Gospel

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In a blog article entitled “Keep It Complicated” by Randy Newman, a staff member for The Campus Crusade For Christ since 1990, he said:

“I certainly see the need to find ways to state things concisely and easily. Sometimes, you only have a few minutes to articulate what you believe to a sincere inquirer. In those instances, a short booklet or a diagram drawn on a small napkin is the best vehicle for telling people the message of salvation.

But it’s one thing to draw that diagram or read that booklet and say, “This is one way for me to express my faith in a concise way. There’s obviously more but this is a helpful introduction.” It’s another thing to say, “There. That’s all there is to it.”

This article caught my attention as I have received much criticism for preaching a gospel that is way too complicated. I have heard the excuses like “I thought the gospel was to be so simple even a little child could understand it”, “People will not listen to something so complicated”, and “We must make the gospel simple so people will respond to it”. Mr. Newman referred to the popularity of such books as “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten”. I have struggled to answer this argument well, but I believe Mr. Newman has led me in the right direction. He asks several questions which I believe must be answered and are worthy of consideration. He asks:

“What if “keeping it complicated” really doesn’t do justice to the subject matter and “making it simple” misrepresents it? What if we can’t “keep” it simple because it never was simple to begin with? What if we’re not “making” it complicated but reflecting the truth as it really is?”

I believe we have made the gospel too easy hoping more people will be brought to Christ. I believe that in the process of reducing this glorious gospel of Christ down to a few things you need to know, we have misrepresented the gospel and given many false hope, and in many cases; a false conversion. In our efforts to keep it short and simple, we have made the gospel stupid.

To a God, the bible says, is beyond our comprehension; how can simplifying the gospel make it better. With the purpose of the gospel being that we increase in our knowledge of who God is and becoming more like Christ; how can reducing the amount of knowledge we offer someone be helpful to that purpose? I believe what Mr. Newman has said, is exactly what we have done. We have essentially told people for far too long: “here is the gospel of Jesus Christ and this is all there is”. They pray asking Christ into their hearts thinking that is all they need to know and nothing else is required of them. Mr. Newman gives the example that following Kindergarten, we went on to first grade, second grade, and for some we proceeded on to many years in college to gain more of the knowledge that we sought. Every day with Jesus becomes sweeter than the day before as we gain in our knowledge of Christ and become more like Him. This radical change in our will and our desire to know the holiness of God grows as we grow in His grace. The gloriousness of the gospel is lessened, even perverted, to becoming less than life changing and a true regeneration.

Life is complex. Who will say that it is simple? The answer to life’s eternal questions are not simple and I don’t believe the Word of God supports this simplistic view of the gospel as presented in our present “plan of salvation”. This is not the message Mr. Newman was preaching, so I don’t want any misunderstanding here. He was merely suggesting that we might be robbing many of the benefits of the bible’s teachings, its power, and its true beauty. What the bible teaches, its true power, and its true beauty is in the saving grace of God offered through His Son’s perfect sacrifice. It is the power to change a man’s heart and the beauty of a mind being renewed to thinking like Christ. I believe we are robbing men often of a real conversion by reducing such “good news” to a few simple spiritual laws.

Paul Washer, a Southern Baptist Missionary and Preacher, called it a “spiritual miscarriage”. The power of God unto salvation is found in the Word spoken. If we are reducing the message from the glorious gospel that it is, are we not reducing its power to save as well? The truth must be spoken; whether simple or complicated. A “new birth”, the bible clearly teaches is a painful process. It describes it literally as “birth pangs”. Clearly we must labor for one’s salvation. We no longer labor for the power of the Holy Spirit to change a man’s heart. We ask him four questions, pray a prayer at an altar call, and go out to eat. I think in trying to lessen the labor pains, we have also lessened the power of God. Less power is no power at all. Where there is no power of God, there is no salvation. The evidence of what I am saying is true, is the lack of power seen in most who profess Christ to see any change in them at all. Something is missing in the message. What is missing is the power of God to save. We must once again labor to see that power again. The power of God is not simple, it is not short, and it is not easy as we have misrepresented it to be. Keeping it simple has only made us stupid of God’s power to change a man’s heart. vs,


True Salvation


I live by every word You speak
You are full of comfort
You are full of grace
Let Your blood contact my sin

If faith comes by hearing
Your grace must be shared
Being raised from death
I believe in who You are

I learned the word of Truth
I’m obedient in serving You
Because of Your mercy
I love the Lord

I have all hope in You
It led me to leave
My former self behind
I do not reject You in me

I confess with my mouth
I was a slave to sin
Now I am a slave
To only Your righteousness

Vasquez Savage
vasquezsavage.com

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