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The sad fact is too many people who say, “Just preach the gospel” in response to social injustices have yet to go to disadvantaged communities next door and actually preach the gospel, have yet to plant churches in those communities, have yet to even pray for those communities /1
I can say this because in railing about all the problems with “those people” and “those communities” I’ve simply asked, “When is the last time you went and shared the gospel with them? How often are you praying for them?”
Blank stares in return. /2
Blank stares in return. /2
Hear me, I love the gospel. I love my brothers and sisters who love the gospel. But we gotta be honest and admit that some of us use the retort of “just preach the gospel,” even unwittingly, to deflect the challenge to love our neighbor in ways we find uncomfortable /3
Using the retort may sound like we’re standing for truth. It may sound like we’re defending a ministry philosophy. I trust many are sincerely are trying to protect the gospel, but all the while folks are—whether consciously or not—pitting faith and works against each other. /4
All the while, folks are shaming brothers and sisters who are trying to sincerely love their neighbor. In so doing, those who use the “just preach the gospel” retort are compounding the suffering of others by discouraging and distracting the folks who are trying to serve them. /5
It may sound pious to say, “Just preach the gospel,” but it’s a hollow claim, a sham, if we’re not actually loving the broken whom we claim to be so concerned about. /6
We all have different roles to play. If you wanna preach the gospel then go for it! But make sure your prejudices aren’t keeping you from only preaching to one type of person or community. /7
Make sure you’re not reducing the Christian life simply to a message of workless faith. “For faith by itself, if it does have works, is dead” (James 2:17) /8
In conclusion, I’ll end with @LigonDuncan’s helpful summary:
“Anti-racism is not the Gospel, but the Gospel is anti-racism, and racism is anti-Gospel, hence heresy of the deepest dye.”
9/9
“Anti-racism is not the Gospel, but the Gospel is anti-racism, and racism is anti-Gospel, hence heresy of the deepest dye.”
9/9
