If you’ve been in church for a while, I want to say
something that may strike you as a bit off-putting. But it needs to be said:
Some
things in the Bible are more important than others.
For the all-star church member, I hope you haven't stopped reading yet - I do have an explanation. Others of you might be cheering and dancing because you didn’t really like Leviticus all that
much anyway.
But before you pack up or start celebrating, let me make
sure you understand something: all of Scripture is important. It is true, it is
from God, and we are bound to understand and apply it without leaving out
anything. It is the "mirror" which reveals the areas in which we need to grow - a vital tool for the Optical Lumberjack. (James 1:21-25)
However, there are some things in Scripture which come first
in importance. If we miss the things which matter most, then we'll end up trying to seek and obey God in ways that he never intended. (That's why people misunderstand Leviticus).
This is what Paul himself says in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. He
says the Gospel is of first importance. It is foundational for everything else about our life and
walk with God. Check out what he says:
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... (NASB)
Did you catch that? The Gospel is of first importance. Don’t
think that the rest of Scripture is unimportant, it is not. But the Gospel comes first.
When we talk about being an "optical lumberjack" and trying to live as Christians, it is imperative that we don't assume this point. Living rightly cannot happen apart from God, it only happens when we first encounter the risen Christ, who died for our sins, and believe in Him. The is the fountainhead for every aspect of Christian living.
There are an alarming number of people in churches who are not clear on
the most important thing in the Bible. It's good to pray, to read your Bible, to help those in need, and to stand up for truth. But if we miss the Gospel, we miss everything!
Paul understood that, he understood that the Gospel was the
hope of all men, including himself. Have you?
The Gospel is fuel for Christian living, because Christ himself is at it's center. When we know that we are forgiven and accepted by Christ, we
don’t have to beat ourselves up for failing. We have the courage to admit that plank in our eye is real, because Jesus loves us. Then Christ provides the power to pull it out through confession and repentance: He died to make it so.
This is good news with which we can never grow bored, because it's the most important thing in all of Scripture.
It should.
-BJ
Some great Christ-Centered resources:
- The Story - a brief and interactive introduction to the truth of the Gospel.
- Gospel Formed, by J.A. Medders (devotional).
- Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary, by J.D. Greear
