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“The beauty of the Gospel is found in both proclamation and demonstration. Neither comes first; neither comes second.”

A thought by Gabe Lyons (2010-10-05) in his book, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (p. 94). Doubleday Religion. Kindle Edition.

There is a telling part of the Good News that Jesus came to give us life and to give it more abundantly but there is also a showing and doing part in my life.  Many times it is easier to tell than to do.

I mean we can share with everyone that God is love but never love anyone.  We can say that Jesus loves all the children of the world but our actions show that we hate Muslims and gays.

Or we can be a person that everybody loves but never tell anyone how that Jesus is the reason why we are the person we are.

The awesome part of the Good News that Christ has given us is that it is both.

Now we can know the Bible inside and out.  My mom started me memorizing the Bible when I was very young.  That is a very good thing.  It helps to have the Word at our disposal when we are going through tough times.

Back when I was a freshman in college I thought I was going to marry this certain girl but we broke up and I was in pain.  Now I had the verse, “Casting all your care on Him for He cares for you” memorized and I said that over and over and over and the thought really made a difference.  Yes knowing does make a difference but doing is also very important.  I needed to give Him my hurts.  To rely on Him that He had a plan for my life and not continue being in despair.  There was something I needed to do, I had to cast on Him, I had to give it to Him.

Now what Christ has done for us is to be lived.  I am not to say I’m a Christ-follower and not live like one but I also must at some point share what Christ has done for me and what a difference He has made for me.  The telling does make a difference.

What if I say to someone that they are my friend that I care for them but not ever tell them about the thing that has made all of the difference in my life?  What kind of a friend would I be?  So telling the Good News is also very important. 

So proclamation and demonstration are a part of the beauty of the Gospel.  Let’s be the part that Christ wants us to be.

So what do you think
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Comments

  1. NitebladeSeptember 13, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    Sometimes I think that proclamation is done for the sole purpose of demonstration, i.e., in order to receive attention for others. I think that a silent proclamation through a living demonstration gets people curious to ask the question "why". The thing that Jesus had, that most of us lack, is clear intentions for doing what he did, and saying what he said. Our intentions, on the other hand, might seem altruistic but wind up being borne from selfishness. Who's to say? And who's to fully know? Does that necessarily take away from the meaning of the message? Probably not -- and who knows the difference, but He who knows what dwells in the depths of our hearts?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill WilliamsSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    of course intentions is true with either but that is God's job to judge. the key is to do both for Him.

    ReplyDelete

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