It is a disheartening reality that we who affirm the doctrine of total depravity often don’t believe we are totally depraved. It’s true enough that there are institutions and individuals who flat deny the doctrine. Then there are those who both affirm and deny. There is a great, yawning gap between these two concepts, “All men everywhere in their natural state are at enmity of God and are inclined only away from God, having all parts of their humanity impacted by sin” and “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The former is an accurate description of a sound and biblical doctrine. The latter is a needful cry from all of us.
This same disconnect, I fear, infects our understanding of the gospel. Again there are plenty of institutions and individuals who simply deny the gospel. Then there are those who both affirm and deny it. Because there is a great, yawning gap between these two concepts, “Jesus lived a perfect life and died an atoning death, both of which are imputed to those who, by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, rest in that finished work alone” and “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The former is an accurate description of a sound and biblical doctrine. The latter is a needful cry from all of us.
The sad thing is that so many churches make just that mistake. They are careful to be careful, even zealous to be zealous in defense of what the Bible teaches. That’s a good thing. Who could be opposed to that? That mindset, however, absent a heart broken by the reality of our personal sins, absent a joyful response to His victory over our sin and the grave, absent a living confidence that we are the beloved children of our heavenly Father, misses the heart of the gospel.
Without this one may have a church that teaches and defends the gospel, but not have one that preaches the gospel. One may have a church that is training lips to confess the truth but teaching hearts to trust in their superior understanding of His provision rather than in His provision. One may have a church with its guns aimed at the faulty teaching of those not present rather than at the faults and sins resident in the hearts and minds of the congregation.
Your church is preaching the gospel if you walk out the door each Lord’s Day rejoicing to have been redeemed, rescued. Your church is preaching the gospel if you walk about the door each Lord’s Day more eager to tell unbelievers the good news than you are to argue the finer points with other believers. You are in a gospel church when you walk in the door crying out, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner” and go home justified and joyful.
Never trade secondary distinctives, music styles, preferred programs or demographics for the one thing that matters, the faithful preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.