Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. – 1 Thessalonians 1:5
Deep conviction does not fit well with our culture today. The prevailing spirit is one of uncertainty. We have more questions than answers.
The person who speaks with certainty is quickly accused of being arrogant. None of us want to be thought of as proud, so it has become fashionable to reshape the gospel in terms of our questions and our searching.
Notice how far this is from the spirit of the New Testament: “Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” The weight of Paul’s message came across in the conviction with which he spoke.
People communicate in different styles, but whatever your style, the way you speak about the gospel has to fit the scale of the message.
Think about a man making a marriage proposal. He decides to leave a voicemail: “Hi there, just wanted you to know that I love you very much. And I wanted to ask you if you would marry me. Get back to me when you have time.”
That wouldn’t be very appropriate, now, would it? This man knows that what he is proposing will cost him everything. What he is asking will cost her everything.
We must communicate the gospel in a way that is appropriate to the message. The gospel should not be presented like a high-pressure sales pitch, or like a free piece of candy, but with power, with the Holy Spirit’s help, and with deep conviction.
Think about the people you talk to—children, grandchildren, colleagues, neighbors. What would they conclude about the gospel from the way that you speak about Jesus Christ?
