Personally, for too much of my life I didn’t know Jesus; I knew about Him. I knew what the priests and pastors taught. I knew His words written in the Bible, and I guess I thought that was enough. But I learned that I didn’t really know Jesus Christ. I had no personal relationship with Him, and thus, He had no impact on my life.

Perhaps our personal comfort and convenience simply blinds us to the truth and are poor excuses. We are called to sacrifice for others, to be Jesus’ hands and feet.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The gospel. It is an incredibly powerful word with incredible depth – at least for those who truly believe. But we might all agree that there are also a great many on the fringes who don’t really understand what “the gospel” means or what it is truly all about. This might be especially true today, as more and more people seem to abandon church, while others distort the message of the gospel.

The gospel is nothing more and nothing less than the good news of Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection are all encompassed into one word. It is the absolute foundation of our faith, yet, even among those who call themselves Christian, many fail to grow in their relationship with the One who is their Savior. Life is simply too busy to keep up daily habits of reading the Word of God and prayer – all steps to building and maintaining our faith. As a result, many Christians do not truly understand the depth of the message or choose to accept what they have heard.

So yes, there are a few things about the gospel message that seem to be misunderstood – or perhaps not understood at all. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/doidam10

From the very start of creation in Genesis 2:9 to the end of creation as we know it in Revelation 22:2, we can see the thread of the Tree of Life. From perfection in the garden of Eden, to the return of perfection in the restoration of Eden.

Nothing – and I do mean nothing – will keep God from pursuing you. You are His beloved child and His love for you is everlasting.

Is it worth it to gain the whole world while we lose our soul? Which words would you rather hear? “Away from me you evildoers, I never knew you” or “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:24-29)?

Believers and non-believers alike each want to suppose we are good people, don’t we? Oh, we know we mess up sometimes. We know we do things we shouldn’t. But overall, we’re good people. The thing is – where exactly does good fall between, oh…say, Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler? Where on that imaginary line is that point where we can call ourselves good?

What does it mean when we are called on a Sunday morning, or Saturday evening, to a worship service at church? Are we attending with the idea that we are going to step into the presence of God? Or are we merely going to fulfill our weekly obligation? Three or four songs and a sermon and, whew, we’re done.

Let’s face it though, if science has indeed disproven Genesis, then we can have no confidence in anything the Bible says. One mistake, a single error, would render the entire Bible less than trustworthy. Yet we know otherwise.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21).

Maybe you’ve heard this one. 

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, ‘Don’t do it!’ He said, ‘Nobody loves me.’

I said, ‘God loves you. Do you believe in God?’ He said, ‘Yes.’

I said, ‘Are you a Christian or a Jew?’ He said, ‘A Christian.’

I said, ‘Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?’ He said, ‘Protestant.’

I said, ‘Me, too! What franchise?’ He said, ‘Baptist.’

I said, ‘Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?’ He said, ‘Northern Baptist.’

I said, ‘Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?’ He said, ‘Northern Conservative Baptist.’

I said, ‘Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?’ He said, ‘Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.’

I said, ‘Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?’ He said, ‘Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.’

I said, ‘Die, heretic!’ And I pushed him over.

While this story might elicit a slight smile – maybe even a chuckle if you’re Baptist - the problem is that the funniest jokes seem to be those that are closest to the truth. With the slight smile might also come a glimmer of pain, as well.

But the division that we see within the Church (capital C) is also observed by the non-believers outside the church, who often then weaponize it. They use it as a tool to throw shade and doubt about Christianity – claiming that not even Christians can agree on what the Bible teaches. I know this because I have had those very conversations with those who call themselves atheists. 

Given his prayer in John 17, just before his crucifixion and death, obviously Christian unity is of utmost importance to Jesus. He went so far as to explain why – “Then the world will know that you sent me…” Dis-unity – division – in the Church has the polar-opposite impact, in more ways than one.

Jesus prayed for His church – HIS church, not ours – to be united (John 17:20-21). In fact, the biblical calls to unity are far too numerous to even list here. Yet we, in our absolute humanness, arrogance, pride and ego, have chosen a different path. Because we believe we know what is right better than “that other church over there.”

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Radachynskyi

We know this for certain – Christ is going to come again. However, the best we can do is speculate as to when that time will be. The evidence certainly would seem to hold that the true Church will not be here when it happens – but we are closer to that time than ever before.

What the Bible does not do is condemn wealth. What the Bible condemns is the love of money, in other words, putting money first and foremost in our lives and making our faith secondary. And Jesus certainly offered his own advice in that area.

Make no mistake, the leadership of a church – any church – is a vital role. The chosen leader must not only represent the high Biblical standards, but also be a fit for the particular culture they are stepping into. The decision must be mutual and must not be rushed – even if the need feels urgent.