We evangelicals have a habit of adding explanations to God’s messages to earth.
1. God says something simple.
2. We know that people will misinterpret it if we don’t add a few conditions and explanations and if we don't do that, we may be liable; implicated in offering a too-simplistic message that might not bring about the correct response in the listeners.
Result - What I call Legally Evangelical:
It's as if we are afraid the legal department in Heaven would disapprove of any short and possibly misinterpreted bible passages or sermons. You know, like the one which inspired Martin Luther (est iustus autem ex fide vivit). Sadly, I believe adding to God's message does not mitigate anyone’s liability and it’s not to anyone’s edification, unless the Holy Spirit closes peoples ears to it and allows the hearers to hear only that which He is Speaking. Take a few examples:
- Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Legally Evangelical Translation: “Father, help them to realize that what they are doing is wrong, so that they are seriously repentant; desiring in their hearts to be clean and forgiven, so that You, O God, will forgive them if they believe with all their heart that You, O God will raise Me, Jesus, from the dead.” Even then, we’d feel uncomfortable leaving anyone with such a brief explanation and would load them with literature exhorting them to tithe, attend an evangelical church regularly, pray, read their bible (the correct translation thereof), flee immorality, and perhaps also get baptized quickly before they forget and maybe throw in a doctrine or two about the rapture, or dispensationalism.
Here's another:
- Luke 2:8-14 “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host priasing God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Legally Evangelical Translation: “Be afraid! For Judgement is coming! For behold, I bring you essential information that will allow you to live forever, if you receive it with your heart, the evidence being a transformed life, otherwise it’s proof you don’t believe: For today, in the City of David, there has been born for you who believe, a LORD, who is Christ, that is, the fullness of the Godhead – God, incarnate and He shall save some of you, but not all of you, so don’t get your hopes up! This message is only for Evangelicals. And this will be a sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and may it not be long before He crushes the vile and the sick and perverted, and all the sinners on earth!”
Thanks be to God we did not write the original script!
