"It Is Already Relevant"

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:5)

The dictionary defines the word relevant as:  appropriate to the current time, period, or circumstances.  The church is trying to make its services and programs relevant to today's society and culture.  It tries to make the "gospel" more appealing to the masses by "updating" it to be relevant to peoples' "wants and desires".  While they are "changing" it to "fit" and be "relevant" they are in fact taking away from the truth that it already is relevant.  

Look with me at the definition again.  "Appropriate to the current time, period or circumstances."  The church is trying to make the gospel fit with the current times and period in which we live.  But they have forgotten that it already fits the circumstances of life.  How much more relevant can it be than it already is?  It may not be relevant to peoples' wants and desires, but it is already relevant to their needs.    

It is relevant to the circumstances of life.  It brings hope to the hopeless.  It brings peace to the distressed.  It offers healing to the hurting, broken, grieving and physically impaired.  It gives acceptance to the rejected.  It is the answer for the crime and violence problem.  It is the answer to hate, prejudice, racism and division.  It has the answer to rebellion, addiction, bondage, anger, bitterness, frustration, fear and so on.  The gospel has, and is, the answer to all of life's, society's and the world's problems.  You can't get any more relevant than having the answer to all your needs.  

While there are those who are trying to bring a false relevance, and that is what it is, into the church.  They are taking away from what is already relevant for mankind-- the plain, uncompromised, un-watered down, un-added to or taken away, delivering, life transforming, power of the gospel as taught by Jesus Christ and is in the Bible.  

Have a great day.  The gospel is and has always been relevant to the needs of mankind.  Stop trying to make it relevant to the wants and desires of mankind.