The Simplicity of the Gospel I. Introduction A. The tendency of mankind to take a simple thing and make it more complicated 1. often discuss the "good old days" when things were "simpler" 2. cars easier to fix before computers in them became popular B. Certainly true in religious affairs, to the detriment of the Gospel 1. God's Word is basic and simple 2. Man complicates the matter through many means 3. speech, organization, hierarchy, etc. C. Admission as much by denominations 1. reference to the "early church" pre-300 CE as the "primitive" church 2. "primitive:" term with bad connotations 3. a demonstration of simplicity not present later 4. yet was not the first century church highly effective? D. We would do well to return to the simplicity of the Gospel message and the way we walk as Christians E. Let us examine how to return to the simplicity of the Gospel II. The Simplicity of the Church A. Major arena of complications is within the church 1. development of organizations, etc. 2. clouding of distinctions between the work of the church and work of individual B. Gospel purpose of church 1. Edification/Encouragement: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 2. Assembling: Hebrews 10:25, Acts 20:7, Acts 2:42 3. Support of evangelism, needy saints: 2 Corinthians 8-9, Philippians 4:15 4. We may notice from these that the church can support the work of attracting the outsiders yet its main role is to support itself by the support of each of its members C. This is the simple concept of the church: a group of Christians who are assembled at various times to assist one another D. The Complications of Men 1. Church Benevolence to Non-Saints a. concept that the church must help those not of the fold b. this idea leads to the further complications listed below c. when discussing issue, shift always away from the Scriptures about the work of the church in an attempt to gain compassion for the "poor widows and orphans," etc. d. But is the church so burdened? Not in Scripture. e. Can it distract the church from its purpose? Absolutely; seen below. f. Concept of individual and church discussed below also 2. "Institutionalism" and Offshoots a. Development from not only assisting non-saints but building structures and organizations to this end b. Development of hospitals, etc. c. Does this really fulfill the commands of God? Is our benevolence merely to feed the hungry or is there another goal in mind? d. Justification of process: man must organize into groups with organizational systems in order to satisfy the needs of others because of the vast number of people in need 1. parallel often drawn to the development of civilization 2. absolutely granted about civilization-- organization completely necessary for civilization to develop 3. But is this what the church needs to be doing to help others? e. memory of Chili's commercial: the "inefficient" staff which makes each hamburger "by a person" made to order 1. Do people stop going there because they are "inefficient?" No! 2. The point of the advertisement: to show us that there is enough concern for our desires that they will personally make a hamburger tailored to us 3. We appreciate the personalization 4. Same with the Gospel and assisting the poor: it is not designed to be "efficient." John 6 teaches us that while people hunger for physical bread and physical bread will convert the stomach, people must desire the spiritual bread of Christ 5. Benevolence is not done merely to satisfy the physical needs of the person but as a demonstration of the love of Christ in us and an opportunity to convert souls f. The complications made to the Gospel idea of benevolence-- the burden of the individual to assist those in need outside the flock (Galatians 6:10, James 1:27, Matthew 25:31-46)-- distract not only the individual but also the church from their missions 1. The individual is made complacent, thinking their checks to the church treasury are satisfying the commandment to help the poor 2. The church is distracted by the organizations and their needs from actually helping their own flock g. Complications to the preaching of the Gospel also present 1. preachers sent to other countries (i.e. "missionaries") come to preach the Gospel of God and are immediately asked where their hospitals are or where the shelters for food are 2. to many throughout the world Christianity is merely a religion where people go out to meet the physical needs of others 3. How can we preach to them the truth about the need for spiritual redemption and spiritual health if "Christianity" has only emphasized the physical needs? h. if the simplicity of the Gospel message were maintained, these problems would not be as prevalent i. there would be recognition that the physical assistance is given with an eye to the health of their souls 3. Fellowship Halls a. What does the erection of fellowship halls say to us about a church? b. If the members there were actively practicing hospitality as commanded in 1 Peter 4:9, what need would there be to build a kitchen and hall to eat in? c. If we say it is for evangelism, are we converting the soul or the stomach (John 6)? d. Did the New Testament church require such things? If not, what can we learn from that? 4. Hierarchies a. Many churches have hierarchies of leadership far beyond the local congregational level b. What good does this do? c. What purpose do elders serve? 