Some Christians could be reading the title like “the Gospel isn’t inconvenient!” Maybe those who identify as atheist or agnostic are in agreement with the title. At the end of the day, the truth is: the Gospel is inconvenient.
Now, before I get cancelled by one group and applauded by another, there’s an obvious reason why I would say such an eyebrow-raising statement.
I could see those who are atheist or agnostic agree with the statement to support their views and opinions. However, deep down there is a possibility the Gospel speaks to them and it’s more of an avoidance than an annoyance.
I’ve seen and heard both groups try and discredit the Bible (I’m especially looking at you, TikTokers). Some have even set out to read the Bible to prove it is as fictitious. What’s interesting is many have shared how they came to Christ after reading and believing in Jesus.
Atheistic Approach
Jim Wallace, a cold-case detective (and atheist), had a moment where he set out to learn more about Jesus in the gospel. He was invited to a church and upon hearing about Jesus, Jim would equate Jesus to a great leader thinking he could learn ideas/techniques from him. Once he started reading, things started to add up in ways he wasn't expecting. Jim, thinking the gospels weren’t real, decided to use his skills as a cold-case detective to find out if they were indeed history. As he would study from one gospel to the next (Matthew to John), the realization set in that all four gospels corroborated with each other over the telling of Jesus. Even more profound, Jim discovered they were divinely written.
He was introduced to CS Lewis and this quote would continue to resonate with him after first sight
“Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Jim would become a Christian because he searched and found. After coming full circle to the apparent truth of the Gospel, he would go on to say:
“It’s not convenient for me. It’s not always comfortable, and it doesn’t always serve my purposes. There are times when my brokenness would like to take a shortcut, but I’m stuck with the fact that this is true. And like any transcendent truth, you’re either going to measure yourself by it, or you’re going to reject it to your own peril.”
The Gospel was inconvenient to Jim. Though his story may be one of many, it comes only from the initial atheistic approach. What about Christians? This is where it might sting a little for some…
Christian Approach
I personally call myself a Christian with so much love for Jesus. I attempt to do all the things he asks whether from the Bible or when I talk to him (YES! He talks back!). I’ve had my own fair share of miracles physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have a passion to see someone choose Jesus, what Christians call salvation. Understanding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is an eternal realization.
So, what could possibly be inconvenient about the Gospel to me? And how does potentially connect with you? Glad you asked!
How often as Christians do we openly engage in conversation about Jesus in “the wild?” I know for myself, I’m 50/50 when it comes to interacting with the general public regarding Jesus. Well, that’s a convenient answer. It’s probably like 30/70 with 70% being the ‘I don’t….’ Man, does it hurt to write that stat. The problem is, it’s not the worst part.
We often hear our Pastors at church talk about sharing the good news of Jesus everywhere we go. Beyond friends and family, we have opportunities where we are employed to talk about him when it’s the right time.
An issue is we (myself included) use convenience as a way to share Jesus. It’s easy to talk about Christ at church, I mean reeeaaalllyyy easy. It can be any difficulty we make it sharing him at work.
Veritably, we tend to make the Gospel inconvenient. Maybe we didn’t want to talk to anyone at church this week. Then, maybe we don’t talk to anyone the next week and so forth. At work, we may fit in the culture of convenience instead of bringing the life-altering Jesus to someone’s life.
Have we accepted the reality yet? Well, there’s still one more issue…
If the Gospel is so important to us and we have a passion to see people accept Jesus, why do we only use places like church and work to share? Where’s the conviction to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I (Jesus) have commanded you. And remember, I (Jesus) am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NET)
Our flesh makes the Gospel inconvenient. Even Jim Wallace claimed it as fact. The Gospel is inconvenient to our flesh and our flesh fights against us to share it. We get stuck on having and not giving.
Imagine if Christians decided church and work wasn’t enough to share Jesus. What if we went out of our way to search and find those who need to hear the good news and allow them the freedom to know him like we do?
What if we were closer to the 90-100% mark of following what Jesus commanded instead of a 30/70 obedience rate? How much do we truly love him with hearts breaking for those who don’t?
Epilogue
We have to be bold in grace and truth to share Jesus at every opportunity….and we don’t have much time. Jesus said we won’t know the time or place of his arrival, but God does. Jesus’ return is imminent and here’s why (aside from many of the prophecies in Revelation being fulfilled right now in the past and present….)
There’s a massive project happening lead by illumiNations. They envision all people (of the world) having access to God's Word by 2033. This means every translation for every language known to man.
That. Is. Biblical.
Revelation 14:6-7 reveals once all nations, tribes, languages, and people hear the gospel, Jesus will then return. It’s interesting this massive group of people in illumiNations have the completion goal set in 2033. It’s currently 2023…
Never in the history of mankind has the Gospel been available to everyone. Yet, we will almost certainly get to see it in our generation. THAT'S HUGE!
I’m not saying that’s when Jesus will come, but I will say it’s time to get to sharing the eternally-minded news of Jesus to the world.
For more info on illumiNations, visit: https://illuminations.bible
For more info on Jim Wallace, visit: https://coldcasechristianity.com
(I have not read all articles on the website, but Jim's story is there)
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