The Gospel According To Fear

For God has not given us the spirit of fear – 2Ti 1:7.

The English term “gospel” and its Greek equivalent, euangelion, both literally mean “good news”. It is used by the ancient Greeks for any “proclamation of victory”.

This seemingly technical definition of the gospel is important; because there’re many ‘gospels’ being preached in the world and right inside the church today that are NOT “Good News”.

One of these is what I call “The Gospel According To Fear”. This ‘gospel’, which operates under the paradigm of terror, has fast ensconced itself into Church dogma today.

The true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is presented as a PROMISE not a THREAT; it speaks of God’s Love, not God’s condemnation. John 3:17 says “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world.” What the World needs, is not a reiteration of its problem, but a proclamation of the solution: JESUS CHRIST.

What is this “Gospel According to Fear”? It’s any “Gospel” that emphases

Judgment and damnation over forgiveness and restoration, the threatenings of God over the Promises of God, the works and activities of the Devil over the Finished works of Christ: the punishment of Hell over the reward of Heaven.

The “Gospel of Fear” has the distinguishing characteristic of gratifying the speaker but alienating the people; because, just like all the other pseudo-gospels, it only has informative but never reformative power.

The “Gospel of Christ” is the only Gospel that is the “power of God unto salvation” (Ro 1:16). It’s the only Gospel that saves; and until we preach that gospel – and ONLY that gospel – we’ll only be informing people without giving them power to live in the righteousness that we presume to be pushing.

We need, therefore, to check our message from now on; and make sure that whatever we’re preaching is really “Good News”!

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN