Preparation for the Gospel

This week I read some articles about Dr. Samuel Johnson. It is said that he is quoted perhaps more than any English writer other than Shakespeare. I’m sure you know him well, like I did. Not.As I read a very brief overview of Dr. Johnson’s life, I was struck by this comment: “…we may say that he considers his work to be, not the preaching of the Gospel, but the preparing of men for hearing the Gospel preached by another. A man who has been persuaded that without Divine Help he cannot be virtuous, and that without virtue he cannot be truly happy, is ready to hear the offer of Divine Help when it is preached”.

Johnson was a prolific writer in the late 18th century. He had physical infirmities, financial difficulties, and emotional struggles. As a boy, he rejected Christianity; but later, while still a young man, decided that he should honestly investigate the message of the Gospel. Having examined it, he gave himself completely to it. As a firm believer, Johnson was acutely conscious of his own shortcomings and struggles. He was unwilling to position himself as a model of Christian faith. So, without writing overtly Christian material, he wrote in a manner that challenged people to examine their lives, their assumptions, their motives — with a view of causing people to desire more of life and purpose. This desire, this hunger for something more, would prepare men and women to hear and respond to the Gospel. Shouldn’t my life and work be doing that, as well?

Christian philosopher Dallas Willard has said, “As a Christian, my first job is to do my job well.” Our first witness to others, our best presentation of the truth of the Gospel is not through our spoken testimony or our “witnessing.” Our first and best witness to Christ is through the demonstration of our lives. As Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Each of us has daily responsibilities encompassing many dimensions of life. And each of us, like Dr. Johnson, has limitations, concerns, and weaknesses. But we can each model God’s grace as we work through difficulties, and demonstrate God’s truth in fulfilling our responsibilities. And as we model the character of Christ and the life-changing, life-giving truth of the Gospel through our life, our character and our work, we can be precursors to the verbal preaching of the Gospel. We can be God’s signposts, pointing the way to a purpose in life and a strength of character that is only fully realized in knowing God.
Am I, today — are you, at this moment — doing life as Jesus would do life in your circumstances? Are we consistently drawing others after us to a meaningful knowledge of what it means to know Jesus Christ? By watching my life, are others hungry for more in their lives?

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

This religious article ran on 12/16/11.