The Fifth Gospel

The Fifth Gospel of Christ

I have a precious little notebook in which I have gathered notes, quotes and reflections from listening to Ravi Zacharias. Some of his quotes and anecdotes have jolted me into rapturous laughter. Others have taken me into days of contemplation, shaken me into introspection and scratched me with guilt and embarrassment. 

A few days ago, whilst listening to one of his messages on Christian Ethics in a secular world, Ravi referred to a powerful quote by Rodney ‘Gypsy’ Smith. After hearing it for the first time, I hit the pause button, moved the player a few seconds back and then played it again. The message was about 50minutes long but I couldn’t focus on anything else as the quote kept ringing in my head.  

“There are five gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Christian. Most people will never read the first four.” 

As I began to think of the kind of ‘gospel’ the world have read in and through my life, I realized that I have corrupted the script. And maybe, that is where the problem really begins. The label ‘Christian’, when it was first used in Antioch, came as a high compliment. The secular world had encountered a peculiar people who possessed the nature of the preacher from Nazareth called Christ. It made sense therefore to call them Christians. Like Christ. The itinerant group did not announce their identity with megaphones, flyers, t-shirts, wrist bands or placards. In fact, they didn’t have to because the people of Antioch could read who they were for themselves.  Their lifestyle was their strongest apologetics. In our day, however, the story is different. 

I dare say that the Christian is the most powerful gospel. As Gypsy Smith pointed out, most people will never read the first four for reasons such as religious restrictions and illiteracy but they will most likely meet a Christian in their lives. Perhaps, this is why Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Corinth that they were letters of recommendation to the world. What about us? What about you? What about me? 

The fatal deviation of the contemporary Christian from the nature of Christ discourages more people from pursuing the God we profess. The world surely likes our Christ but it doesn’t like the Christian. All that Christ preached, we now violate and defend with customized and handpicked verses from the Bible. The church has become a market square for the sale of salvation and spiritual commodities instead of a hospital for the sick and broken. It has become a five-star facility for the exhibition of opulence and prosperity instead of an inn for the poor and heavy-laden. 

Until we return to basics and realize that Christianity is more than a ceremonial badge and strive to live up to the expectations conferred on us by the name of Christ, the world will mock us. If our lives do not reflect the light, hope and glory of Christ, what shall we offer to the world as an invitation to a higher life? If we violate the readiest criteria of our faith namely love, joy, peace, modesty, temperance, and charity to all men why should the world take us seriously?