Original Post

The Gospel Isn’t Offensive, We Are

Series
1. Introduction
2. Creation
3. Rebellion
4. Rescue
5. Re-Creation

I think I overplayed my hand a bit in my last post on the idea that Jesus’ good news is not offensive. In re-reading my post and some comments it seems like the idea of the gospel being “un-offensive” was taken as “un-demanding,” which is further from the truth. Also, I left out a lot of thoughts behind these ones that would have probably been helpful as I proposed the unoffensive nature of gospel.

Sorry about that 🙂

So to make up for my lack of explanation and extend the conversation/wrestling I wanted to write a post to unpackage this a bit more. But as I started to write a follow-up post, I realized it would take a few more than just one! So you’ re going to get my thoughts over a few days in a few separate posts in a little series. Let’s call it “The Unoffensive Gospel of Jesus.”

Please understand that I am only pouring out and studying a thimble size of the massive ocean of the notion that is the gospel. And that’s what this and these other posts are about: the Gospel. Because the good news that Jesus taught, embodied, and sacrificed for is so deep, thick, meaty, luscious, weighty, beautiful, lovely, and magical I approach this unoffensive gospel lightly and (hopefully) with great care.

Now as a bit of prolegomena lets define some terms, shall we?

Gospel

The Greek word for this is euangelion (rough english transposition). This simply means “good news.” And thats what Jesus called the invasion of the Kingdom of Heaven, euangelion. Some people reduce the entirety of this good news to Jesus dying on a cross to pay the penalty for Humans sins to purchase a place for Humans in heaven so when they die they will go to heaven. This is not a straw man nor an oversimplification of THIS version of the good news, but is the foundation of much of the evangelical world.

ANOTHER version of the good news is about communal liberation from oppressive powers in an effort to bring freedom and justice to the earth. This is the foundation of liberation theology and more social gospel flavors. There is little focus on the individual sinful acts by all humans, but rather the focus is on broad social structures that result in the sin of oppression, injustice, and social inequality. Jesus is said to have come to destroy and subvert these powers in an effort to raise-up the least of those in society.

These are two ends of a broad spectrum with varying degrees in the middle.

When I say gospel, meaning good news, I mean the Kingdom of Heaven. As I have wrestled with what the good news of Jesus is over the past 3 years, much of my understanding has centered on the central teachings of Jesus on the Kingdom of Heaven. Much of this understanding is a reflection of others like Scot McKnight, NT Wright, Peter Rollins, John Frye, Donald Miller, Brian McLaren, and the broad emerging church conversation. In it I have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Kingdom of Heaven, the center of the good news of Jesus. I truly believe the fulcrum upon which the broad concept of the Gospel/good news of Jesus rests is upon the Kingdom of Heaven, which is God’s movement through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus to restore both the God-Man relationship and all of Creation to the way they were intended to be at the beginning of creation.

The gospel is not simply that Humans sin or are sinners and need a savior. The gospel is not simply social liberation. The gospel is not simply that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of Humans. The gospel is not simply the destruction of injustice. The gospel is not simply about being saved from hell and salvation unto relationship with God or heaven. All of these things reflect aspects of the good news of Jesus, but neither of them (by themselves) are the fullness of the good news of Jesus. Rather, the fullness of the good news that Jesus articulated throughout His ministry and life is the Kingdom of Heaven, an idea that should not be offensive, and communicated properly is unoffensive.

[ If you think I’m a heretic at this point, please follow me through my entire idea, which will unfold in a few posts. Also, please try and listen to what I’m not saying, rather than what you think I’m saying 🙂 ]

Offensive

Now what do I mean by the gospel being offensive, or better unoffensive?

Offensive is an adjective meaning to cause someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry. It is also used to describe something that is disgusting and repulsive. So if I say something that is offensive, meaning it causes someone great pain and negative emotion, then it is by nature a message that is negative, unhealing and unhelpful.

A good, wholesome, healing, and attractive message cannot be offensive. Impossible.

Are we tracking?

So to say the good news of Jesus can and even should be offensive, meaning it is repulsive and causes people deep, guttural, emotional reaction, does not sit well with me. (I was going to say something else, but thought against it!).

Uncomfortable? Maybe. Demanding? I’d say so! Offensive? Not possible.

The good news of the Kingdom of Heaven properly communicated and embodied will not be offensive to people, but instead will be what they have been waiting for their whole lives.

Folks, for the sick and the lost, Jesus and his good news of the Kingdom of Heaven is what all Humans need and deep down desire.

Restoration is what people long for from birth to death.

A better way of living and being Human, a way that makes sense to their created order, is what people need and want.

Jesus is what people have been waiting for their whole lives.

But to understand why, we need to look at God’s Grand Redemptive Narrative through the lenses of Creation, Rebelling, Redemption, and Re-Creation.