The Message of a Missionary

Celebrated feminist Gloria Steinem is quoted as saying...

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." (Pardon her French)

That is the reaction I generally get from Christians to the truth that Jesus is the Savior of ALL mankind, that the hell of religion is a myth, and that the whole creation will be reconciled to God...but it is the teaching of the Bible...

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him...This is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...we have placed our hope in the living God who is the savior of all people...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against us, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation...in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace."  (John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15; 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 1:7)

Our Missionaries are to declare the truth about the grace of God, that Christ Jesus has Saved mankind and his blood has redeemed mankind, and his cross has reconciled all creation to God - "it is finished"!

Here, in a nutshell, is the gospel of Grace...

"...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

"God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son.” (Romans 5:10)

“For the wages of sin is death,but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20)

“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)

"...there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who have himself as a ransom for all." (1 Tim. 2:5-6)

“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men, especially believers. Prescribe and teach these things...it is finished" (1 Tim. 4:10-11; John 19:30)

Missionaries are to be sharing the above message of grace. In fact, even Missionaries are not "believers" unless they "prescribe and teach these things".  That may piss you off at first, but it it is the correct Message of grace that sets people free. And this message from God has a success rate of 100%. 

When you look outside of the box of institutional Judaism and Christianity you will find those who have always questioned the Rabbis and Theologians of their day. They are in good company, Jesus did so himself…

“You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:7-9)

Jesus was referring to the prophet Isaiah 700 years earlier…

“And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden…” (Isaiah 29:13)

One modern Christian who questioned the wisdom of religious men was George MacDonald. If you have never heard of him just make a mental note of what C. S. Lewis said about him…

“I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself. Hence his Christ-like union of tenderness and severity. I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him. But it has not seemed to me that those who have received my books kindly take even now sufficient notice of the affiliation. Honesty drives me to emphasize it."

George MacDonald believed as I do that the Bible clearly teaches that all sinful and alienated human beings will ultimately be reconciled to God even though this view had been rejected by institutional Christianity who teach the salvation of some and the damnation of all others. I particularly relate to the following statement from him about their doctrine…

“For my part, I would believe in no God rather than in such a God as is generally offered for believing in.”

George MacDonald (1824-1905)
Unspoken Sermons: Third Series (1889)

Amen!