The American Sound Byte Gospel
Aug 5th, 2008 by John
I am stunned that some Christians still defend a sound byte gospel. You know, the 4 steps, the “bridge over troubled waters” packaged presentation. Shrimpy little things. The wondrous, thunderous, mind-boggling, heart-stopping gospel of the Bible and of Jesus himself is horribly reduced to bumper sticker phrases.
With what other literature or great story do we do this? None to my knowledge. Imagine the classic story (and movie) of Ben Hur reduced to…
- Ben Hur accidently killed a Roman soldier.
- Ben Hur was a galley-slave.
- Ben Hur drove in a big chariot race and won.
- Ben Hur met Jesus at the Cross when his mother and sister were healed.
Wow. I really know the story now. Do YOU believe in Ben Hur?
How about Anne of Green Gables?
- Anne Shirley meets Marilla and Matthew.
- Anne worries over her freckles and dyes her hair green.
- Anne doesn’t like the Pye children.
- Anne becomes a teacher and serves blind Marilla.
Doesn’t that story just rock? Do YOU believe in Anne of Green Gables?
Or, even Pilgrim’s Progress.
- Pilgrim goes on a journey.
- Pilgrim carries a sack of sin.
- Pilgrim meets a lot of interesting people.
- Pilgrim ends his quest and his sack of sin falls off.
Wow! Pilgrim gets saved! Do YOU believe in Pilgrim?
You think, “John, this is so silly.” I agree. But the question remains: Why do we reduce “the greatest story ever told” and confidently act as if we’ve done something noble, even holy? This horrible reduction is actually stupifying. The sweeping, rumbling, massive saga of the Bible and the Spirit-energized, Jesus-intense Gospels get miniaturized to…
- God loves you.
- You are a sinner.
- Jesus died for you.
- Believe in Jesus now.
Hand me my microscope so I can see this “gospel.” Wow. Do YOU believe in Jesus? If so, you get to go to heaven when you die.
A bumper sticker gospel creates sound bite believers who parrot things rather than live into the sweeping Story of God’s amazing, amazing grace. A reduced Gospel has produced no-different-from-the-sound byte-culture Christians. When will we wake up?
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[...] Frye expresses his disgust with The Soundbite Gospel (such as the four Spiritual Laws) in a hilarious way as he shows what the story of Anne of Green [...]
Marvelously creative. I love it. (Well, not the implications, just the packaging.)
nail. hit. on. head.
love it
John, as I’ve studied and read in the New Testament, I am struck by the lack of clarity (not the best way to put this I don’t think) for instruction for “how to get saved.” Maybe I should put it more like: I don’t see where there is a “do this, then do this” list like this 4 step program. It is more like Jesus invites us to just start living with him, in him, for him, etc. And somehow Jesus starts growing inside us. The church I used to go to was really big on “when did you get saved,” however. If I don’t “do it the right way” then how do I know I’m okay with God?
Leah,
Thank. you. for. your. encouraging. affirmation.
Howard,
The sad thing is that those folk who seemed so convinced of their formulaic, 4 steps to God way to get to Jesus fly in the face of the very life and ministry of Jesus as revealed in the Gospels! I just don’t get it.
Haha, that’s fantastic John.
Tim,
I am glad it brought a smile to your face, even though the heart of the matter is both weighty and serious. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Peace.
[...] to evangelize via the sound bite version of the Jesus story. John Frye has a good post about this here. Check it out and let me know what you think about sound bite [...]
I need to go for a wander along the “Roman Road”!
(http://contenderministries.org/romanroad.php)
Forgot to mention - it is
The Roman Road to Salvation
Hi John,
Very serious of course, but you manage to put these things in such a way that I inevitably end up with a wry smile. It’s very good. Keep it up.
Did you manage to see the pictures of our little boy? I’m not sure if you caught up with all our news. Check the blog for details and pics if you’d like.
Peace
Tim.
Watchman @ Third Watch,
Thanks for the link and I noted some interesting responses to “The American Sound Bite Gospel.” Peace.
Mark r,
Ah, yes, the “Roman Road” which pulls out isolated, non-connected verses from their context and creates a man-made scheme for salvation in the face of Paul’s own declaration that his whole book (of Romans) is the gospel (Rom. 1:16) which he presents in the rest of his book. Duh!
Tim,
I am glad to bring that “wry smile” to your face.
Tuscan looks beautiful and I am thrilled with the successful surgeries for such a tiny, young guy. Greet Jay for me.
I left some comments at your website.
Grace and peace,
John
Hugh (#1),
Thanks for making a link to this latest post. Come back and visit often.
Peace.
Hi John,
I have taught Bunyan in a number of settings. He is certainly not formulaic. Different Christians have different struggles, some get sidelined spiritually for a long time, and the critique of behaviorism is brilliant and life-giving.
