The Entire Gospel

This morning on Twitter, one of the ministry leaders that I follow Tweeted this thought from St. Augustine

"If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself."

The thing is, people like the warm and fuzzy Jesus.  The Jesus that talks about loving our neighbors as ourselves.  The Jesus that talks about not judging others until we've examined our own motives.  The Jesus that welcomes sinners and even eats with them.  The Jesus that is full of righteous anger towards the hypocritical, judgmental Pharisees.  In many cases as we read the Gospels, Jesus seems much more palatable and easier on the ears.  Many people believe this part of the Gospel because they like it.  It makes them feel good.

And then there are entire chapters like Matthew 13 that are downright uncomfortable to read.   The warm and fuzzy Jesus gets lost and the righteous, holy Jesus steps to the forefront.  Many people reject this part of the Gospel because it's not so warm and fuzzy.  And we see that it's not really the Gospel that they believe, but themselves.  

You see, here's the deal, I believe the WHOLE gospel.  Even the parts that make me uncomfortable and afflict my complacency, arrogance and self-satisfaction.  When I read through Matthew 13, I hear Jesus talking about some very uncomfortable things:

In v.v.18-23 he talks about the fact that not everybody that hears the Gospel of salvation will grow in the Gospel.  In v.v.40-43, he talks about the harvest when He returns to judge the nations and that there will be wheat and there will be weeds, and the weeds will be thrown into the fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  And again in v.v. 49-50.  

And then in v.v. 53-58, we see that Jesus was rejected, even in his hometown of Nazareth.  

If you believe the entire Gospel like I do, Matthew 13 should disturb you.  I believe that there is a literal hell, because Jesus said there is.  But I take no comfort or satisfaction in that.  In fact, I hate it.  I hate that hell is a reality.  I hate that even Jesus - who died to forgive the sins of the entire world - tells us that hell is a reality.  I hate the fact that I know people who have, who are and who will reject Jesus. When I really consider the seriousness of it, it almost brings me to tears.  In fact, when I preach about this reality, it often does!

But it begins by preaching the Gospel to yourself, and allowing it to consume you.  If you have no desire to believe the entire Gospel, you'll have no desire to preach the entire Gospel to others.  If you believe the entire Gospel, you should have a great desire to preach the entire Gospel to others.   

For some great perspective, take 5 minutes and go watch this video from Penn Jillette.