Defining Church, Part 8(B): Reviewing the GOSPEL

Defining Church, Part 8(B): Reviewing the Gospel

Considerations and Context for Church Building

1) Understanding the “whole counsel” of God

2) The Issue of Leadership

3) The Issue of Vision

4) Reviewing the Gospel (Part 8B)

Last week we laid some thoughts and definitions around the whole issue of the Gospel. It became clear that the issue of understanding the gospel is critical for the development of church. Here are some of the things that we identified:

· The word “gospel” simply means “a good message”.

· The Gospel is the Total and Collective Instruction of God to Humanity (a message from God), established progressively throughout generations through the mechanism of revelation of Christ.

· Almost every time we see the word “gospel” (in the Bible) we also see the word “kingdom”. It is therefore impossible to separate the reality of the kingdom from this issue of the Gospel.

· The point of departure in proclaiming the gospel is not the ability to preach but it is the possession of an understanding of the kingdom of God.

· The kingdom of God is a governmental system of definition, regulation and development of human life through Christ.

The Gospel is Universal

Revelation 14:6

6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people. NIV

The Gospel is not the instruction of God designed for the Third World Societies or for those who are economically poor. The Missionary Mindset has seen people leave “the first world” unattended to come to Africa and other poor parts of the Globe to proclaim the Gospel.

The Gospel is God’s Instruction to Humanity concerning the correct pattern of human existence. “Correctness” here is defined by God Himself. Everything built must be consistent with His own nature (Rom 1:20). And so it is the Materialistic-Missionary mindset that assumes that it is only the poor who need to hear the Gospel. In this season as God appears in what is regarded as “Third World Nations”, we shall see again the Gospel being sent back to Europe and America. The Gospel is not a pack of material hand-outs from God to the poor; the Gospel is the proclamation of correct design of life. In this context, the proclamation of the Gospel is an apostolic mandate because the apostolic grace allows us to stand as God’s Architects (1 Cor 3:10) to comprehend correct design of life.

All nations, rich and poor need to understand correct design of life. In fact within the context of Global Political Balance, the rich nations are responsible directly or indirectly for the conditions of poor nations. If the rich nations understood correct design of life, we would be seeing a more just Global Humanity.

2 Corinthians 8:13-15

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

NIV

Luke 3:10-11

10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

NIV

The Kingdom proclaims the principle of redistribution of resource from the rich to the poor (this is one important portion of “kingdom ideology”). And so therefore the proclamation of the Gospel to the rich nations must serve to “judge” them of their reluctance to release resource and ensure fair conditions in the development of Global Humanity. It is in fact important for those proclaiming the Gospel to understand that the kingdom is not looking into particular interests of certain nations; the kingdom of God is focused on Equitable Development of Global Humanity. So kingdom ideology does not proceed from nationalistic interest but from a position of developing Global Humanity. Positions of Nationalism (no matter how good they may seem) produce things like xenophobia (as we saw right inside of our country, South Africa) and hinder Global Development of Humanity.

1 Peter 3:7

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

NIV

Just as we see in 1 Pet 3:7, Kingdom Ideology proclaims a world in which the strong and the weak can co-exist without the strong using their power to oppress and deprive the weak of their resources. In a sense, the message here is that the weak does not exist to serve the interests of the strong nations. The rich nations of the 21^st century need to understand this Gospel in order to restructure their international relations orientation and policies.

Ezekiel 34:20-23

20 "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. NIV

According to Ezek 34, God actually takes keen interest in human and nations relations, to see if those strong nations (fat sheep) are using their strength to deprive the weak nations (lean sheep) of resources. There is a lot of Kingdom Education that needs to take place in what is known as “the first world” nations. This demands a people (Prophets and Apostles) who will go into these territories to proclaim the Gospel – to do something more than just a Tent Outreach, but to actually establish Systems of Kingdom Education with a view of ushering in a new political dispensation.

So the Gospel is universal and speaks into all areas of human life (politics, economics etc.) and not only on “spiritual matters”. We will see later that the prophets declared the Gospel by talking about issues like Justice.

The Gospel in the Abrahamic Dispensation

Galatians 3:8

8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." NIV

In our effort to broaden and purify our view of the Gospel, we have to go back to the Old Testament and see some realities that existed long before this thing called church existed and long before we heard somebody proclaim a message of salvation to us.

Gal 3:8 is making reference to a series of God’s utterances to Abraham. It therefore is important to go back and look at what God said and how did Abraham interact with the Gospel?

Defining the Gospel - Let us see what God said to Abraham:

Genesis 12:1-4

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you."

4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. NIV

Since Paul says (in Gal 3:8) that God announced the Gospel to Abraham, let us then see what exactly did God announce?

