Proclaimer Blog
It’s the gospel, isn’t it?
(to be repeated in an Indian voice).
I'm just back from India and, as always, such trips are good for my soul. For one thing (amongst many), I see more clearly there than I do walking the streets of London this fundamental truth: it's the gospel.
In the short while since I last visited India the rich have got noticeably richer whilst the poor (to my eyes) have got at least more numerous, if not poorer. Multi-billion aid packages make little difference. Open corruption is endemic.
Yet the gospel changes. And so what India needs is not, primarily, aid programmes, social justice initiatives and orphanages (though there is merit, of course, in all of these). No, what it needs is the gospel. And the gospel changes people and society is improved as a result. This is the priority of the gospel above every other (sometimes very worthy) causes and is the reason preaching is so key in the church.
In our affluent western society where so many people are so nice I'm afraid we can quickly lose sight of this fundamental truth. Come with me and visit India and you will see things more clearly.
It's the gospel, isn't it?