I appreciate the comments on my previous post. I think we all agree on the need to proclaim repentance as part of evangelism. Both John the Baptist and Jesus began their preaching by saying “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2, 4:17). In Acts, Peter called for repentance in his first two major sermons (Acts 2:38, 3:19).

Even The Four Spiritual Laws, the Gospel presentation which begins with “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” (Law #1) goes on to say that “Man is sinful and separated from God” (Law #2), and that “Jesus Christ is God’s ONLY provision for man’s sin” (Law #3).

But the fact that I’m a sinner isn’t part of the Good News, is it? Rather, it is the bad news that I need to hear before I can understand the Gospel as GOOD News. In our “I’m-OK, You’re-OK” culture, this bad news needs to be emphasized because people don’t want to accept their depravity before God. But it isn’t the whole truth about us, of course. Instead, the Bible holds in tension two facts about us. We are created in God’s image, and we are sinful; God loves us but cannot tolerate sin in his presence; or (as Shane Claiborne puts it) we are beautiful and we are wretched.

This Sunday, I’ll be using Bill Hybels’ illustration of the cross as the bridge between us and God. A gap separates us from God, and no amount of effort on our part can possibly bridge the gap. But what we are powerless to do, God DID.

What about talking to people about what God can DO for us? Is this a capitulation to our self-centered culture? I can only answer that Jesus did this. Extravagantly. “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters…will fail to receive a hundred times as much…” (Mark 10:29-31). “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-30). “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).