idea among evangelicals for nearly two years as mandates and restrictions have been put forward in abundance. The encouraged action is give attention to gospel preaching and evangelizing, while the government with its mandates do whatever seems best to them. 

We all agree that the gospel needs to be preached. Every man on that stage would have agreed that the Good News of God’s grace needs to shared with all people. However two of the men had a great difference in scope.

The pastor quoted above (I’ll call him John) had a smaller view of the gospel than that of the other brother on stage (I’ll call him Joe). John only focused on evangelism and conversion. Joe affirmed the need for evangelism and conversion, but carried it out further in its application.

Preach a BIG Gospel

Let’s start where John started: preach the gospel.

Why? Why do we preach the gospel? What do we wish to accomplish? More importantly, what does The Missionary God wish to accomplish by it?

1. It certainly begins with seeking the new birth in our fellow man. Such a conversion shows itself in a changed life. A man is not only redeemed but also restored. Our guilt is removed and our scarred soul, the soul marred by sin is healed. The new birth manifests itself in new life.
2. We spread the gospel so that families may be transformed (Gen. 12:3, “… in you [Abraham] all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”). God has established the family from the Garden of Eden before the fall into sin. However, in the fall the relationships of husband and wife, parent and child, as well as brother and sister were undermined. Families and relationships also need redemption and restoration. We see such work done again and again with all of the household baptisms in Acts (11:14; 16:15, 31, 34). We want the gospel to go out and do its work at that level. God’s purpose that relationships be impacted by the gospel must affect out understanding preaching and evangelism.
3. We find another reason for missions and evangelism is the redemption of the  peoples or nations of this world (Rev. 5:9, “…you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation). This is not completely separate from our second point. The salvation of Families (Gen. 12) and of peoples/nations (Rev. 5) show us a large scope for the reach of the gospel. 

We need to see the far and wide influence of the gospel. I believe that both John and Joe would agree with what has been said. What follows I am not sure that John would affirm, and that is my concern and point for this whole post. Proclaiming the Gospel is not merely a reaching into the ones’ life, family, and ethnicity so that those people can go to heaven when they die.

The gospel begins it’s far and deep reach now in conversion and regeneration of the soul. Yet, hear what Paul says to us about the gospel in connection to the reason for Jesus’ death:

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Colossians 1:19-20

That which God designed and set into motion that has also been corrupted by sin needs redemption and restoration. Where God’s law is abused, misused and gone amiss there is need for repentance and rehab.

God’s Government

In the Christian worldview every Christian has part in three different systems: family, church, and nation. In each of these we need to seek out from scripture a few different things:

• How are we to understand them according to the Bible?
• How are we to take part in them according to God’s plan for us as individuals?

Now, I do not know of any Christian who will argue with the first two systems: a family and a church needs to operate under the authority of scripture. We do not always act like it; we are broken humanity after all. Yet, the historical testimony of the Christian faith is that family and church need to submit to the Word of God. Like I said above, I believe both John and Joe would affirm the need for families and churches to be under biblical authority. However, with regard to government…I believe there would be a difference of opinion.

Here the conversation goes less than smoothly, like in the discussion panel mentioned above. When we begin to discuss scripture and state questions arise:

• What is the role of the Christian as a citizen?
• How does the Christian honor God and the emperor?
• How do we determine when to act in civil disobedience?
• What does the word of God say, if anything, regarding the government and God’s design for it?
• Can the church or individual Christian call the government to repent?

Many other questions could be articulated, yet we will stop here. I wish to propose to us that the gospel is not merely for the converting of souls, but of the family as well as the government. All of God’s designed systems in creation are under God’s authority and in need of redemption. Remember Paul’s comprehensive words from above:

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Colossians 1:19-20

Paul speaks of the governing authorities in Romans 13:1-6 as God’s servant/deacon. The inference from that is that the governing authorities must not only produce legislation which accords with God’s law, but also govern in a manner that accords with his law.

I do not wish to get bogged down in this particular post with regard to what the particulars are for government, yet I wish for us to see that the gospel must be thought of as more than the tool for transforming individuals, but it is for the transformation of all of God’s creation.

J.C. Ryle in a short biography on evangelist George Whitefield notes that Whitefield preached so that souls would be converted with a changed life. His anticipation of life change led him to have confidence that society would be transformed through the changed heart of man. The implication of Whitefields hope leads us to consider how we should believe that the gospel has impact at a government level by way the the individual redeemed.

Conclusion

I will leave with these two thoughts:

First, from the scriptures we see what has been presented above. In a short and yet full statement from Acts we see the gospel scope of reaching individuals and groups, citizens and kings:

 [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and and the children of Israel. 

Acts 9:15

Also Jesus’ words to his disciples…

“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.”

Mark 13:9

These texts do not allow us to think that the apostles were merely going to individuals who happened to be kings. If that were so than all that would be necessary in Acts 9:15 is to mention the gentiles and children of Israel…that covers EVERYBODY. However, the office of king and governor is mentioned in both of these texts. Let me say it this way, the kings of earth were to hear the gospel declaration of the King of kings. Kings and governments were called to submission by the prophets Elijah and John the baptist, as well as the apostles. We need to follow this example and call governing authorities to operate in their God given manner.

Finally, let me give you an illustration. Imagine evangelism is like a spear head. The tip and point of it is the effect of conversion or new birth. A little further down the impact is a changing life, a life conformed by the word of God into the likeness of Jesus. Further down the spear head the converted life has influence as salt and light to friend and family. But not only that but the church is positively affected by the redeemed individual who is a part of the body of Christ. These are ripple effects. As we keep moving down the spear head it gets wider. More than the individual is effected, but there is impact by the Word and Spirit through the life of the redeemed. In this the realm and system created by God (government) will naturally be impacted to some degree. The impact may be the Christian stepping into a governing office, petitioning a court, or calling for the government to submit to its Founder and Governor of all things.

We cannot say amen to the gospel having authority over family and church, but then leave the government out as an altogether different animal. Christ died to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven.