Seeing the Gospel With New Eyes

• Bonifresh Muhollo

Apr 19, 2017 1648

If we were to look at the history of the Christian church, we would see that since the birth of Christianity there have been rivals all over the world. Each of these brought believers to a greater comprehension of the Good News. One such revival was in the 16th century, when Luther sparked a movement that redefined people’s understanding of the Gospel.

Today, many Christians have let their religion grow cold. They have forgotten the heart and good news of the Gospel. We should see revivals, people being set free in the name of Jesus. But there are challenges as we try to come to an accurate understanding of the Good News. There is doubt. There is fear. We have to move from one set of beliefs to another. We have to alter our worldview. But we aren’t the first generation to face these challenges. In fact, the early Christian church faced similar problems.

Jesus had told his disciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel. The church was growing rapidly. However, the early church, as described in the book of Acts, had to deal with issues such as doubt, selfishness, hypocrisy, church politics, and leadership crisis, just like any church today. They were a church in transition. There had been a redefinition of Jewish hopes. They were presenting a new worldview.

Many of the believers had seen Jesus’s signs and miracles. They had the testimonies of the apostles themselves. However, doubt and fear were still issues. These are challenges every group in transition must face.

It was like this even for the Israelites who left Egypt in the book of Exodus. They had been born and raised in Egypt. Life was hard, but it was all they knew. They had the promise of the Promised Land. But they faced fear and doubt, at times desiring to live in Egypt where food was certain, rather than journey to a land flowing with milk and honey.

We too can feel unsure of the safety of the Promised Land. The fact that we have never been there can fill us with fear and doubt, especially when we look back at where we came from. But just like Luther, the early church, and the Israelites leaving Egypt, we too should hold onto the promises we have been given, accept the Good News that has been revealed to us, and move forward in faith. Because although deciding to go through transition may have its challenges, we will be glad we did.

– Bonifresh Muhollo