Po-Mo (Post-Modern) Gospel
What? Do we really need another Gospel? In this world where everything seems to be under attack, why would anyone want to rip on one of the core tenants of Christianity?
Hmm, well let me ask you, how’s the Gospel impacting our culture? I mean, do you feel attached to it? Are you feeling excited to go out and share it?
For the exception of when we first found God and his Son, Jesus Christ, our zeal for the Gospel, for most of us, seems to be turned down to simmer.
We get more excited about finding a golden nugget we won’t apply, some relationship help we may try or perhaps finding the words to use to combat some heresy or other.
But the Modern-Day Gospel doesn’t inspire because it’s been neutered. I don’t say that to disrespect modern preachers… but where is the strength, power, passion… where is the zing to get you through the fears? How much of an adrenaline rush is the four spiritual laws?
1. You are a sinner.
2. Your sin separates you from God.
3. Jesus died for your sins on the cross.
4. You can cross over to be with God through Jesus.
Do you see a problem here?
I don’t see much salt here. There is no depth, mystery or life here. All the glam commercials are showing better lighting.
Yes, there may have been a time when the four spiritual laws were greatly effective. But that day is not today. Even the author of the four spiritual laws believes it doesn’t relate. But why haven’t we moved on?
Hence we have post-modernity trying to rub the old lamp of the Gospel to see if there is any power really in there.
And do you know what was found?
LIFE!
A God breathed Intimacy with God
Beauty
Transformation
A pure good clean heart
And the spiritual warfare to go along with it.
In other words, there is beauty, life, calling, purpose within a battle raging all around us….
And no one is hearing it….
There is dark conflict from deep in Mordor surrounding us everyday and we are preaching a gospel of Mr. Rogers.
I’m sorry but Mr. Nice Guy is going to get beat down when the Christian adventure-struggle arrives. He will flee to the kiddy pool and back aisles of the church so as to not engage in the real conflict and maintain his image. Or worse, he will maintain order in traditions and programs that have little effect or harm a warrior for Christ.
What we need is the Christian reality to be so strong upon us that we need to look to the Lord constantly. If our perception of Christianity is just another paradigm we shift into as needed (and I am guilty of this too) then we really are out of touch. The compartmental Christian lifestyle is alive and well – and killing Christ’s body.
Our Modern society embraced the Mr. Rogers and the Happy Days. And now our churches are ineffective and in the margins of our culture… in the margins and ready to be kicked off the page.
And so like our housing market and soon our stock market… the hype is gone and prices will drop. This is called a market correction. The over-inflated bubbles burst and costs eventually level to find their true value.
Our culture too is in need of correction. Political correctness and the absence of moral guidance, which should come from the church, have been pushed aside for selfishness, social illusions and an image that look like progress.
The modern person has become all veneer and there is little engagement in the depth of the soul.
Yet, people are crying out for more… anything more to fill the emptiness and alienation they feel inside. And they are looking to pseudo-spiritual nonsense because the truth and the power are hardly spoken about… hardly preached about… if even known.
And most modern-day preachers have a powerful grip controlling the content in their church. If they don’t believe in spiritual warfare (or just don’t practice it) it will never be taught with any effectiveness or priority.
And thus Christian men and women are getting taken out left and right. They are left to a Gospel of sin management, behavior training and affixing that plastic smile to be the perfect Mr. Rogers icon.
What is needed?
God.
The Lord God Almighty.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Good Shepherd of our souls, the Helper Holy Spirit, the ever-dwelling Counselor… the One who will betroth us and wipe every tear from our eye and the One who leads us into battle.
This topic and further postings are within the Po-Mo (Post-Modern) Gospel group on both Facebook.com and MySpace.com. Feel free to click on, add yourself and join in the discussion. All further responces from each post are listed in the group format and will not be displayed on this site.
Put together by Scott Coombe.
May God bless you with His greatest gifts.