Back To The Basics

Back To The Basics –
With A Sense Of Urgency

Years ago, education went through the back-to-the-basics movement in an attempt to re-discover and re-emphasize what was essential. But even as educators began digging out from under all the non-essentials that had buried the basics, some seasoned veterans warned that this clutter happened before and would happen again. And cleaning my office at G&T yesterday reminded me that it happens in every part of our lives. I found an article I started editing a month ago – buried in a pile of junk mail!

From time to time the Church, too, needs to get back to the basics, which tend to get buried in non-essentials. For instance, God’s Word, the Bible, is essential; a specific version is not. Being a follower of Christ is essential; being a member of a denomination is not (1 Cor. 1:9-15). A TV news analyst recently identified Christians this way: “Muslims worship on Friday, Jews on Saturday, Christians on Sunday.” Isn’t there something more distinctive about a Christian than his day of corporate worship, his denomination or his favorite Bible version?

Apparently the question about basics was also on the mind of the music group, Songs for the Spirit, when they recorded their hit song, “Saving the World.” In it they identify two groups who work at burying the basics of Christianity: those who “complicate the truth” and those who “convolute the story.” Then they simplify the essential truth of Christianity in their driving refrain: “It all comes down to a Man dying on the cross saving the world, rising from the dead, doing what He said He would do.”

While many Christians are arguing about and dividing over issues of dubious importance, these Christian musicians are preaching the truth that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. And they’re doing it with an evangelistic sense of urgency! We think this month’s Feature writers are too – although they take a few more words to do it.

By Larry Ondrejack