Good news!

“Pray for me that when I speak, God will give me the words so that I can tell the secret of the Good News without fear.” Ephesians 6:19

I have Good News everyone! I would like to take a moment to share with you all the Good News about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!! Hold on… Wait… Where are you going? Come back, I was just kidding, let’s sit down and we can talk instead about the new American Idol contestants

Or maybe you’d prefer to talk about the crap season the Cowboys had and who you think will win the Superbowl this year, I’m going with my boy Troy Polamalu, Go Steelers!

Ah Christian terminology, how scary it is. I sometimes feel like ever since I became a Christian I can’t say the words “good news” without someone raising an eyebrow. “I have good news… I passed the test!” (sigh of relief from crowd) “Oh thank God. I thought she was going to start preaching to us.”

I started to write this blog last week because I was thinking of Christian terms and how uncomfortable they made me when I first started going to church, and still do some of the time.

They elicit that flight or fight response in us, similar to when you know it’s a Jehovah Witness at the door and that moment your debating whether or not to answer it. Then I found a list of words to never use when speaking to “seekers.” Surprisingly the word “seeker” was not on there. The terms to never use when talking to non-Christians are as follows…Blessed, I was Born Again, I was Saved, Jesus is my Lord, I repented, I had sinned, All are sinners, I felt convicted, and The Holy Ghost. They even went as far as to translate them for us.

I almost laughed out loud. Mainly because there is a need for said list, plus the fact that someone actually saw the aforementioned need. I thought it was a good list though, one that showed that the writer recognized the need to meet people where they are.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not making fun, ok maybe I am a little. Yes, it’s true, sometimes Christians sound silly, but I’ve learned to love terms like the Good News (which also wasn‘t on the list).

So what is the Good News?

The Bible says that it is every Christians responsibility to tell people the good news about Jesus. “Go home to your family and friends. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

So what is it?

Well historically you have to remember who these men are. These men, Jesus’ disciples, have been following Jesus around and watching him perform miracle after miracle. They saw him healing the sick, sighting the blind, they even saw him bring the dead back to life more than once. They’ve also been listening to his teaching and know now that he is the son of God. You may doubt it, but had you seen him calm the sea and walk on water I’m sure you’d be a bit more convinced. So now they are preparing for the crucifixion. Jesus is leaving them, at least in physical form, so what are the disciples expected to do now?

Like any good business man, Jesus knew that Christianity would die with him on the cross if there was no one to carry on his teachings. So he told his disciples to keep preaching keep telling the good new. ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

Now, The Good News really is good news, but when I really started to embrace the term was when someone told me what the Good News was NOT! The Good News is just that, GOOD News. “If I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or clanging bell.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 Here’s where it gets a bad wrap. Too many times Christians think Good News means fire and brimstone… Well, that’s not very good news now is it? Too many times the Good News means, to some Christians, “believe what I believe, believe what I tell you to believe!” I don’t know about you but someone telling me everything I think is wrong and everything they believe is right is not good news to me.

So how do you tell the Good News? Is it good? Tell it! “We are telling you the good news: What God promised our ancestors” Acts 13:32 Is it benefiting someone else? Tell it. Is it benefiting only you? Think twice about your motive. “Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!” 1 Corinthians 9:16

So, the Good News is all good, no bad, all frolicking through fields of wild flowers dancing in the wind with Jesus ,right? Our sins are forgiven, we can do whatever we want, right?

Well not exactly.

There is another side to the good news. One that makes a lot of people uncomfortable, including myself, but an important side none the less. This is a side I always knew about, one that made me tolerate the early morning evangelists at my door. Some of them really believed that if I did not hear it, I was going to Hell. “…you must warn them so they may live. If you don’t speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sins. But I will hold you responsible for their death.” Ezekiel 3:18

What is it then? Good News, bad news? What?

What does the Bible say about salvation? One thing I’ve known without a shadow of a doubt since joining my church is I am not interested in what Christians have to say about Christianity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to bounce ideas back and forth but their opinion is not the one that matters. I’m not interested in what the Pastor believes is the truth, as much as I love him and respect his opinion, he is not my final authority. If I am going to follow this religion I am interested in what the Bible says. And here is what the Bible says.

Salvation is this easy… "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Acts 16:31 That’s it, more or less. That’s why he came, to save you. Salvation is a free gift and you can’t do anything to earn it or to loose it once you have it. But, then again, nothing is really free. So according to The Bible, it’s your choice to take it or leave it. And if you leave it, there’s no other way. “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 So does that mean if I don’t except Jesus as my savior I’m going to Hell? According to The Bible, yes that’s what it means. But luckily The Bible also says, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

In short, if you thought Christians were know it alls who think their way is the only way, I have to admit, your pretty much right. BUT if you thought that meant that they were holier than thou, stuck ups, who think that it is practically impossible to get into Heaven, your wrong. Everyone gets in who asks to get in. “And God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into his favor and be reconciled unto him… This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others…” 2 Corinthians 5:18b In fact, it’s not even you who asks, “Here I (Jesus) am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelations 3:20 And any Christian worth his salt knows that he is no better than you or I “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

“Finally, they said to each other, "This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren't sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let's go back and tell the people at the palace." 2 Kings 7:9

Let’s recap shall we…

Good News is GOOD News.

“Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.” Proverbs 25:25

We tell it because we are excited.

“We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

I know for myself, since becoming a Christian I have met wonderful new friends, have received many awesome blessings, and have a new piece of mind that no matter what happens I’m safe, protected, and have a God who loves me and provides for me.

Being a Christian is not about being right, it’s not about being better than someone else, it’s about loving your neighbor, and doing what it right. So the next time a crazy Jesus freak asks to tell you the good news, don’t run away so fast, he might not be so bad. Or even better, now you can tell him you’ve already heard it.

“Because we loved, you we were happy not only to share God’s Good News with you but even our own lives.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8