The Twisted Gospel and Messenger

Temptation tests not just the messenger, but the message.

Over the past 10 years my picture of the gospel has been changing so much that I have found it hard to listen to some of my heroes of the faith. I like to think that my “Theology is catching up to my experience of the goodness of God” and when I hear a gospel that is less than the real deal, it puts me off.

I am deeply committed to raising up a generation of disciple makers who will boldly proclaim the fullness of the gospel. It was only recently that I realised that our gospel of Jesus has been ravished not just by a lack of knowledge, but more so because of temptation.

Let me explain… In between Jesus’s baptism and the commencement of His preaching ministry is the story of His temptation. As I read the temptation narrative in Matthews gospel I realised that all of us who want to share the gospel will face the same temptations as Jesus. Not only that, but the content of the gospel we preach we will be directly impacted by the measure we have overcome each temptation.

Therefore, if we want to mobilise the Church to reach the masses with the same good news Jesus proclaimed, we’re going to need to address The Temptations that Twist the Good News.

The Temptation for Provision

“The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matthew 4:3)

After 40 days of fasting Jesus was hungry. What are you hungry for? What are you willing to do to satisfy that hunger? In The Kingdom of God we rely on God to fill us. He is the one who provides for us. This short cuts any attempt to “make it happen.”

I remember hearing Reinhard Bonnke preach one day. He said, “All religions are spelt D-O. Christianity is spelt D-O-N-E!” If we want to raise up a generation of believers who will fearlessly proclaim the gospel, it must be a DONE gospel rather than a DO gospel.

On the cross, Jesus said “It is Done!” The Apostle Paul said we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The Apostle Peter said we have everything we need for life and godliness in Christ Jesus! Therefore, we do not need anything more! We have it all already!

What is required now is faith to partake in what has already been given to us! No more striving, no more praying and fasting to receive some new gift. We can no longer make people feel good because of their own actions – even though they may be seen to be “holy”.

Rather, we proclaim that the Christian life is now an adventure in unwrapping the gifts we have already been given! The next wave of believers who share the gospel must be gifted in opening blind eyes to see what has already been given.

The Temptation for Popularity

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
(Matthew 4:5-6)

Here Jesus is tempted to reveal Himself in such a way that no one would have a choice but to follow Him. However, Jesus chose the way of humility, surrender, and service. When Jesus performed miracles, it was to reveal the love of the Father. The temptation to buy peoples allegiance prevents us from experiencing covenantal love.

T.F Torrance said, "Repentance does not change God's mind about us—it brings us into line with what God has already decided in Jesus." How radical it is when we realise that God is for us before we pledge allegiance to Him. Repentance does not force God to change His mind about our eternal destiny. Rather, repentance is when we change our mind to participate in what He has already given us! As the Apostle Paul says, “it is His kindness that leads us to repentance.”

The temptation for popularity is the fear of man requiring contractual terms for love. “If you do “this” then I will love you...” However, the covenantal love of God means there is nothing you can do about it. Whether we like it or not…

What would it look like to equip a generation of passionate disciples to boldly resist the urge to bend the knee to cancel culture and love all people without conditions? What would it look like if we all offered the same love and grace, mercy and compassion to all people regardless of their lifestyle or choices?

If we understood covenantal love, we would be safe and free to be authentic and vulnerable – and we would create spaces where others would be safe to do so as well. Even if they were “sinners.” We would create relationships where neither of us would need to “mask up” to fit in or be approved.

If we truly understood covenantal love we would be horrified at any sniff of contractual gospel theology, and instead we would be the people known for their outrageous love.

The Temptation for Power

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8-9)

Here Jesus is tempted with the allure of power and control. All that the Devil asks is that Jesus worship him. The need for power is rooted in the heart condition called Pride. It is a belief that says “I know best, and if I am in control I will be safe.” It is a demonstration of fear that God will not follow through and reveals a lack of faith in God.

C.S Lewis said, “Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.” Pride poisons us to the state where we ultimately create a god in our own image. Jesus rejected this and so should we.

Shaped by our pain, our familiar culture and poisoned by our pride, the modern evangelical gospel now looks like a mish mash of the bits that have supported our prejudice, while rejecting the radical aspects of the gospel that seeks to challenge and revolutionise the prevailing culture.

Throughout history we see that when the average man, woman or child is given the power to share the gospel revival breaks out. However, the opposite is true too. When all the power and control of the Church is held within an elevated leadership, insisting on their way or the highway, individuals are used and abused, and instead of the gospel bringing flourishing it brings a ball and chain.

If we want to break the mould and release a disciple making movement that declares the fullness of the good news of the kingdom of God, then we must part ways with power and control. Humility must become our default posture. We must empower every believer to be who God has created them to be, and we must make space for more people at the table – even those with different opinions.

To do so will require a posture that allows for mystery, difference, and others. This is humility – a faith in God that He will work all things out.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Interestingly, once Jesus had resisted these temptations Matthew tells us, “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”  Could it be that as we too overcome these temptations that we would experience a more intimate walk with God? Could it be, that as we release a people of God who have overcome these temptations that we see another great awakening?

May God open our eyes, and the eyes of all people so we can see the light and glory of Jesus Christ.