Monday 24 November 2008

Background

The writer of this remarkable book often spoke (so it seems) inriddles - but perhaps that was because he had no choice in thematter. If he spoke more openly then the consequences for hiscommunity (the early Church, under persecution from the Romans)could be disastrous. Everything had to be said in coded language.The code, moreover, often involved bizarre symbolism. If it wasdesigned to conceal its meaning from the Roman authorities, it ishardly surprising that we find it baffling and even (sometimes)repellent.

These two verses seem plain enough however, even though thedescription is somewhat dramatic. Strip out the hype and we find aclaim that an eternal gospel (the good news of Jesus) is to beproclaimed to every race, tribe, nation and language. The word'gospel' is a specifically Christian word, so it seems to suggestthat in some triumphalist sense the Christian gospel is going to beproclaimed to the whole world;there's one truth and it's theonewe have.

It is hard to deny that this is part of the Christian picture. Oneof the recurring themes in Christian conversation is the claim thatJesus is the 'one and only' way of salvation (eg John 14:6). Can wefind a way of proclaiming that Jesus is incomparably the best goodnews (gospel) for us and for any who are willing to offer him theirallegiance, while acknowledging that there is genuine truth andholiness in other traditions?

Verse 7 reminds us that the judgement is not ours to make. TheChristian community is required to tell its story oftransformation. It is not invited to sit in judgement - that isGod's prerogative.

To Ponder

Is it possible to proclaim Christ to and for all,in a way that truly invites rather than threatens other people?How?

Do you find it hard to restrain yourselves fromacting as God's 'judge'? How could you remind yourself that this isnot your allocated role…?