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Where is the Hole?
The goal of this campaign is to fill our minds with biblical teaching and sound discussions that will allow the compassion we feel in our hearts to become aligned with God’s purpose. By understanding the whole Gospel we will be able to identify “The Hole in our Gospel.” Have you ever felt that there was something missing in your faith experience? Do you experience a disconnect with the life of Jesus? He said and did things that changed lives and His world. He lived the whole Gospel. 700 years before the birth of Jesus, people were “missing something” too. Through a prophet God made it clear what He expected: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? When Jesus came, Israel was struggling with a “hole” in their understanding of what God wanted them to do. Jesus said: “.... you have neglected the more important matters of the law: Both Jesus and Micah spoke of justice, mercy and faithfulness (walking humbly with God). This is the foundation of the whole Gospel. Luke 4:14-21, tells a powerful story. Jesus, while at the synagogue, read from Isaiah 61:1,2. Through this reading Jesus was declaring His personal mission, a mission that was to affect every sector of life and society.
The Whole Gospel Includes The Spiritual Jesus said He came to: Preach Good News to the poor: (poor in spirit) telling them that God loves them and that they could discover a new relationship with God. Freedom to the prisoner: freedom from being trapped in sin; freedom through forgiveness. New life – born again! Every point of Jesus’ mission statement has a spiritual dimension. Jesus came so that we could have a relationship with God. This is one part of the gospel! The Physical Mercy isn’t an add-on to the Gospel – it too is the Gospel. Look at Jesus - He didn’t require that people connect spiritually before He extended mercy. Jesus extended mercy to people in need regardless of status or class. For instance (one example from Jesus’ Mission): The Gospel is both physical and spiritual. The Social Mercy deals with the symptoms, justice deals with the systems. (It’s not enough to simply call it the “Social Gospel” and then dismiss it like it’s not the Gospel too.) There are evil systems in the world today that keep people in poverty, hold them prisoner, and treat them like objects or property. The Gospel includes breaking the back of cultures and systems that debase the value of a human life – God’s creation. Freedom to the prisoner (another example from Jesus’ mission): Discrimination based on color, handicap, or ethnicity are rampant in the world. Systems that support human trafficking, disproportionate opportunity, and slavery – exist! Not all prisoners are criminals, and not all jails have bars. Jesus came to set the captive free. Ultimately, helping the oppressed must not be just a political goal – it has to become personal. Concern for the spiritual development of others, for the physical wellbeing of those in need, and for the social order of our global society – all of this flows from the heart of God. Faithfulness, mercy and justice are the whole Gospel.
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