For the Gospel.

In John, an angel preaches the “eternal gospel” (Rev 14:6). It is eternal because the Gospel of God is the Gospel of the immortal king of ages (1 Tim 1:17). For this reason, it is entirely possible to be for the Gospel forever. And so an alliance for the Gospel does not end—ever. The good news will remain good even in heaven, and there we will have the reality of its promise before our eyes.

Some have found the idea of Gospel-centeredness as too limiting. One might argue that it prevents Christians from engaging in larger societal movements—important ones at that. Others might argue that being Gospel-centred is a recipe for tolerating mischief. So the list might go with its objections.

Here is the thing. In a technological society, full of scientific description, we sometimes over complicate the Gospel. But I find the simplicity of the Gospel delightful. So that when the Philippian jailor asks, what must I do to be saved, Paul and Silas answer simply: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:21). That does not mean we stop there. We make disciples and teach all that Jesus taught (Matt 28:19–20).

For this reason, theology can be and should be deep and sometimes complex given the kind of God we worship. But orthodoxy is a hand on a shoulder and an open gate that directs one unto the path, not a club or a fence. We use theology as an arm around a shoulder to show our love for one another, and we open the gate unto the righteous path for others to walk.

How does this answer the Gospel-centred critiques above? Indirectly. So let me be more direct. The Bible has a lot to say about how we live the Christian life and it focuses on being in Christ (Gal 2:20). That Christ-centered mode of life amounts to living a Gospel-centred life since the good news basically amounts to the Father sending the Son to redeem the world and the Spirit to unite the church to Christ.

That is what the early Christians thought, and so the earliest creeds and Rule of Faith summed up the Gospel under four heath: Father, Son, Spirit, and Church. And the church could really be subsumed under the article of the Spirit. God is the Gospel; Christ is God revealed; the Gospel means we unite to Christ.

It is actually quite important to be Gospel-centred since the church—to one degree or another—has emphasized the Gospel at the centre.

It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our minds, hearts, and lives by believing the gospel more and more deeply as life goes on.

Moreover, the argument that Gospel-centred Christians cannot engage culture or change society amounts to a misunderstanding of grace and nature. Grace perfects but does not destroy nature. So the Gospel perfects without reducing or demolishing what is a natural good. That means: go into civil government since that is good; go into farming because that is beneficial; stop injustice for that is just.

There may be a priority of importance, but helping the orphan in distress is always naturally good. Christians with the Spirit should not become less willing to do natural good but more willing.

Love your neighbour. Love your enemy. Love sinners. God did: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). And no, you don’t show love by railing against a person. You show love when you speak the truth lovingly (Eph 4:15). And you speak to people like Jesus did.

It is true that Jesus spoke hard words to religious leaders who should have believed him but didn’t. They had willingly rejected the truth that they ought to have known, being teachers of Israel. But those average folk that Jesus met—he loved and spoke tenderly too.

Jesus spoke gently to the woman at the well who was open to following him and the rich young ruler who was not. He gave time to each, and he spoke words of life. One received them, the other did not.

Jesus is meek and lowly. He loves everyone. He loves the world—even if we call God our enemy (John 3:16; Rom 8:7). Out of love for humanity or what early Christians called God’s attribute of philanthropy, God sent him into the world to save it. Jesus makes this very point in the Gospel of John: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Paul too explains, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

In the end, love along with faith and hope are cardinal virtues. The greatest of these virtues is love (1 Cor 13:13).

By setting ourselves up against other people, we misunderstand the real enemy. The devil likes this division, and he also likes when we do not resist him. Give into hate of neighbour, give in to the devil’s schemes. He’s a liar. He wants you to find excuses.

You may think you are speaking the truth which is love or you might claim that it is righteous indignation. That is possible, of course. And yet: “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). And speaking the truth might be loving but it does not excuse from also lovingly telling the truth: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful” (1 Cor 13:4–5).

Any husband talking to his wife (or vice versa) knows that telling the truth to a spouse means much more when done tenderly and kindly. On the other hand, if your first reaction to being challenged for your irritability is, “You are being the tone police,” then might I just say that this is probably a defensive knee-jerk reaction. You are likely being irritable. And so repent and move on.

So in this divided world where we live, find friends to unite around a common and eternal cause: the Gospel. Be against the devil and his works (sin). And love your neighbour as yourself. The Bible is clear on these things, but the world draws us into squabbles and battles over almost everything. Resist the devil. He will flee. Then accept one another as Christ accepted us (Rom 15:7).