BETWEEN THE LINES
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
Exclusive: Joseph Farah asks readers to help with ultimate explanation of the Good News
If I asked you to define the Gospel, what would you say?
Which verses of the Bible would you point out that explain it?
If some stranger ask you to tell them the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, how would you respond?
Have you ever shared the Gospel with others?
What I have found through the research necessary for my new book, “The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament,” is that for most people – including most Christians and even many pastors and church leaders – it’s not as easy to define as one might think. There’s much confusion and disagreement about what the Gospel actually means.
Literally, the word translates to Good News. So, what is the Good News?
What does Jesus Himself say about the Gospel? He preached the Gospel, the Scriptures tell us. What was the message?
What was the message of His apostles and disciples who took the Gospel all over the world in the first century? How did they define it?
If you think I’m going to answer these questions for you, like some expert, I’ll tell you right now it won’t come in this 750-word column. I think it’s possible to reduce the Gospel to 750 words, but today I actually solicit your help with this task. One of my immediate goals is to do just that. What I have found in my own research into how it is defined by many “experts” is not satisfying. I think nearly every definition of 750 words or less comes up short.
The Gospel is not so simple to reduce – which makes sharing the Good News quite difficult.
How does the dictionary define it?
- “the teaching or revelation of Christ”
- “the record of Jesus’ life and teaching in the first four books of the New Testament”
That’s certainly not very helpful if you have just a few minutes to answer the question. And, I’m not looking for a tweet. I’m looking for 750 words – maybe even 1,000.
Can it be done?
I’ve written a great many words about the Gospel. I think I have a pretty good understanding of it. But before I attempt to boil it down to a message that can be spoken or read in less than 10 minutes, I want to hear from the most knowledgeable people I know – WND readers.
Maybe someone reading this column has thought about this before, prayed about it, studied the question even more thoroughly than I have. Or, maybe you think I’m crazy for going to such efforts.
Maybe you think it can truly be written down more concisely than in 750 words or explained extemporaneously in a few minutes. Maybe you have done so.
I’m asking you to do it for me – and for the enlightenment of others. If someone really nails it, I’ll give you full credit. You can pull from any resources you like, just don’t plagiarize. If you think you’ve seen an excellent explanation – a perfect one – already published, just cite your source.
I had the advantage in my new book to take up to 400 pages to do so. I know there is an excellent explanation in the Bible, but that’s a very big book of 66 chapters that requires study over a lifetime to distill.
Have you ever run across a tract, for instance, that nailed it?
If not, here’s your chance to write one or help write one.
Shouldn’t this be easy – especially with a little informed collaboration by hundreds or even thousands of anointed Bible believers?
Will you take part in this research project? I promise to treat the contributions with respect and consideration and serve as editor. I’m participating in the research right along with you.
I think it’s important – maybe the most important project we could be spending some time with. Don’t you agree? Have you ever been tongue-twisted when you had a chance to evangelize someone? This will help you avoid that awkwardness the next time you have that opportunity.
After nearly 2,000 years of consideration and writings, we should all be able to do this in the 21st century, right?
I’m prepared to be inundated. Just send your answers to me at jfarah@wnd.com. I’ll send you an acknowledgment and take some time to read them all.
Deal?
What’s the deadline? ASAP. But I’ll give you all a week from today. How’s that?
Find out more about “The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament”:
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