1. to protect the flock from false teachings? Absolutely (Acts 20) 2. but they are also to shepherd the flock which the Holy Spirit made them overseers! (Acts 20:28) 3. If, as in hierarchical organizations, they have little contact with local churches and even less with each individual member, how can they shepherd that flock? d. Simplicity is best again! 1. when the elders shepherd one local congregation, they can not only keep out false doctrines but also encourage each member as there is need 2. they can recognize the problems that may lead to falling away and solve them III. The Duty of the Individual A. It will be argued that if the church is not responsible for many of the things we have spoken about, who is? B. The Gospel speaks simply: individuals! C. In New Testament times, the majority of the burden of the Gospel fell upon individuals D. In Paul's letters-- Romans 16, for instance-- to whom does Paul give greeting and commendation? 1. Does Paul commend the evangelism committee of Rome? Or the benevolence committee? 2. No; he commends individuals for their work in the Lord 3. Paul speaks to the collective church but almost always has specific messages of encouragement to individuals within the congregation E. What do we see throughout the New Testament? Individuals preach the Gospel, individuals work with benevolence, and individuals assist one another F. The whole idea here is the message of Matthew 5:13-16: we are made distinct and our light shines by our deeds 1. Christianity is a religion full of "professors" and far fewer "actors" 2. Many profess the tenets of Christianity but few actually live them 3. For an unbeliever, what is more compelling-- entering a "Church of Christ Shelter" and receiving some food or an individual Christian taking out some time to help that person get the food and shelter and whatever he may need in the name of Christ? 4. What would be more compelling-- being assisted in a "Church of Christ Hospital" or having your wounds treated by an individual Christian who saw you helpless? G. Studies have shown that most people are converted to a church not because of a large "soul winning" contest or by church benevolence to them or by any such thing, but because they were invited to come to worship from a neighbor or friend 1. You are that neighbor, and you are that friend! 2. You-- and the way you live-- are better preachers of the Gospel than a house to feed the hungry or bandage the sick 3. If you simply invite those you know to worship or to study the Bible, you may have better results than large financial undertakings of preaching or building or whatnot H. The simple Gospel of the New Testament shows that the individual will be the best at this work, and even in our complicated society this is true still IV. The Simplest Idea: Love A. All of these ideas about the simplicity of the Gospel, however, are still more complicated than the basic ideal that drives us in all that we should be doing B. The entire Gospel message-- and the way we live-- ought to be boiled down to the idea of love 1. God had it for us: John 3:16 2. Christ had it for us: Ephesians 5:25 3. We ought to have it for one another: 1 John 4:11 4. We ought to love God and our neighbor: Matthew 22:37-40 C. It ought not surprise us, then, that John can condense the majesty and infinity of God into the phrase "God is love" in 1 John 4:8 1. He loved us enough to give us the world (Genesis 1-2) 2. He loved us enough to give us His Son (John 3:16) 3. We then ought to love one another D. If we have the love we ought to have, the Gospel will be preached 1. we will love our fellow man enough to want his soul to be counted as saved 2. we will love our brethren enough to strive diligently to encourage them to stay on the Heavenly way 3. there will be no need for organizations, or hospitals, or fellowship halls, or hierarchies, because the love of God will be perfected in us! V. Conclusion A. We have seen that man complicates things and the Gospel is no exception B. Yet we can return to the simplicity of the Gospel 1. the church works best when its main goal is to edify and encourage itself 2. benevolence is best done by an individual who has the love of Christ shining through him 3. focusing only on the physical needs of the unsaved will lead them to believe that we are concerned about physical things alone and dismiss our care for their souls 4. We ought to love God, one another, and the unbelievers of the world enough to want to work for not only their physical but especially their spiritual well-being C. The love of God should constantly be seen through us, and love truly is the simplest principle and the one that ought to permeate our being and existence D. God loved us, so we should love all E. Let us promote the Gospel in all simplicity and love! F. Invitation/songbook