Are we Centered? Whom or What?
There are a number of changing, ongoing conversations in the Evangelical world these days, from multi ethnic, how to growing congregations, defining what is a healthy church, disciple making or discipleship and still discussions on worship. But in the middle of all of this is a conversation on the gospel and how a believer’s life is being lived in light of the gospel. There are organizations, whose soul purpose is to move believers toward being Gospel centered but is that the correct exhortation? I do wonder….
Some of these conversations are defined around questions like, what exactly is the gospel? Are we (or the church) Gospel centered? Are we as believers living the gospel? And even to the point where being, doing and living the gospel are only understood through the lens of expository preaching. Fascinating, isn’t it?
In defining the gospel, I have always taken scripture not theologians; and not the popular preachers of the day to determine what is true. To some, my statements could be called too narrow. I have always thought the gospel as defined by Paul was stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (ESV). “3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” Am I off base in my comments, really?????
This conversation focuses on believers needing to be/live Gospel centered. But then in my mind how do we reconcile Jesus Christ in all of this? Aren’t we called to be Christ centered in life? I thought Jesus was the Head of the Church and the only One we were to follow. Did Jesus call us to obey the gospel or to obey Him? This is NOT discounting the impact of the gospel but John 14:15, Jesus stated that “if we loved Him, we’d keep His commandments.” It’s not obedience to the gospel but to Christ over and over again in the scriptures. Jesus modeled obedience (Phil 2:1-11).
There has been something in the statement “Gospel Centered” that has been troubling, maybe splitting hairs, maybe not. I am not questioning motives but only the reasoning and taking into account what the commands to follow Jesus Christ state. I certainly don’t pretend to be a theologian but…Christ is the Head of the church! I love the gospel and what that means in an individual’s life but does scripture really call us to be gospel centered or Christ centered?
I always understood believers are to be and live Christ centered lives. Not Word centered and not gospel centered but if we are Christ centered then the Word and Gospel would be integrated in our being with lives centered on Jesus Christ. I definitely wouldn’t want to go so far as to dictate a style of preaching to understanding the Gospel…..really???? We are supposed to live sent, Christ centered lives, focused on knowing the Father and Jesus who He sent. Being Christ centered means our being rests in who He is and we are called to live on mission, obeying Him as He speaks through His Word and affirmed as we obey the Holy Spirit’s leading,
There are times when conversations like this can be confusing. We are called to be Christ Centered! We need preachers, teachers and churches that call believers to be Christ Centered, to live sent and on mission! May God give us all clarity and wisdom as we follow Jesus Christ!
What do you think?
Posted on Oct 24, 2011