Rediscovering the Gospel

Following a quotation in Jerry Bridges’ new book, The Bookends of the Christian Life (pp. 75-76), I read a moving article that I urge all of you to read. I think many of you will relate. Personally, this is the most helpful thing I’ve read about the gospel’s transforming impact on a person’s life. This man’s story helps me better grasp what God has been doing in my life the past 4 years. I will be re-reading this several times.

Pastor Joe Coffey, How a Mega-Church is Rediscovering the Gospel. Themelios. Volume 33 Issue 1.

An excerpt:

To be specific, I have found it to be incredibly challenging to give up
the belief system that has sustained me so long, one built on an
initial forgiveness and then fed through a powerful combination of
pride and fear. This pride stemmed from the performance of spiritual
disciplines, pointed to the obvious signs of success (we were, after
all, named in the fastest-growing one hundred churches!), and most of
all was fueled by the approval of others. But fear may have been an
even greater motivator: fear of being exposed as less than what people
expect; fear of not being as smart, spiritual, or competent as I should
be; fear of not measuring up; and fear of Luke 12:48, “to whom much was
given . . . much will be required.”

The belief system of a pastor is bound to come out in his preaching
at least in subtle ways. My emphasis was always on grace, but it was
also laced with the discipline of effort and inner strength to be what
God called us to be. The result was either pride or defeat. My
preaching has changed as a result of the Gospel going deeper inside of
me.

The truth is I have existed as a pastor with gods in my closet.
There were times when these gods sustained me. Giving them up has
caused more death this year than I would like to admit. The closet is
still not empty, but the death of these gods has made me ravenous.
Without the Gospel as my source of security and significance, I would
die. So as one who has vacillated between self-sufficiency and
depression, Gospel-driven transformation is both liberating and
terrifying.

There are some in our church who have not yet rediscovered the
Gospel this way. There are others who hear the terrifying part but not
the liberating part, and they sit on pins and needles. Many of them
will leave soon, I think. But there are many others who have felt the
shackles start to fall off, and, like me, they are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy.

Rediscovering the Gospel is an ongoing process. Our church is a big
ship to turn. I would never attempt to turn it if the approval of
others was as vital to me now as it was a year ago and if I hadn’t been
changed by love, by Good News. In the midst of news this good, there is
no better place to be—even if Iam rejected by some and even if
attendance falls. As a sinner-pastor, I stand in dependence on grace to
plant and water Gospel seeds, recognizing that God himself gives the
growth. In 2008, I will endeavor to preach an ever-clearer message that
is faithful to the Scriptures—and woe to me if I do not preach the
Gospel. Indeed.

You must read the whole thing.