The term 'Gospel' gets used a lot, I've found, amongst Christians.  We talk about 'preaching' the Gospel, 'sharing' the Gospel, 'taking' the Gospel.  Then there are terms like 'the Gospel truth' as if this form of truth is somehow truer than any other truth.  But what do we mean when we say that word 'Gospel'?

It's clear that the word 'Gospel' is shorthand for something.  I suspect it's often meant to be used in place of 'we're sinners before a Holy God and Jesus came to die on the cross so that we can be forgiven and go to heaven', or something along those lines.

This is also sometimes known as the four spiritual laws or something similar.  Basically, this is a reductionist Gospel and there is a need in these days to reclaim a more holistic Gospel.  It seems to me that the Gospel, or Good News, that Jesus preached was not the shorthand version we often end up with.  He declared that 'the Kingdom of God (or Heaven) is at hand'.  He calls us to live under God's rule and reign which involves the whole of our lives.  This was in contrast and conflict to the kingdom (empire) of Rome and all the subsequent kingdoms/empires of this world.  If we are to be a people of Good News we need a more holistic approach to our faith: one that seeks the kingdom and is lived out in all areas of life.  This has to do with issues of lifestyle and belonging: things that people connect to in these days.

A simple Gospel may still work for some in certain situations but for others a more holistic approach is needed.  Life has become far more complex and involved and we need to share a Gospel that reflects and speaks into these complexities.

 Colin Marriott                                                             07.09.2008  

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 Greenbelt 2008             

I made the not too long trek to Greenbelt twice this year, visiting the Cheltenham Racecourse over the August Bank Holiday: once with Dan on the Friday night and on my own on the Sunday.  As I found last year, I had a great time with many highlights.  I managed to hear Brian McLaren speak on 'Post Modern and Post Colonial' - a great talk on how things are shifting culturally in both the western world and also the Global South.

Brian is of course something of a father figure for the emerging church but his perspectives go beyond that and help us to see global issues and change through the lens of a more holistic Gospel.

I then got to hear Keith Ward speak.  He's a retired Oxford Professor who exposed some of the flaws in Richard Dawkins' book 'The God Delusion' - quite a brilliant talk.  He has written a book - something of a response to Dawkins entitled 'Why there is almost certainly a God'. 

Musically there was much to enjoy.  One of the things I love about Greenbelt is discovering bands and singers you've not heard before, but you walk into a tent or visit the main stage and find you really enjoy their music.  Some of the highlights for me were: Michael Weston-King, Martyn Joseph, Helen J Hicks and Brian Houston.  The latter gave an outstanding performance in the aptly titled 'Performance Cafe' on the Sunday evening.

Then there was the Larry Norman tribute event with various singers and speakers offering musical and spoken tributes to Larry, who died earlier this year. 

So this was a journey well worth making and, no doubt, one I'll be making next year as well.