Not the Gospel
Can I rant for a minute please?
I am getting increasingly annoyed by hearing people call “The Gospel” something which is patently not the Gospel. Let me give you an example by asking you a question.
Can I be saved if I am a “black” person. Patently, yes. Now, can I be saved if I am a black person who suffers racism? Of course – just because I am a victim of abuse does not mean I cannot saved. Put those two together. Is the reduction of racism “The Gospel”. No, of course not. The reduction of racism might be an outworking of a Resurrection community that understands what it truly means to recognise the Imago Dei in all humans, but it is in and of itself not the Gospel. I can live in a completely racism devoid society and still go to hell.
Can I be saved if I am a slave? Of course I can. Is my liberation from slavery “The Gospel”? No, of course not. The emancipation of those in bondage might be an outworking of a Resurrection community that understands what it truly means to recognise the Imago Dei in all humans, but it is in and of itself not the Gospel. I can live in a society with no slavery and still go to hell, and I can be born into slavery with no hope of redemption and yet know Jesus and his salvation.
Now, please go and read Galatians 3:25-29 again and remind yourself what the Gospel actually is.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Don’t ever use “the Gospel” again in a manner that contradicts Galatians 3:25-29 y’hear?
Ah, Galatians, what a wonderful little epistle.
1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
Out of interest, who’s doing this?