Theology of

Two

Gospels

The gospel is about going to haven ….

You are a sinner. You are going to hell.

If you believe our message and say a prayer, you will go to heaven.

It’s very easy, free, and convenient.

Think of it like fire-insurance.

The contemporary gospel is primarily

INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN

AFTER YOU DIEwith a large footnote about increasing your personal

happiness and success through God.

with a small footnote about character development

with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience

with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

What if we have become confused about what the gospel of Jesus Christ really is?

What if there are two gospels being proclaimed within Christianity?

What if we are proclaiming a gospel about Jesus, but not the gospel Jesus proclaimed?

“Shouldn’t we let Jesus define the gospel?”

?

The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near.

Repent and believe the good news!Mark 1:15

Remember: Kingdoms were contemporary realities in Jesus’ day!

There was no problem with proclaiming a new religion - but proclaiming a new kingdom would get you killed!

To proclaim a new kingdom meant a new supreme authority … and it meant a new way of life.

Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing story … Good news of the

Kingdom of God.

The Gospel / Good news - announcement of a new regime, administration, victory.

Kingdom - reigning, relationships, values, laws, customs: the unified whole

The gospel of the kingdom of God …

A God who forgives …A God who includes …A God who notices …A God who serves …A nonviolent God who reconciles …A God who heals …A God who transcends boundaries …A God who sides with the poor …A God who is present …A God bigger than organized religion …

It is clear that “kingdom of God” (or heaven) does NOT mean “heaven after you die,” because the Lord’s prayer teaches us to pray …

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

It does NOT teach us to pray …

May we come to your kingdom when we die.

May we all go to heaven where, unlike earth, your will is done.

Jesus doesn’t send us out to make “Christians” - but to make “disciples.”

Therefore go and make [spiritually form] disciples [apprentices] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

The gospel of the kingdom must produce disciples who learn a

radical new way of life.

As disciples, we learn to live the way of life that Jesus lived - life in the

kingdom of God.

Self (soul)

church

world

Heaven

self

church

world

Heaven

Two gospels …

One of evacuation

One of transformation

Gospel of saving individuals from hell, and abandoning earth to destruction.

Gospel of saving earth from human sin, beginning with us.

or:

Gospel of saving earth from human sin…

What if “sin” isn’t a long list of culturally unacceptable behaviors….

What if “sin” is anything short of failing to love God/Others more than yourself?

Imagine what earth would be like if *everybody* loved each other & God more than themselves?

Would it be Heavenly?

What if Jesus gospel is not about toning down and repressing your God-

given life force?  

What if He called us to something pure and true and good, something

that connects us with God, with others, with the world?

What if it is an simple as “love”?

The contemporary gospel is primarily

INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN

AFTER YOU DIEwith a large footnote about increasing your personal

happiness and success through God.

with a small footnote about character development

with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience

with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

What if Jesus Gospel was

Love God / Others more than yourself to bring forth His Kingdom. Now!

Be a disciple – surrender to radical love, like Jesus.

Christ like selflessness and love requires radical faith.

God’s Holy Spirit lives in you to help

Repent for selfish acts and return to the joy of a union with Jesus which weakens the desire to do things contrary to His heart

Even pray for suffering to be more like Christ

Haven is waiting for you when you are dead.

Jesus Gospel

is Love