Imitating Christ — Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom

Is Christianity relevant in postmodern times? Do we try to make it relevant through our commitment to follow Christ? Do we fish for people, or do we stop to look at the world as a gigantic aquarium full of human beings condemned to an eternity without Christ?

What does it mean to walk with Jesus in a world where the culture is indifferently ignorant of Christ and offensively hostile to his teachings? What convictions establish us as Christians and enable us to affirm and share the values of the Kingdom? Sadly, many still see and defend Christianity—including churches—only as something that offers a perspective teaching moral values the world cannot offer. I call this holiness dressed up in formal attire, or a Christianity focused on behavior rather than on the transformation of lives by God’s grace. A new kind of Pharisaism.

And because there are still not many who urge nominal Christians to get on their feet and search the trunk of their memories for a hook and bait, Christianity today is completely irrelevant to many people “out there.” The only biblical way to transform society is to bring people to the feet of Christ, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom: one gospel, not sectarian, not denominational, only and exclusively of the Kingdom.

Evangelical churches arise announcing that “the signs of the end times are already visible,” and they merely lift their eyes to heaven as though crying out for mercy, but they have forgotten to “go,” to “send,” to obey the Great Commission (Matthew 28). The word of truth spoken by Jesus has remained in their minds and plans, but only on an intellectual level: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Mt 24:14). Some are more concerned about “the coming of the end” than about the gospel.

Recently God led me to read a tremendous verse: “For we are the fragrant aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved…” (2 Cor 2:15). If we know that the adversary and god of this world has blinded people’s minds so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of Christ (2 Cor 4:4), then why do we not imitate Christ by seeking the lost so they may be transformed by the power of the Spirit? Why do we not commit ourselves to spreading that fragrant aroma with humility, for the glory of the living God, Jesus Christ our Lord? Faith is not a slogan, but involvement in God’s mission to transform people’s lives in society, to permeate society wisely with the Word, to saturate it with a call to trust in the only hope. No one can bear witness to such hope without having Christ. Having Christ is enough.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim the gospel…” (Lk 4:18). And is the Spirit who anointed Jesus not the same one who has anointed his people? Or is there a special anointing for being sent to announce the good news? It is about imitating Christ…no one else. He remains the center of the whole universe, and no one else can take that place.

Imitating Christ by proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom is the beginning of every hope for the transformation of this world. Christianity is relevant in its own right because of its message of faith and hope in Christ, intended for every creature. But there is a Christianity out there that presents a complacent face, guarding the status quo, and says, “I have faith and believe in Christ, but I have no idea how God can work through me.” Sanctified by the word of truth, we are anointed by the Spirit to do it, called to announce the glorious gospel just as Christ did. Imitate Him!

God bless you!