· Embracing the Gospel begins with leaving (not just sin) but “your country and your father’s household” (vs.1): God expects that we build a church that does not only emphasise departure from sins but also from the very cultures, perspectives, values, ideologies and philosophies prevalent in our land (Rom 12:2). Our traditional spiritual orientation as believers says that we can leave sin but sit comfortably in our native cultures (Zulu, Xhosa, English, Afrikaans etc.), this goes against the fundamental principles of salvation (1 Pet 1:18). The preservation of these cultures inside the church is what has caused segregation that we are seeing. In South Africa particularly, we have a church that is built along ethnic, racial and class lines. People associate in the church based on the colour of their skin, their socio-economic class etc. Eph 2:14-16 tells us that one of things God wants to do is to remove “the dividing wall of hostility (e.g. cultural differences etc.) and produce one new man (i.e. an integrated global human existence) in the earth. Eph 4:13 says that we must come to “the unity of the faith”. This does not only speak of a people who believe in the same Jesus but it actually defines an integrated life in Christ. The way we receive new converts in the faith cannot just focus on behavioural sins, this is a limited shallow gospel. The way we receive new converts in the church must look broadly into the cultural and ideological orientations of these, so that we usher them into kingdom culture, perspective and ideology.

· I will make you into a great nation: the Gospel is focused on the formation of a NATION (1 Pet 2:9) in the earth and not simply a group of church organisations whose people meet on Sunday. Although the church is not a Geo-Political Nation, it is however a nation. This “nationhood” of church implies that we have to build an entire System of Citizenship in the earth that is consistent with Kingdom Principles. We have to build to the point where church is recognised outside of the church service. We have to build such that even if church services were to be banned church would still exist. The building of a nation of God brings us to the reality of kingdom politics for it is a political function. This basically means that the grace (resource, wisdom or capacity from God) we need to build a nation is different to the grace to build a church organisation. As mentioned before, nationhood means that we have a mandate to establish an entire system of human existence, an entire system of Citizenship in the earth whose “way of life” is consistent with the very nature of God. This is our mandate and until a church rises in the earth to fulfil this, Jesus cannot come back (Acts 3:21).

· I will bless you and make your name great: the first thing we have to note about God talking about “blessing us” is that there is a context of the blessing. The context is in fulfilling the demand of God to “come out and become a nation among nations”. The issue here is not God just blessing our individual ambitions. The second issue is that blessing is not primarily a release of material-financial resource, “blessing” is about God allowing us to occupy correct positions of life in the earth, that make us to be in a good standing before God. For example, Jesus said “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness” (Matt 5:10). That is, blessing is seen in one’s state of life and not primarily in his material resources. Thirdly, the blessing is about God releasing grace that allows us to build stable and sustainable life in the earth. The word translated as “prosperity” in Jer 29:7&11 actually means “to lead a stable life, welfare”. Stability of life is not achieved primarily through possessing a lot of money but through the application of God’s principles. Lastly, it is true that this “blessing” will also manifest itself materially but again the issue in God is never greed and self indulgence but to meet our collective need. A few individuals can be rich only to find that collectively we are still poor, just as we have some few rich nations and yet a crisis-stricken relatively poor global humanity. Luke 3:10&11 says “if you have two tunics share with the one who does not have; if you have food share with the one who does not have”. The implication here is that God can never bless one person for the sake of highlighting just that one person, whenever God releases a resource (money, food), He is thinking about the wider community of people (see 2 Cor 8:13-15). The grace (resource) is given to one individual so that it may be distributed to many (Eph 3:2). We therefore have not understood the concept of “blessing” until we have understood our obligation to the wellbeing of others (Luke 3:10&11). This kingdom principle and ideology goes against the basic principles of Capitalism. Those who have taken it upon themselves to teach on blessing and prosperity should be careful that they are equally teaching on kingdom communal obligations, that God sees not just individual needs but our collective need (for God so loved the world, John 3:16). If this balance is not in place, we are teaching nothing but an anti-Christ position. In a sense, the end result is not when we are blessed; it is when we become a blessing. As a matter of fact, God’s word clearly says it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Preachers of prosperity have been quick to proclaim this principle to audiences during offering times but they themselves have not practiced the principle.

· All People’s on earth will be blessed through you: this clearly means that the church (as a nation in the earth – and not just as a group of church organisations) has a socio-political responsibility over Global Humanity. Clearly, the mind of God is set on producing a NATION whose existence in the earth bears fruit not only spiritually but also politically, economically and socially. The problem currently is that churches stand begging from companies and governments when they should be adding value to the nations of the earth.

This is the gospel that Abraham heard, that saw him leave his father’s household and country.

Hebrews 11:10

10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

NIV

Heb 11:10 says that God actually revealed a city to Abraham. “A city” is a metaphor for “a system of citizenship”.

