Andrew Strom says the Gospel is conviction of sin, deep repentance, water baptism and getting filled with the Holy Spirit.
Joel Osteen seems to think it's positive thinking and admits that he was very influenced by the writings of positivist Norman Vincent Peale.
Rick Warren believes the gospel is....ummm....well..I'm not sure as it seems to be inconsistent to me. Sometimes he will preach the cross and other times a more positivist you-have-a-purpose message. Lately, it's been a help the poor message (especially in Africa, although there are poor here too, right?).
The Young Calvinists believe it consists of Jesus being punished in bearing our sins and a lot of talk about hell.
The emergent [villagers] think it is helping the poor and bringing peace and justice to the world much like the liberal Protestants think. Not much if any, cross preaching.
Others, like some Charismatics and Pentecostals, stress healing as the main part.
And others stress financial prosperity as the main part.
What do you think is the central part of the gospel - what we all should preach, that is, although there may be variations of course.
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4 comments:
IMO 'knowing him' experientially, in death and resurrection on a daily basis.
There is a certain aroma from people who follow Him closely. Even baby christians have it. I think this evidence also transcends denominational differences.
Presenting the gospel is teaching and preaching the good news of the kingdom of God with signs and wonders following. Within the bounds of the Kingdom of God is repentance, salvation, healing, deliverance, etc... We just have to learn who we are in Christ and who Christ is in us before we understand what the kingdom of God is and our place in it. The Kingdom of God is within each believer and it's the believers who should be revealing the Kingdom to unbelievers. Instead, we have so many believers who don't understand their kingdom and fail to walk out what they've already received.
The gospel is Christ: his life, death, and resurrection for us.
I'm not familiar with Andrew Strom, but your summary of his "gospel" doesn't mention Christ. Ditto your summaries of Olsteen, Warren, the emergen, Charismatics, Pentecostals ...
Bless them all but how can any Christian discuss the gospel without Christ? How can an entire post be written on "what is the gospel?" and the word "Christ" does not appear in the post? There are 4 books in the NT called "gospels", and all 4 are bios of Christ. There are umpteen speeches in Acts presenting the gospel, and they all are centered on Christ. Christ is the gospel.
Weekend Fisher,
Interesting observation about Strom. Actually, there are quite a few today who are so obssessed with repentance that they often forget why we are repenting--so we can then receive Christ.
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