Don't Forget What You Have in the Gospel
A few years ago, I would have cared nothing for what someone like Matt is doing through his evangelistic efforts. Not only would I not have cared, I would have gone further and perhaps even denigrated his work as somehow running contrary to a “deep” Christianity—claiming that seeking a relevant experience is somehow tantamount to casting away a Holy God.
Is it shocking to know that a Christian wouldn't care about evangelism, or missions, or anything other than the spiritual welfare and the level of sanctification of her own family and local church body? Sometimes, it literally hurts when I speak honestly about the state of my mind and heart during the years I had gospel amnesia.
But I am moved by the Lord to be willing to be poured out so that many who read what I write would wake up—or wake up again—to the gospel.
But this isn't just about evangelism and missions. It's about all the ways that forgetting, assuming or marginalizing the gospel affects our lives and the lives of those around us. During the years I had gospel amnesia, I saw evangelism and disciple making as taking spiritual food out of our children's mouths and distracting us from discipling our own family. This is one of the many ways that when we set aside the gospel, everything gets twisted, even good and God–honoring things like raising your kids to love the Lord.
When God in his grace removes our blindness and softens our hearts and brings us back again to the cross work of Jesus Christ, we see everything from a gospel-centeredness that goes beyond some trendy phrase. Waking up to the gospel brings palpable change to people's hearts. Not only do I now have a heart for missions, but I do what I can in small ways to help push the gospel out into the world. I have also come to have a deep appreciation for and humility of spirit toward people like Matt and Michelle, two Christians who love Jesus with passion and want to use their life to help others come to the knowledge of the cross and the profound grace and mercy we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Although it is said that every time we sin that is a time when we forget the gospel, in Gospel Amnesia I am talking about something more: an extensive degradation or suppression of our consciousness of the gospel. I wrote the book because many silently think the way I thought and live the way I lived. And those who have not thought or do not think that way need to help their brothers and sisters in Christ to return to the joy and love of remembering the gospel.
In this post–Christian culture with the ravages of sin all around us, we cannot afford the cost of gospel amnesia. Gospel Amnesia: Forgetting the Goodness of the News is about the affliction of assuming, forgetting, and marginalizing the gospel; the symptoms of this condition, and its one cure—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Luma Simms is a wife and mother of five delightful children between the ages of 2 and 19. She has a B.S. degree in physics from California State Polytechnic University, and attended Chapman Law where she studied and worked on constitutional jurisprudence. She left law school to become a stay-at-home mom. Christ has led her to become a writer, blogger, and Bible teacher. Her book Gospel Amnesia can be found at GCD Press. She blogs regularly at Gospel Grace. You can connect with her on twitter here.
