Over the years, I’ve written a fair amount of content to communicate the gospel as creatively and as faithfully as I can. Usually, when you spend a considerable amount of time on a craft or discipline, you move through the ranks of expertise. When it comes to my discipline, a storyteller, I feel like I have learned a few things along the way, but when it comes to storytelling the gospel, I’ve still got ‘L’ plates on.
The gospel is not like a computer game. It’s not a level to complete before moving on to the next levels of evangelism, missionary work, serving the community, etc. If we feel that we have cracked the gospel, or understood God’s grace, or when we stop marvelling at his goodness, we need to go back a step.
Here are two of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a creative evangelist.
It is impossible to do the gospel justice
It doesn’t matter how creative you think your concept is; you cannot match the storyteller of salvation. He tells the story of his goodness through the canvas of his creation. Jesus, the Logos – the Word – became flesh, was a master storyteller.
We bear his image, so tell the story anyhow
Knowing that you can’t communicate the gospel in a way that does him justice automatically takes the pressure off. The more I marvel at his goodness, the more wowed I become, and the more I want to try. Remember, though you may not match up to God, you are made to bear his image. You are a chip off the old block.
Communicating the gospel
Here are a few things that I have learned along the way, which may help you to tell the gospel story to others.
Stop comparing yourself
Trying to imitate someone else or someone else’s style can negate what God has given you. Learn from others, but embrace your differences, and you will develop your gifts.
Embrace fear
Trying something new is terrifying. To create is to play, it’s to put something out there and not know how it’s going to be received. Do it prayerfully. Ask the Father for guidance, and trust your gut (or better yet, the Holy Spirit!)
Do what you would love to hear/read
If you would love to see something, then maybe others would too. If you’re curious about a person/story in the Bible, share that curiosity with others. Help others to step into the shoes of those well-known biblical characters.
Spend time in the Bible and in the present moment
Camping out in the gospels and spending time in the Word of God helps you to experience the Bible in a more personal and profound way, which you can then share with others. However, don’t just step into the story of Scripture and the characters that reside in it, but be present in the present moment. Stay long enough to feel the questions, the doubts, and the fears of our friends, family and community. Use that as motivation to signpost people to hope.
Just do it
When you communicate the gospel, you always do it with ‘L’ plates on, but with shackles off. When you create, you bear his image. May we be students who marvel at the feet of Jesus, and may we use our pens, paints and plectrums to tell the story well. To communicate the gospel is to tell the story that has changed our story, the greatest story in history, and the best part is – it’s true.
