The gospel: See it again for the first time.

I remember about a year and a half ago I saw the movie Food, Inc. If you were part of our blog family back then you remember because I was talking about it. All. The. Time. And not only was I talking about it, I was making life changes as a result of it: Choosing local produce, supporting local farmers, trying to buy organic and free-trade, avoiding feed-lot beef. No one twisted my arm, I wanted to tell you about it and wanted to make changes in my life because of it. (And those changes and enthusiasm are still in effect 20 months later.)

We all naturally share what we’re excited about. We naturally make life-changes based on what we’re excited about. Based on what we love. Women especially are natural evangelists, right? We love to share. We share recipes and diet-secrets and parenting tips and blog posts. In fact, now in our social media age we have buttons and entire websites for this, right? They’re called “Share” buttons. It’s called Pinterest. We love to share so we create as many ways as possible to share what we love with each other.

Now here’s the thing: The gospel of Christ is the most amazingly glorious story that’s ever been told. It is the only story that encompasses all of mankind and stretches for all eternity. It is the greatest story of victory, or redemption, or heroism, of resolution. The gospel is the best thing going, the best news, the most exciting thing. It’s better than anything you find on Pinterest (not bashin’ just sayin’.)

So then why aren’t we talking about it?

Consider three reasons we’re not talking about the gospel, sharing the gospel, making life-changes because of the gospel.

Let’s say there was an amazing movie that came out and everyone was talking about it. The whole world was talking about it. And let’s say you were the one person who wasn’t talking about it. Why? I can think of 3 reasons why we wouldn’t be talking about it.

1. We haven’t seen it: Maybe you’ve just never seen it. Never actually heard the gospel. Sadly, we can grow up in church and never hear the actual gospel message (This is what Matt Chandler’s new book, The Explicit Gospel, is all about). Or perhaps we’ve never seen the real thing, like going to the wrong house to view spectacular Christmas tree lights. You show up and see a puny lit-up Santa in the yard and aren’t that impressed. Because it wasn’t the real house. If the gospel you know doesn’t seem that glorious then it’s not the real gospel.

2. We saw it a long time ago and forgot about it: Perhaps we’ve forgotten how good it really is, like seeing an amazing movie a long time ago and forgetting how good it was. That ever happened to you? Whenever I see Princess Bride I remember all over again how good it is. But if you haven’t heard or seen it in a while you forget. Perhaps we heard the gospel when we were saved twenty years ago, but have forgotten now how sweet it is.

3. We didn’t understand it. Has this ever happened to you? Everyone’s talking about a movie and then you went and saw it and thought, “huh?” I don’t understand what all the hype is about? I think The Thin Red Line was like that. I don’t get it. And it’s possible that you’ve heard the gospel and it just hasn’t clicked. If we don’t understand sin, depravity, eternal darkness, redemption, grace, justification – then we won’t “get” how glorious it is.

So we need to see the gospel again. Today. And every day. Perhaps we need to see it for the first time and be changed by it. Perhaps we need to see it again and be reminded of how glorious it is and be changed. Or perhaps we need to finally get it and really understand how glorious the gospel of grace really is and be changed.

Whatever our need the solution is the same: The gospel.

 See it again for the first time.

~

 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me,

I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.

Thanks for reading.

*Recognize your need to get reacquainted with the life-changing gospel? Check out The Explicit Gospel, Matt’s Chandler’s new book.