1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

dressed up?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by agedman, Dec 3, 2012.

  1. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    These words caught my attention in another thread. "...old gospel, dressed up for today's culture?"

    Because the question was asked, I think it needs to be discussed.

    It is actually proper to "dress up the gospel" to somehow make it palatable for or culturally acceptable?

    When does the dress up become nothing but worldly attraction?

    When does the dress up become the righteousness of Christ?

    Doesn't the Scriptures state that there exists an enmity between the gospel and the world?
     
  2. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    1 Cor. 9
    19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
    20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
    21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
    22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
    23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
     
  3. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I don't like the term, but I understand the concept. There are 4 biographies of the Lord Jesus. Each one has a different audience and therefore are written differently. Paul's approach to presenting the Gospel was different in Jerusalem than in Athens.

    The Gospel is not changed, it is simply a presentation change.
     
  4. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    Messages:
    7,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    :thumbs::applause:
     
  5. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    This s a good section of Scripture.

    The question of the OP would then apply by asking if Paul would become a Buddhist or Muslim to win Buddhists or Muslims - for in the passage that is what is implied if taken to the extreme (Jew is not merely a group but a religion and the lawless as being those who reject all social restraints and embrace hedonism).

    However, we all know Paul wasn't making that type of application.
     
  6. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I understand the change in presentation (using culturally applicable illustrations, etc). The Athenians probably couldn't consider a temple without the statue of some god in it.

    But does that mean the that Paul would consider having a god statue (as the Catholics do) acceptable?

    The four gospels certainly address different audiences, but addressing an audience didn't change the gospel.
     
  7. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Key phrase is "I would become AS a Jew." I take it to mean that he would tailor the Gospel in ways that they would better understand it. Therefore to Jews he would emphasize how Christ was the Messiah, that he fulfilled the law, and that they needed to repent of their unbelief. I presume for Gentiles he would have taken a different approach, emphasizing that there is only one true God and that Jesus was the Son of God, and the Savior. I would guess he would similarly tailor the message to the Muslims and Buddhists.

    :thumbs:
     
  8. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I am not sure where you think that people are trying erect or add other gods to the Gospel. If they are they aren't dressing up the gospel because they don't have the Gospel.

    You seem to be lumping people who have changed the Gospel message with people who have merely changed the presentation, and there is a world of difference between the 2.
     
  9. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    Good post. The reason we do not like the term is such ideas have been used to abuse the concept and distort the Word. We never, ever want to twist, deny, or otherwise distort the key truths of the Gospel. We do want to find way to communicate these truths effectively to our specific audience. The problem is so often people are using modern terms and do not use Biblical terms in so many cases. This error is made worse by false teachers who end up preaching a different gospel claiming that they just want to make the truth unoffensive and palatable to the masses.

    We all paraphrase. We do that every time we teach or preach and try to find a way to help our audience understand the truths of Scripture. The problem comes when we make our paraphrase out to be Scripture.

    Brothers, there is no way we can give people ears to hear and eyes to see. That is the privilege of the Holy Spirit. We must do our best to be faithful to the Word and communicate it the best we can while recognizing that the real work is the Lord's.
     
  10. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    Messages:
    7,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    A better word than paraphrase might be contextualize.
     
  11. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2004
    Messages:
    2,743
    Likes Received:
    0
    I would say we do both. Anytime I say "Jesus Christ died for your sins" i am paraphrasing and synthesizing Biblical truth.
     
  12. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,565
    Likes Received:
    1
    In reality don't we do both?

    We read a passage.
    We summarize it...which implies the act pf paraphrasing.
    We contextualize it in the application phase.
     
Loading...