The other day, I found out through the grapevine that two of my really good friends just got engaged. So, I figured I would text him and say congrats, as well as make a joke, because that's just what I do. I texted him and said, "Newfie news travels fast. Congrats bro." After some jovial chuckles and me telling him how it got it me, he made this comment: "Man! If only the gospel spread that fast!" I am not sure a better comment could have been made by him. After a few more "congrats" and "happy for you guys" and other things were said, we stopped texting.
But then I got thinking...why doesn't the gospel get spread that fast? Why are we, as Christians (I always include myself in these, so I am not pointing fingers) so excited when people get engaged or have a baby that we tell everyone we know and the news truly spreads like wildfire? The same can be said of gossip. We are so quick to share juicy secrets or even good news about someone, but how excited are we to share the gospel? I would venture to say that some Christians, even at Tyndale, have not shared the gospel with a single person in their whole lives. Why? Why are we not as excited about the true Good News as we are about people getting engaged or someone's dirty laundry that gets aired out because of "concern" for that person?
At Tyndale, there is a hall dedicated to Oswald J. Smith, who was a hymn writer, pastor, evangelist, and one of the founders of The People's Church on Sheppard Avenue. One of the quotes on this wall goes something like this: "Why should anyone hear the gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?" Think back on this past week. How many times have you heard the gospel? How many times have you shared it? I am willing to bet that they are many in the former column, and few in the latter.
This is not a call to go to Third World or developing countries, because I certainly know that life isn't for everyone. Even doing a Sunday school class can be a conduit for preaching the gospel - those kids need Jesus, too! Just share it with someone!
Some of you might say, "I am not done my degree yet, how can I preach the gospel?" or "I am just not cut out for evangelism." or even "I give money to missionaries, isn't that enough?" Preaching the gospel is not optional - it's a command given by Jesus. It's not based on a degree or money, or even the lack of boldness you have. It's based on the power of God through you, in preaching the gospel to the people who have not yet accepted Jesus as the Lord of their lives. I am sure most people who read this could quote me the Great Commission, but I will paste Matthew 28:18-20 here for those who don't know it. "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” "
So why don't we get exited about the gospel? And why don't we share it? These are questions on my mind, and I know I am perfect at neither one. What does it mean to glorify God with this? Can we ever justify not sharing the gospel? Can we justify not being excited because the great debt that we owed to God because of our sin was paid for in full by Christ being nailed to the cross? If our answer to either of those last two questions is ever "yes", I would say our hearts have been somewhat hardened to the gospel, and that is a dangerous path to be on.
Sources say that Christianity, in all of it's denominations, has around 2-2.5 billion people worldwide who call themselves Christians. That is 30-35% of the population, which is so amazing, and praise God for that. However, what if each person shared the gospel with just two different people? Theoretically, the whole world would have the gospel preached to it. I know it's not that easy, and that there are other religions, but that's nothing new. People have been oppressing God's people since long before you were born.
Let's do what God's will is, and spread that gospel like wildfire. Spread that Good News like other news we get excited for. After all, what excuse do we have not to?
It's all for the glory of God.
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