Does The Gospel Really Have Any Power? (Part 2)
Apr 17
In the first post on this subject a week or so ago, I made the case that the Gospel doesn’t have any real power unless there is faith. Today, the point I want to make is that the Gospel doesn’t have any real power unless there is weakness.
Does this mean that Christianity or the Gospel is a crutch for the weak? In a sense, yes. I think you could say that.
Most people use that phrase as if it is a derogatory statement. They are implying that us weak people need something like the Gospel, but they are not weak like us. To someone who sees themselves strong, or a self-made person, the Gospel is not needed or desired.
Is it possible to build a successful life without the Gospel? Is it possible to have meaning and purpose in life without the Gospel? Is it possible to build a successful church without the Gospel? Yes, yes, and yes. Jesus even says that we can build our house on the rock or sand. Both can be built, but which one will last?
Both will stand for quite some time. It’s not until the time of testing comes that one will fall. Some people’s house (not built on the sand) will endure their entire life on earth, and will only fall when the test of eternity comes. Jesus says everyone will be salted with fire (Mark 9:49).
In that moment, will what you’ve built last in eternity?
Many of those who have built on something other than the Gospel feel quite secure with what they have. The Gospel then is a threat to them. It requires tearing everything down and starting all over. Some people are more than willing to do so, because as they build, they recognize that it’s not working. While seen as a frustration, this is actually a blessing. It’s those whose lives are working for them who I worry about. They feel they have no need to tear down and start all over. They do not feel weak at all.
But the Gospel does its work in those who recognize their weakness. For these people, there is no greater power than that which is found in the Gospel. It has eternal power. And nothing can stand in its way–not even Satan or hell itself.
Just a few verses to consider along this point:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5:
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
But Jesus said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Matthew 5:3:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 8:35-36
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Isaiah 40:28-31:
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Those who hope in the Lord, and put their trust in Him for salvation–they are those who experience the power of the Gospel. Yes, we are weak and are considered by others as nobodies and fools. We are considered by many to be weak, immature, and pitiful. They do not realize that although they may have a nice house, it is not built on the foundation, and it will crumble one day.
I don’t know if this is a Bible verse or not, but if not, it ought to be inserted somewhere in Proverbs: It is better to have a small, plain house built on a sure foundation than to have a mansion full of riches built on a foundation that is slowly crumbling over time.
And now for a poem/song along these lines:
Some people have their life all planned
They spend their time building something so grand
Satan has them eating right out of his hand
Cuz they place their trust in fading riches and land
But blessed are those who obey My command
They build their house on the rock, not the sand.
Both can be built, but which one will stand?
Blessed are those who hear and understand.
Well that wraps up my two-part series on the power of the Gospel. My next series of blogs will investigate building one’s church on the Gospel.
First, I agree wholeheartedly. I am nothing without Him, and neither is anyone else. The path to salvation through Christ is one of humility and sacrifice. If I cannot accept that my all is worthless and give it up to Him, then my faith is not complete.
I wish there were a different way to say this than with the word “weakness,” though. Just to clarify, I don’t think you are presenting this wrong or anything. It’s just that modern Christianity is already so feminized…
Do you get what I’m saying?
Are you saying women are weak? I’m surprised this comment has gone unanswered for one full day! Audra must not have read it yet… 🙂
Seriously, I understand what you mean regarding how many people have feminized the Christian faith, although that’s not what I’m trying to describe here. (Sounds like a great idea for a new post down the road!) I would suggest that the child-to-Father analogy would be a better representation for what I’m attempting to articulate. Does that make you feel masculine again? 🙂
In my experience, even strong women prefer to be with men who they perceive to be stronger than they are. Also, it’s okay to be a victim if you are a woman, though you are someone to admire if you can rise above it. If you are a man, you lose a bit of your manliness if you allow yourself to become a victim. Rising above it isn’t to be admired so much as it is to be expected. Finally, a very touchy subject for some, but still… If a woman submits to her husband’s will, that is usually considered respectable even now. Feminist or not, men who constantly submit to their wives are not generally viewed as very manly.
Women have the option to be weak. Men really don’t. Therefore, to tell a man he has to be weak to accept the Gospel really is asking him to go against his nature. “Submission” and “masculine” do not typically fit in the same sentence. I know that didn’t really need clarified, but there it is. 🙂
The problem I have is that your main point is spectacular and I really don’t know how to deal with it (and haven’t known even before you made it). Humility is one of the most important things that is necessary to truly accept God. How do I be humble and submissive and yet strong and masculine at the same time? For the longest time I thought God simply expected femininity because of stuff like this. Now that I know better I want to know better.
BTW, I do like the child-to-father analogy. It is probably more apt, anyway.
LOL, actually I did not get around to reading this post until today so that is why I am late in responding! I will say, luckily for Drew, I am not so much of a feminist as I used to be 🙂 (That’s actually incorrect–I am a feminist in the strict definition, which is just that I feel women are as valuable as men and should be on an equal playing field when it comes to rights and work, etc., but I’m not a feminist in the way that most people think of when they think of a ‘feminist’ so I no longer try to describe myself as such.)
Anyway, most of these verses are some of my favorite. I used to strongly resist the idea that I should be “meek” (I tend to think of this word instead of “weak.”) But as I’ve gotten older I’ve come to wish I was more meek. More patient. More aware of my own limitations. “Slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger.”
I am sure Drew is right about the problem men would have with the idea that they must be weak. I agree with him that most women (maybe all?) don’t want to be with a weak man. But the Bible is pretty clear about a man’s role as the spiritual leader of his home. I think men should be masculine, as God made them to be. (Isn’t there a book about that? I can’t remember the name…was really popular a couple of years ago.) A man can be strong and masculine in many ways while also remaining poor in spirit which really just means “in great spiritual need.” But maybe this isn’t the best topic to start with when speaking to a man who is not a Christian or who is a new Christian, someone who has a different idea of the meaning of the word “weak.”
I only added this part because Tim wanted me to …I really think that I am not a man and therefore wasn’t going to comment on it, but he saw what I deleted and wanted me to put it back, so there. Submission in action. LOL
LOL
Well, if Tim told you to… 🙂
I don’t particularly disagree with anything here, but I think this is one area that’s going to naturally be a struggle for men. Admitting need is acknowledging weakness or failure.
That’s all. I’ll drop the issue from here. 🙂