Revelation 21:1-3

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. NIV

Ezekiel 40:1-3

1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city-on that very day the hand of the LORD was upon me and he took me there. 2 In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. NIV

Hebrews 12:22

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, NIV

Church is referred to in the prophetic scriptures as a City of God. A “city” is a metaphor for Citizenship. God sees church as a System of Citizenship, not only as a place of personal salvation. This prophetic reality was revealed to Abraham (Heb 11:10). It became part of the package of his revelation. This was the gospel that was proclaimed to Abraham. In a day when the city of the world is collapsing, we need to pray to God to show us a city in His mind (Ezek 40:1-3).

Galatians 3:16

16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. NIV

Galatians 3:29

29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

NIV

These prophetic realities were revealed to Abraham. They became part of the package of his revelation. This was the gospel that was proclaimed to Abraham. According to Gal 3:16&29, we – the church, as the heir of Abraham must fulfil the promise initially given to him (Abraham) by God.

We therefore have to consider these historic prophetic realities before we even start to teach and define church on Sunday morning.

The Gospel was proclaimed by the Prophets

Romans 1:1-4

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God- 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. NIV

An understanding of the Gospel requires that we become familiar with the declarations of the Prophets as reflected in the Old Testament. It therefore requires that we cease to be just New Testament students and begin to look into Old Testament writings not as something that is now irrelevant to us.

What did the Prophets declare? A Scan through Isaiah:

· Isaiah proclaimed that God was not motivated primarily by religious gatherings but by a people who had a sense of Justice. Isaiah declared that when a people of God neglect issues of Justice, then they have fallen away and need serious repentance before God (Isa 1:10-17).

Matthew 23:23

23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. NIV

· Isaiah proclaimed that the building of church in the earth would have to be connected with a Socio-Political Cause that is Global in nature, where church begins to define correct patterns of human existence (Isa 2:1-4).

· Isaiah proclaimed the Lord’s intent to cut down and destroy His own people in the earth “until the cities lie ruined and without an inhabitant…” Isaiah continues to say “but as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land” (Isa 6:8-13). God’s intent is to shake the church first (Heb 12:25-29, 1 Pet 4:17), it is to shake the pillars of the temple (Amos 9) before He shakes those of the nations so that we can have “the holy seed” again inside the church. God is not driven by numbers (even though He desires for many to be saved) but by correct representation inside His church. He could destroy an entire generation of Noah to only be left with 8 people (1 Pet 3:20). The Lamb must appear on Mount Zion (a place of perfection and correct human life) with the 144000 who have His name (i.e. His nature) on their foreheads (i.e. correct kingdom mentalities), Rev 14:1. It is time to put a seal on the foreheads of these servants of God (Rev 7:3), who even though are 144000 (remnant) but cannot be counted (Global), Rev 7:9. This is a “Global Remnant” that must emerge as a Correct Representation of God in the earth. These are they who come from every tribe of Israel (James 1:1), the true spiritual Israelites (Rom 2:28-29, Zech 8:23) who understand the principle of “battling with God until they are transformed into His nature” (Gen 32:26-28). This “Global Remnant” comes from “all tribes of Israel”, i.e. they have the fullness of the prophetic seed that Jacob and Moses spoke of when they prophesied to the tribes (see Gen 49 and Deut 33) or the fullness of the dimensions of Christ (Eph 4:13). This “Global Remnant” is getting ready to come to a “Point of Convergence” in Zion, the City of God (Ps 122:3-4). This remnant, the Holy Seed, is the Hope of the Nations.

· Isaiah (like other prophets) proclaimed the God of Justice. Our God is known as the God of Justice (Isa 30:18). God is raising a church that will administer justice (Isa 42:1).

Isaiah 42:1

1

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him

and he will bring justice to the nations.

NIV

The psalmist confirms this:

Psalms 72:1-2

1 Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice, O God,

the royal son with your righteousness.

2 He will judge

your people in righteousness,

your afflicted ones with justice.

NIV

Justice defines equitable human existence. God is putting “His Spirit on us” so we can begin to see Him as a God of Justice. There is new fresh revelation coming from God that empowers us to begin to step into realms of kingdom politics so that we can go out to the nations and proclaim His word. This is the Gospel, to proclaim Justice to the nations (see also Isa 33:5). Justice must dwell in the desert, i.e. places that are known for political, economic and social injustice must be transformed through the proclamation of the Gospel of Justice to the nations. (Isa 32:16).

Isaiah 51:4-5

4 "Listen to me, my people;

hear me, my nation:

The law will go out from me;

my justice will become a light to the nations.

5 My righteousness draws near speedily,

my salvation is on the way,

and my arm will bring justice to the nations.

The islands will look to me

and wait in hope for my arm.

NIV

These high voltage prophetic declarations demand a new spiritual orientation and a transformed church generation that has the capacity to hear God afresh as He redefines us in the earth.

* For more clarity on this article, it is advisable to revisit Parts 2&3 of this series.