The Gospel is like the breath we Christians draw into our bodies. It gives us life. It permeates everything we do, every decision we make, every word we speak. Yet, it is difficult to grasp.
I am writing this series as I have written every series— to discover who I am, what I believe, and what Gospel I am to share.
How to begin? Perhaps to simply look at John 3: 16, regarded as the one-sentence summary of the gospel. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” But every word, every phrase, deserves, demands explication.
Perhaps it is not necessary or even wise to go beyond “God loves.” The Gospel is not about power or wisdom or even justice. The Gospel proclaims God does all in love, offers love, is love.
And God’s love is for the world, all of creation, even my enemies. It draws me out of myself no matter how much I resist.
I am not sure how God gives his son except I know I am not ready to do that. Perhaps all it tries to say is that God loves more than I do. Perhaps it involves some esoteric theological concept, but I doubt it. I’d rather just listen to the story and hear myself say “yes.”
And perhaps that is all believing involves, saying “yes” to the story and asking to be part of it, finding a way to withdraw from the destruction all around and participating in a life that is creative, nourishing, giving, sharing, caring, loving.
The Gospel claims there are better ways to live than fighting 20-year wars that maim and destroy but go nowhere. It introduces me to family who do not look like me and assures me God loves them as much as me. And that is good.
That’s a beginning. Next week, I’ll check out Paul.
