The Gospel is Sustainable

Colin Maynard on Unsplash

If you listened to this week's podcast, you heard audio of me talking about my transition into the Episcopal Church. I did not grow up in this tradition and I have spent time with several denominations. Over and over again, when it comes to change and missional efforts I hear the same thing, no matter the tribe:

"That's great but that's not how our tradition does things."

Knowing who you are, your culture is paramount. But here's the truth, every Christian tradition on the face of the globe is no more than a beta test attempt at creating a container for the one thing. The gospel. As Bishop Andy Doyle has been fond of saying recently in so many words: for over two thousand years the one thing that's proved sustainable is the gospel. Not your tradition. Not your buildings. The gospel.

Churches Paul planted? Gone. Ancient parishes of Europe? Housing a pub now or gone.

What's still around? The gospel.

Be grateful for the traditions, the institutions that been handed down from generation to generation to you but hold them loosely. They are not the thing that has stuck throughout this two millennia experiment.

The good news of Christ's kingdom is what you should be investing your energy in.

That's your tradition.