The Gospel According to Jesus

Have you noticed all the new theories, stories, myths and fiction being written about Jesus and His followers? The Da Vinci Code, The Jesus Papers, The Gospel According to Judas ... you need a score card to keep them all straight! Christianity Today has a good article about this on their web site that I encourage you to read.

So what's a follower of Jesus to do? How do we combat and respond to each new salvo that is launched at the Scriptures? By all means, become conversant with what is being said and written. Respected web sites like Christianity Today can be a great resource to us in this regard. There is nothing new under the sun. There are good answers and we don't need to be afraid or bury our heads in the sand.

On the other hand, let me suggest that we don't need to become defensive, preoccupied or overly focused on the latest issues, fads and revelations either. So what are we to do?

We are to do what Jesus has always expected His followers to do - to love our enemies, to do good to all, to let our light shine so that people may see our good works and give glory to God, to care for the hurting, to be a caring community in the midst of a dark world. We are the body of Christ, His church, left to be a witness and testimony to a lost world.

In case it has escaped your notice, each new revelation creates a revenue stream. Each new movie, each new book profits those who advance their "truth" claim.

Nothing has really changed since the time of Paul. Paul's response to those who "peddled" their personal version of the gospel was:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. 2 Corinthians 2:17

Paul goes on to talk about the validation of his ministry - the changed lives of the Corinthian believers.

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3

So what is a follower of Christ to do? Invite your disillusioned, seeking friends to your small group, your Adult Bible Fellowship, a men's or women's event or to church. Let them see and experience for themselves the reality of a life that has been transformed by Jesus Christ. Expose them to a community of believers who sincerely love God and one another. Through word and deed, share the Gospel according to Jesus!

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you. so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35