A Time for the Gospel

By now you have likely heard the heartbreaking news of the suicide death of Rick Warren's son. You have probably read the many blog posts and Facebook status ranging from "pray for the Warrens" to "this is a judgment from God just as God took Pharaohs son." Sadly, what I am not seeing is anyone proclaiming the need for the Gospel in this.

In truth, there are only two categories of people in this world, believers and unbelievers. And each of us must have some sort of opinion as to which category Rick Warren falls into. I'm am not about to start that debate here, but rather I hope to show you how in either case, he needs the gospel.

If you believe Rick Warren to be an unbeliever, who has false assurance through a false gospel, now is the time for the true Gospel. Perhaps this might be something which God will use to strip away all dependence on self and good works and cause the Warren family to repent and believe the one TRUE gospel.

If you believe that Rick Warren is a believer, though perhaps misguided in areas of soteriology and ecclesiology, now is the time for the Gospel. Now is the time to point the Warren family to the truth and the comfort that can only be found in the gospel.

As for proclaiming judgments of God in this situation, we need to refrain from pointless speculation. What we know is this, that the wages of sin is death and that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All we, like sheep, have gone astray. But God so loved the world that He sent His Son, Who existed as God and with God from all eternity, to be born of a virgin, live a perfectly sinless life, and die on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for our sins. He rose again on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God where He ever lives to make intercession for us. If we repent - turn from serving self and sin - and believe in Christ Jesus He will forgive our sins and grant us eternal life through His precious blood. All of us will one day die and face judgment, and we will either be found in Christ, or we will hear those dreadful words "Away from me, I never knew you." That is what we can know from Scripture. And that is true prophecy. Pharaoh and David had authoritative prophets of God to proclaim the judgement of God. We are not authoritative prophets of God in the Old testament sense of the word "prophet" but we can all "prophesy" when we accurately proclaim the Word of God. We don't need to speculate about God's judgment in this situation, it is futile. Just preach the Gospel, friends.