I may have misunderstood the nub of your concern in citing PP, but in case I haven’t…
John….I’m in the middle of a work project this week (off shore) and have had little connectivity for internet (they gave me a couple minutes to shoot this one out). This post has entrenched itself in my heart and I can only account this to the Spirit of Jesus. I spent so much of my life under the guilt/shame/struggle-to-believe associated with a “fundamental, independent, bible-believing, KJV only, baptist church” approach to the 4-step gospel. It nearly wore me out to the core of my spirit trying to work up the feeling or belief that I “got saved” the right way. And I never felt it. I never had peace. This pair of stories has embedded within them a great truth: God is much closer than we know. He is much more interested in us, in relationship with us, than we can possibly know and accept. We are loved beyond any capacity of knowing we could “map out.” Grace really isn’t that hard. Blessings on you. I have found a little hope in this very simple truth you have hung out here in virtual space. Howard Walters
Dave Moore (#17),
Perhaps you did slightly miss the point…I am by no means implying Pilgrim’s Progress is formulaic…just the opposite! Just as Ben Hur cannot be reduced to bullet points nor can Anne of Green Gables. So, why do we horribly reduce the sweeping Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ into a tidy, proof-texted formula and then call our little man-made creation “the gospel”?
Howard (#18),
I am struck silent by the passion in you and in this brief peek into your story. Believe me, my friend, you are speaking for 100s of us who’ve tried to live the big, overwhelming Story of God’s mysterious grace when it was handed to us on a postage stamp. I am appalled that people—well-meaning I’m sure—think 4 steps to God, or whatever, is vessel enough to bring us the grand drama of salvation from God in Christ. Blessings on you…and THANK YOU so much for commenting. Peace.
John
John….I’m back on dry land and heading home tomorrow. Still thinking about this. I’m not part of a church and I am ready to start praying that God will show me one that understands and practices this gospel, and that I can hold on to it also. I’d appreciate any prayers you could send up for me. HW
Howard (#21),
I take your request to heart and pleased be assured of my prayers as you seek the Lord and a church family. Grace to you.
John
John,
Incredible Post on evangelism!!!!! Could I use this particular post with its literature illustrations in my teachings (I teach an urban ministry course at Cornerstone and also teach workshops and seminars on poverty/urban ministry to churches around the Midwest)? I will footnote you and this blog……
Wonderful post brother.
You did a fantastic job and made your point so clear.
I totally agree with you.
May God bless us all as we strive to make a kingdom difference in the world.
Joel (#23),
I am really glad you like the post; and, of course, you can use it if it can be of help in your teaching. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Peace.
John
Preacherman (#24),
Thanks for the good comment and the blessing. May you, too, walk in God’s active favor.
John
Usher: Hey Deak, the realization of knowing you’ve bought into such an approach made me angry at first
Deacon: Then what…
Usher: I decided if that was wrong, so was nearly everything doctrinal I had adopted (swallowed) for almost 25 years…
Deacon: Then what…
Usher: Well, I came to the conclusion that I must deconstruct everything that isn’t seated in grace - everything that was adopted now comes into question
Deacon: And how do you feel about that?
Usher: I think they call it a personal relationship with God
Deak and Ush (#27),
T-Shirt Idea:
“I traded my Bible for a booklet.”
Or, Over a picture of the Four Spiritual Laws…
The Bible? Who Needs It?
The booklet is shorter, has little circle pictures and canyons with a cross across it and it is SO much easier to carry.
Thanks for visiting and commenting AND I am still trying to figure out what your comment means.
good stuff john!
[...] Gospel in sound bites August 10, 2008 — ruach Why is the sound bite gospel so popular? John over at Jesus the Radical Preacher exposes the absurdity of trying to summarize the gospel in f… [...]
markus aurelius riddle,
Thanks for commenting.
Peace.
John
Ruach,
Once again thanks for the link.
God bless!
John
Dear John,
Interesting write up…..although after hearing a womans story this morning at breakfast I’d have to make mention of this: A reduced Gospel….I’d say No. Rather, (my lady friend) makes mention of a clinging to the pages with an ability to just hang-on….in such a fallen world. In Hopes for Christs second coming….Question: Did you read the post from “One t” on the findings of what was written by Isaiah in “The Dead Sea Scrolls”…hummmmm…one can only wonder?
But, JohnFrye..I Do greatly believe in the “Wake Up” process from numbness and disease. Here is a point too ponder…how many of us are avaliable for enlightments and reestablishments for those who are asleep? Atheist, maybe not; rather….relationship between God and sinners needing replenishings. Authenticities at their greatest today…or, authenticities of the non-existent? hummmm… Your Smart!
Kasey “Rahab,”
Interesting thoughts…thanks for commenting.
Peace.
John
Haven’t finished reading all the comments above, but one caught my eye and I felt the need to respond to it.
Howard wrote:
“…as I’ve studied and read in the New Testament, I am struck by the lack of clarity (not the best way to put this I don’t think) for instruction for “how to get saved.” Maybe I should put it more like: I don’t see where there is a “do this, then do this” list like this 4 step program.”
I believe that there really is a set of steps we as Christians need to take:
1. Do not resist God’s love.
2. (See step #1)
Jesus has promised that He will do EVERYTHING else. HE will bring us to the point where we will see that we are sinners and HE will help us ask for forgiveness. HE alone will do whatever needs to be done to bring us to salvation as long as we do not resist His love. (John, I hope you do not mind my placing a link here to a longer list. http://www.bibletimelines.org/framedsteps.html Thanks!)
In short, do not resist God’s love and HE will save you. (Is that a sound byte I hear?)
This in no way tells us of the agony He went through for us, but if we do not resist what He wants to do in our lives He will bring all that other stuff to our attention when we need it.
John, love your site. Thanks.