Global Gospel

A ministry called ‘9 Marks’ conducted a ‘roundtable’ of pastors and theologians asking them two big questions and then posted the responses online.

The response of one Mack Stiles is especially interesting. Mack is an author and businessman living and working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and before I show you his two answers, here are the two questions they posed to the 9 men of varying stations and locations from all over the world.

Question 1: You are standing on stage before 100,000 people from every nation on earth and asked to share the gospel in 100 words or less. What would you say?

Question 2: You are standing before a small crowd from your church's neighborhood and asked to share the gospel in 100 words or less. What would you say? [Authors were asked to include a couple of words describing their neighborhood.]

And here is how Mack Stiles responded:

(1) Maybe you don’t know, but there is a heavenly dilemma over you. You are loved as God’s special creation. But because God is also holy you are cut off from him by your wickedness and under his judgment. The Bible tells of God’s one solution: Jesus, fully God and fully sinless man, ransomed us to God through his death on the cross. He paid our sin-debt and rose from the dead as proof that he is the way and the truth. Eliminate the dilemma! Turn from sin; follow Jesus by putting your complete faith and trust in him.

(2) Allah commands you to read the Injil. But what does it say? It says salvation comes from Allah’s love, not Allah’s rules! It says the straight path to Allah is faith in the Jesus of the Injil. The Injil gives only one path: Jesus, fully God – fully man and perfect, ransomed us to God through his death on the cross. He paid our sin-debt. He rose from the dead as proof that he is the path to heaven. Does Allah’s strength not protect his word? The Injil says repent; follow Jesus; put your complete faith and trust in him.

They also posted the following note:
[Editor's note: in further conversation with Mr. Stiles, he said he often will use this story with unbelievers (which he says is not original to him): Two men went to the mosque to pray. One was a rich man, the other a poor man. The rich man went through his libations and prayers as he did five times a day. As he was praying, he began to have a sexual fantasy about the young wife who lived next door to his home. But he finished his prayers and went home. The poor man stood off at a distance. He came so infrequently to the mosque, that he couldn't remember the positions for prayer or his libations. But he looked up to heaven, beat his breast, and said, "Forgive me, O Lord, for I'm a sinner." Who went home justified? Mr. Stiles says that every Muslim he has asked this question has answered "The rich man."]

For any of you keeners interested in the other 8 responses, here is the link: Explaining The Gospel