Gospels in Ten Words or More
Demian Farnworth has invited bloggers to summarize the gospel in ten words in a post this week. Twelve bloggers provided the first summaries: Don Dudley at You See Dry Bones, Eric the Mad Monk at Who Tends The Fires?, Abigail at Abigail’s Leftovers, Daniel C Wilson at Desire Spiritual Growth, Devotee of Francis Turretin, Emily Schankweiler at A Sacrifice of Praise, Nathan Bliss at Bliss the Family, Andrew Jones at Tall Skinny Kiwi, Trevin Wax at Kingdom People, Jim Sawyer at Parchment and Pen, Michael Patton at Parchment and Pen, Kevin Young at De Young Restless and Reformed.
“If you can’t summarize what you believe in ten words, do you truly understand what you believe? Maybe you can believe without fully understanding. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to burn some mental bandwidth to clarify what you believe. So, consider this micro-theology. Petite-worship. Nano-sermons.”
So what’s with the reduction to ten words? My first reaction to this exercise is concern that the good news spoken and lived by Jesus and his people is being reduced to one sentence to meet the obsession with conciseness honed in an era of modernism. I can imagine Jesus sighing and asking, “Why does this generation ask me for a ten word sentence? I tell you the truth, not one ten word sentence will be given to it.” He’d then get in the boat and head off somewhere to spend time with people listening to and telling stories, doing life and thinking of all the ten word sentences that might give some insight into the Kingdom of God. He comes back, and when asked by Peter if he has a ten word sentence, he responds by saying ten times ten, Peter, and more.
Forgiveness by God sets people free to become forgiving community.
Strangers welcomed home by God to join an inclusive people.
Challenged by Jesus to change ways and transform the world.
The Spirit helps face hardship and inspire courage in others.
Loved unconditionally by God and called to love one another.
Created whole by God to guard the integrity of creation.
God giving capacity for insight and wisdom, exploring truth together.
Shame removed, new identity given, development of restoring community.
Reconciliation with God and with others to become ambassadors of peace.
God’s strength and solidarity with the suffering expressed together.
Healing for broken bodies, emotions, relationships and communities.
Freedom for people trapped in addiction and oppression becoming liberators.
What more would Jesus say? Add your comments ten words at a time. Or tell a story.
Postkiwi Duncan Macleod posts on life, faith and culture in Australia, drawing from his involvement in the creative industry, the Uniting Church, the blogosphere, generational research, the emerging church and life on the Gold Coast.
Duncan is the editor of The Inspiration Room, a site showcasing advertising, design and other work produced by the global creative community.
3 Responses to “Gospels in Ten Words or More”
By Matt Huggins on Aug 6, 2009 | Reply
God loves. Son died for sin, conquered death. Believe. Live.
By Matthew Smith on Aug 23, 2009 | Reply
Your fictional account of Jesus' reaction to the ten words meme made me chuckle and I agree wholeheartedly. I can imagine him climbing into the boat and going “Don't you dare say anything either Peter, I'm going to curl up here in the bow and hum to myself for a little while”
By Don on Aug 27, 2009 | Reply
Ok,
I am biased because I am one of the 12 bloggers listed above. However, I will say it is a good exercise for people to go through because it gives one something to say. Many times I have been on prayer teams or at churches where people have no idea what to say to a person who wants to know “what this Jesus thing is all about.” Ten words just adds to the challenge (and makes it interesting and challenging).
However, I must say, your account of what Jesus might say is pretty humerus and I agree, the Gospel is very hard to capture in a simple, pithy, statement.