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Improving the Gospel? 5 Ways Churches Compromise the Gospel. - Coggle…
Improving the Gospel? 5 Ways Churches Compromise the Gospel.
Dever exhorts that no part of the Gospel must not be added or taken away from.
Gospel must be presented clearly from Scripture.
Some view faith in Jesus as a "reduction" of the Gospel. That it does not say enough of what Christians should do in society.
Some feel that Jesus spoke different Gospels to different crowds.
Jesus used different illustrations, but kept the same message.
(1) Make Gospel public.
Too much focus is being placed on social reforms and not on salvation from sin.
Done to be applauded by the world.
Church cannot be taken out of the world, but it should not look like the rest of the world.
Should not replace Gospel preaching with good works. Unbelievers do that as well.
Work in God's Kingdom cannot be done apart from faith in Christ.
(2) Make Gospel larger.
Implications of the Gospel should not be confused for the Gospel itself.
Everyone must understand the core of the Gospel and not confuse it with the results of the Gospel.
Non-Christians have similar moral standards to Christians. But they do not produce fruit.
The Gospel is the message of salvation and freedom from sin. The good works we do afterwards is a result of the transformation of the heart from the Gospel. It is not the Gospel in itself.
(3) Make the Gospel relevant.
Some do not believe that the Gospel is relevant to the culture today.
The Gospel is in fact relevant to all cultures because we are all sinners by nature.
Cultural illustrations may be used to explain the Gospel, but it does not change the Gospel message.
Some churches have begun to implement teachings to make the Gospel sound more appealing to the culture.
Have turned the Gospel to a message that promises prosperity and "good feeling" messages.
As a result, no one is convicted of their sinful lives that they live.
(4) Make Gospel personal.
Many in the American culture have made the Gospel a personal matter.
Individualism has kept some Christians from attending church because they "do not need to."
Dever says, "Church has been considered plural for Christian."
Different responsibilities of the church and the individual Christian. Church responsible for discipline and teaching. Individual responsible for bearing fruit of a life transformed by Christ.
Forgoing church attendance removes encouragement and accountability from other believers.
Discipleship of believers suffers from a lack of fellowship with more mature Christians.
(5) Make Gospel kinder.
Some churches have endeavored to make the Gospel sound more kind to the sinner. In a way that does not convict them.
Similar to making the Gospel relevant. Some churches deliver teachings that are self-help classes and how best to improve the life of the individual. Not how best to serve God.
The Gospel is a message of salvation and not a high moral calling.
Many Christians believe that God wants to save the most amount of people.
The Gospel is about maximum glory for God. Not necessarily most people saved.