A Bagel or A Loaf?

We've got a problem in the Western Church; there is a hole in our Gospel.

Can the Gospel, the Good News of the Kingdom of God, be summed up by an analogy about the trendy bagel and the old-fashioned loaf? I don't know, but I'm gonna' try. Both are basically "bread," both provide sustenance, but which one would you like for the long haul? Which will provide more food (life) over a period of time?

If you're a Christian, a follower, a believer of Jesus, of Yeshua, and if you were spiritually born through an Evangelical "process," then, most likely, you are "Saved." You have "Jesus in your heart." You are "Born Again." "Jesus died to save you from your sins."

For the most part, true statements.

I came to belief through a more old-fashioned, King James-ie, kind of language and "denominational" birth pains. I believed "by faith and that (faith) a gift of God by His grace." My belief grants me "salvation," and now, by grace, I'm to "follow."

Again, true.

We now attended an Evangelical church, which I enjoy very much because God's Spirit is present and active, and the Bible, in its entirety, is preached. Because of the church we attend, I hear a lot of what I'll call evangelical Christian-ese: a dialect developed by well meaning, sincere, disciples of Yeshua to communicate the Good News on a very personal, relational level. Unfortunately, I think the dialect sells Yahweh, Yeshua, and Spirit short-- to quote a friend, "We have been selling an 'introductory price' gospel;" or handing out a bagel instead of the loaf.

The introductory price gospel, along with its dialect, reflects biblical doctrine, yet does not reflect the entire teachings of Yeshua and what he did. The dialect is made up of paraphrases and substitutionary phrases in place of full teaching. It's a friendly, easier to handle, more portable, doctrine that looks like it will fit in, and work anywhere. It's the gospel for the individual-- personal forgiveness, personal salvation. It's the bagel.

The bagel gospel creates individualistic, self-centered, half-learned Christians, valuing our personal experience with Jesus. We've got Jesus in our heart and we're Marionettes, waiting to be moved by him. We've got Jesus and now we're waiting for the magical whoosh and all the fun to begin! We're adult sized kids.

It is true, as babies, we start by drinking only milk. So too do new Christians need easy to assimilate teachings. But while a baby is feeding on milk, the rest of the family is present, eating a much heartier meal. The baby gets to see, smell and, sometimes, taste what everyone else has; the baby begins to long for the heartier, more fulfilling stuff. And as she is able, if it is present, she begins to eat it.

The problem, as I see it, is that we are only providing pitchers of milk-- for everyone. Milk will only support growth for a minimal amount of time. But the worst part of the bagel gospel, the milk gospel, is that it focuses mainly on forgiveness of personal sin, salvation for the individual, personal grace, and there it stops. What if I don't believe my sins are all that bad? What if I think I'm a pretty decent person?

Then what Jesus did to save me isn't all that grand. Then God's grace is not very remarkable. Then I am not grateful for much and Jesus is not worth the effort to talk about, let alone follow.

Woe to us who (maybe ignorantly) are focusing on our personal experience and relationship with God, and what God can do for us. We prayed our prayer and we're waiting for the whoosh and the perfect life. The Holy Spirit has become the magical, ethereal force of good (thanks The Shack, Oprah)-- a talisman of good luck, and wisdom, and self-help. Jesus has become the little god we store in our heart to pull out as needed. The words of God are being replaced by the phrasings of men. We are eating our bagel, and ignoring the big picture, ignoring the loaf set out on the table.

Why Did Jesus Come?

Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan (Hebrews and 1John 3)-- all the works of Satan-- sin, destruction, oppression, death. His death and resurrection enables the forgiveness of sin. Everyone's sin-- even that guy that hunts little boys, abuses them, and then kills them. He came even for that guy. He came for all of creation, for the universe. He came to right every injustice done against human, animal, and land, against God. He came to grant heir ship to all that accept it. He came so that we would have the opportunity to follow his example, and with him and by him, destroy the work of the devil: feed the hungry, free the oppressed, heal the sick, comfort the broken hearted, love our neighbor and our enemy. He came so that those who believe will spend eternity with him. This is the loaf.

Jesus calls us to bigger and harder things, things more important than one individual, things beyond ourselves. We are called to love, to endure suffering and hardship, to consider others more important than ourselves. We are promised joy, in this world and the new one.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life, take and eat." He said, "Follow me, take my yoke and learn from me, I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Don't you know? I have come to give life and give it abundantly."

Those who believe in Jesus are in Jesus. Truly, this is a relief. I'd rather be covered by the Creator of the Universe than place the Creator in the box of my heart, deciding myself when to pull him out.

Choosing the whole Good News of the Kingdom of God, choosing the loaf,
k8t
k8t(at)faceofagirl(dot)com
P.S. The Good News of the Kingdom of God is not something to just hear or read. The "Good News of the Kingdom of God" is a verb.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed or linked copy: By Kaet Johnson. © faceofagirl.com. Website: faceofagirl.com