Does the Christian gospel really live up to all its claims? Can we with inspired conviction proclaim confidently to all the world that we preach a gospel that really delivers on its promises? Stepping forward emphatically to answer a resounding " Yes!" is Dr. Anthony Campolo, professor of sociology and a firm believer in Christianity. As Dr. Campolo states in his trade mark address on Roman 1:16 " I like the verse in the book of Romans that says 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ', because I'm really not. I know that the gospel of Christ meets all the basic needs of human beings everywhere." It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin' is a remarkable challenging, entertaining and inspiring portrait of the Christian good news that meets all of our needs.
In one emotional trauma, one may need counselling and quite often of the social science type. In a US Hansardic study, the chances of a person recovering after one year when he visited some social scientist, are as follows:
Type of social scientist | Probability of Recovery |
Psycho-analyst | 44% |
Psycho-therapist | 53% |
Psychiatrist | 61% |
Nobody | 73% |
The study implied that instead of making a person well, the treatment actually kept him sick and paying for more treatment. Social science sometime makes mistake of linking a person emotional and psychological differences or problem to his pass.
The gospel of Christ does not agree or accept that the pass determine who we are, it is the future or where we are going that is more important. Christian counselling which is based on the Word of God is more effective in this case. Most people are in trouble mainly because they cannot commit or discipline themselves to what Jesus wants to do in their lives!
Heb 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (NIV)
Christ Fulfils Our Need for Self-Esteem and Love
Who we are or what we are depends on the most important person in our life, or what the person thinks of us. An example given is the Jewish mothers that reaffirm their children, and thus making them believe that they are all geniuses.
As Christian, Jesus must be the most important person in our lives and we are to live in accordance with his high calling. Jesus thinks we are worthy, and died for us all.
Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NIV)
Phil 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (NIV)
Matt 10:32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn "`a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. (NIV)
In above verses, Christ is not asking us to love the others less. For if we put Christ first, then the quality and quantity of our love towards others will be even better and greater! The selfish human nature in us often desires others to love us most or as their number 1, regardless of the quality of this love. As Christian, we realise that the love from Christ who dwell in us, is bountiful and overflowing. The love of man is often shallow, or he loves himself or/and his family more than others, there is not much love emanating from him even to his number 1.
Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (NIV)
We are clothed with Christ righteousness before God. Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. (NIV)
We have a God that not only forgives but also forgets our sin and pass. Heb 8:12
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (NIV)
Matt 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up and walk'? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7 And the man got up and went home. (NIV)
Rom 4:7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." (NIV)
2 Cor 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV)
The love of God Meets our need
Romance is self-centre, true love is directed outward. Most romances diminish in intensity by 80% within two years. Some even argued that we should distinguish between romance and love.
Philos: Putting Jesus Christ as our ultimate goal in life. When two persons, e.g., Husband and wife, have the same goal, i.e., to be Christ like, they will love each other more as their move closer to Christ as depicted by the pyramid on the right.
It is thus very important that both husband and wife have the same faith in Christ, otherwise when one grows toward Christ the other may be heading in the other direction. The marriage may not work out well in the end.
Agape: Unconditional love or better still God loving the other person through you. In other word, it is Grace: The love for the other person when he has done nothing good or anything to deserve it. God loves and cares for us when we do not deserve to be love or care for due to our sinfulness. This love is confounding, for it is easy to love a person when he has done good or doing well, not when he has hurt us or doing badly. Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (NIV)
We Need the Miraculous to Strengthen Our Faith and Life
Dr. Campolo "did not have the gift of healing". He did not have to, for when God decides that he was to be the one doing the healing, then it would be done. Even the phony prayer of Dr. Campolo did not change God's mind. So when God says it is your turn, remember (but pray earnestly this time and with faith):
Mark 6:13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (NIV)
Ja 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV)
Our appreciation of the miraculous leads us to expect great thing from God.
In Response, There is a Need for Service and Sacrifice from Us to Others
In Haiti, when Dr. Campolo abundant (more like running away from) the baby with the mother screaming for help, 'do not let my baby die!", it dawned on him later that he has abundant Christ! Only a spirit-filled man can realise this unfaithfulness. However, we must admit here that there was not much one person can do for there are so many in need, but as a church we can and should.
Matt 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (NIV)
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence (NIV)
Ja 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (NIV)
Dr. Campolo contended that Churches are spending too much money on building and have closed the blind on the outside world.
Act 7:48 "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 49 "`Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. 49 What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?' (NIV)
Act 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. (NIV)
Our capacity to love will develop in our faithful daily walk with Christ. The Spirit of God that possesses us will meet our psychological need and motivate us to give ourselves even more.
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