Friday, July 11, 2014

One Gospel and Only One Gospel - Galatians 1:6-9

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. - Galatians 1:6-8.

    Most virologists will tell you that the most dangerous thing about a virus is its ability to morph or change to make itself resistant to anti-viral medicines. What we used to prevent the flu 20 years ago doesn’t prevent the flu today. Liberation gospels are like a virus: they work themselves into an otherwise healthy host and sicken it to death, spiritual death!
    Liberation gospels, liberation theologies exist under the heading of “Contextual Theologies.” Such forms of theology (i.e gospels) are contextual because they deal with a particular demographic’s perceived “need”, as though the Gospel of Jesus Christ were not enough! And like viruses these Liberation Gospels come in a variety of profiles and colors. There is the Feminist liberation gospel, the Black Liberation gospel, the Black-feminist Liberation gospel, The Latino Liberation gospel, The Korean Liberation gospel et. al. And why stop there? What about a “Gay liberation gospel” or a “Trans-gender Liberation gospel.” Where does it all end? No, the poisonous message that such contextual  gospels send is that somehow God has a special revelation for these particular demographics. He does not!
    There is but one true Gospel - the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was brought to Jew and gentile alike, regardless of our racial, gender, or ethnic backgrounds. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28.
    In Genesis 11: 1-9 God dispersed the world’s population and “confused the language of all the earth.” It has been suggested by biblical scholars that the diverse races of man also arose at this time. A careful reading of the remainder of the bible reveals that on no subsequent occasion did God ever “undo” this divine separation of mankind.  It was not until Acts that we see the healing or reunification of man, but only within the context, if you will, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Act 2:5-12 describe in detail the commonality of Christ’s gospel to all men from all lands. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the one thing that should unite all men again. Any other “contextual gospel” does nothing to bring unity to mankind; it merely furthers the already divisive nature of intra-human relationships, suggesting that somehow God has saved a portion of His revelation for some particular demographic based on their perceived need for both spiritual and social liberation. We need not muddy the living waters of Jesus Christ with the confusion of Babel.  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Matthew 6:31-33. May we always see through our differences to what we all share in Christ Jesus.

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