*someone knocks at your door* … Good news! Your car’s on fire.
*your bank calls* … Good news! You lost all of your money.
Good news! Me and people like me are the only one that has the solution to your problems.
If knocked on your door and told you that your car was on fire and they had the solution to your problem, but will only put that fire out if you do what they tell you to, would you do it?
If your bank calls you and tells you that someone stole all of your money but they have a sure fire way to get it back as long as you give them more money, would you give them more money?
Maybe I’m just stubborn or cynical because my answer to both of those is “no!” I’m going to assume that the person who knocked on my door started the fire because they didn’t just call 911 and my bank is incompetent because they lost all of my other money so why would I trust them with more?!
[deep breath]
This is sometimes how we try to introduce the good news of Jesus to people. We pose a problem (sin) and say we have the solution (Jesus, or our version of him anyway) and unless you agree with these basic points about him that, well, your car will explode for all eternity.
I’m not trying to say that sin doesn’t exist and that God through Jesus doesn’t offer atonement for sin. I hope those double negatives cancel the way I want to. What I am saying is sometimes we do not have any idea how we’re coming across to other people that we’re trying to share the good news of Jesus with.
How are people supposed to know that we’re Christian? By our love. By laying down our life, our preferences, our opinions, our stubbornness, or cynicism for the sake of other people (Jn. 13.33-38; 15.9-17).
Good news is not offering house (or is it life) insurance to people whose house we may (or may not) have set on fire. Good news is saying I’ve already called the fire department, how can I help you?
Let’s show people the good news of Jesus. Let’s show our love.
Blessings,
Jon
Illini for Christ 