Short and…sweet???

After listening to another legalistic, empty-of-any-hope message today, it sadly struck me how empty the Gospel message has become in so many of our churches. The Gospel isn’t meant to pimp our name out for recognition to others, it’s definitely not a resume of all the good things we do, a list of all the bad influences we avoid, not even of the habits we don’t have, instead we’re encouraged to act like the Pharisee instead of the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

The Gospel in a nutshell. Christ died for me. He died for you too.

It’s heartbreaking to hear a sermon like that, mimicking the Pharisee and not recognizing the tax collector’s begging for mercy and asking for grace. It’s heartbreaking to know that it’s a more common message than the simple Gospel. Christ died for me. Mercy and grace given in love, not in fear of judgement for my resume. I’m not good enough, here’s the kicker…neither are you.

Short and…sweet?

Proverbs 6:16-19English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁶ There are six things that theLord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
¹⁹ a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.

Making disciples means going out where sinners (us) are and it’s impossible to do that with haughty eyes.

Keep your resume, I’ll keep my Savior.

Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria