"I've Got Some Good News and Some Bad News."

SPECIAL NOTE: Alan who normally writes these articles is currently in Malawi, Africa.  He anticipates sending a periodic report starting soon which will be publicized via this blog.  In his absence, our webmaster, Jeff Cox, authored the following.

Introduction. Four women go to the doctor to get their lab test results.  Imagine their response to the following:

• "Mrs. Jones, I've got good news – you're pregnant."  Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been trying to have a child for several years.
• "Mrs. Smith, the good news is you're pregnant.  The bad news is the tests show your baby has a genetic condition that will likely kill it before the age of two."
• "Ms. Brown, I've got good news – you're pregnant." Ms. Brown is an unmarried career woman in her 40's who is having an affair with her married boss.
  
• "Mrs. White, I've got bad news – you're pregnant – with triplets.  The good news is I just saved 15% on my car insurance by switching to LizardCo".

"I've got good news and bad news" situations are common in life.  Whether they are serious, humorous, or something in between usually depends on the situation and the person's attitude. 

The same is true of the Bible, especially the "Good News" of salvation (Greek "euanggelion", gospel, glad tidings).  What may be good news for one person can be perceived as bad news for another, depending on the situation and their attitude.  We just need to carefully assess the situation and decide if we are going to respond appropriately.

Sin and Forgiveness.  The "bad news" is you are a sinner.  People don't like to hear that, but passages like Rom. 3:10 ("…there is none righteous"), Rom. 3:23 ("For all have sinned"), and Rom. 5:12 declare this plain truth.  The "good news" is you can be forgiven (Luke 2:10-11; Eph. 1:7).  But the potentially "bad news" is you have to repent.  People may perceive that as "bad news" if they like to hear "just accept Jesus as your Personal Savior" or "once saved, always saved".  But consider passages like:

• “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation…” 2 Cor. 7:10
  
• “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12
  
• “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” Heb. 10:26

Even worse potentially "bad news" is repentance involves žstaying away from what many would consider to be “pleasurable” things:

• Lust of the flesh (1 Pet. 2:11), of the eyes (Matt. 5:28), pride of life (1 John 2:16)
  
• Drinking, smoking, drugs, etc. (Rom. 12:1)
  
• Dirty jokes, profanity, etc. (Eph. 4:29; 5:4)
  

žThe “good news” is these things never were really good for you in the first place (e.g., 2 Sam. 11 with David & Bathsheba; Prov. 23:29 with social drink).

Even better "good news" is you can have a fresh start and be "born again" (John 3:3).  But the potentially "bad news” is it requires immersion in water (“baptism”) in order to have forgiveness.  Many people perceive that as "bad news", since they view baptism as an optional thing that can be done after you are saved or a “work” to be avoided entirely.  But consider passages like:

• “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Rom. 6:4
  
• “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; ” Mark 16:16

Attendance.  The "good news" God intended local congregations to provide the proper environment for Christians to:

• “These things I command you, that ye love one another.” John 15:17
  
• “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ” Col. 3:16
  
• “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, ” 1 Thes. 5:11
  
• “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” Heb. 10:24
  
• “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, …” 1 Pet. 5:5 

However, the potentially "bad news" as perceived by some people is attendance is not optional or a “once & done” event.  Heb. 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.")  Going just on Christmas and Easter, or when it is convenient simply falls short.  Even people who often attend worship on the Lord's Day (Sunday) still fall short when they fail to take advantage of other opportunities for worship, instruction, and encouragement offered by the local congregation.

Money and Materialism.  žThe “good news” is God provides practical guidance that often leads to material prosperity, like being a good employee (Eph. 6:5; 1 Tim. 6:1; Tit. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:18), thankful (Rom. 1:21; Col. 3:15), and a wise steward of His blessings (1 Pet. 4:10).  And most people, at least in the United States, are relatively prosperous financially and view that as even better "good news".  But in reality it can be "bad news" since it can lead to trusting in those riches (1 Tim. 6:17-19), loving them (Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23), and serving them (Matt. 6:24ff).

Marriage and Divorce.  žThe “good news” is God created marriage for long-term family relationships (Gen. 2; 1 Cor. 7:1-5; Heb. 13:4).  What may be perceived as "bad news" is how we need to put our spouse first (Eph. 5:22-33).  Even worse potentially “bad news” in our culture of lax divorce laws is that God severely restricts acceptable reasons for terminating marriage to only death (Rom. 7:1-3) and fornication (Matt. 19:1-9).  Even the disciples recognized this as potentially "bad news" (vs. 10).  But the "good news" is such restriction should foster a deeper commitment to work through the inevitable issues that arise between spouses.

Relationships.  The “good news” is God loves us fully, unselfishly, and self-sacrificially (John 3:16).  Unfortunately, some people might view as potentially "bad news" the fact that He expects and requires the same from us, not only toward Him, but others as well (Luke 10:27).  This can manifest itself in many different situations:

• Expectation of parents, but especially fathers, to nurture, spiritually instruct, and discipline their children, including corporal punishment when necessary (Prov. 22:6; Prov. 13:24; Eph. 6:4)
  
• The "good news" is we can have peace with God.  But the potentially "bad news" is it will likely cause conflict with our family (Matt. 10:34-37); friends, coworkers, etc. (1 Pet. 3:16); and even fellow Christians (1 Cor. 1:10-11; 11:18-19).
  
• The "good news" is God provides guidance for getting along with others (Rom. 12:18).  žThe “bad news” is we will still have conflict and enemies.  What can be perceived as even worse “bad news” is how God expects us to treat them with love (Matt. 5:43-44; Rom. 12:19-21).
  

Conclusion.  žWe frequently encounter “good news, bad news” situations, especially when it comes to our perception of God's Word and its application to our lives.  Very often, these situations are a function of our attitude.  Is the "bad news" really that or a reflection of our misunderstanding of the Bible or a bad attitude)?  The ultimate question we should be asking is are we going to respond appropriately?

• Rejoice and be grateful with truly good news?
  
• Reach out for strength and encouragement with truly bad news?
  
• Overcome our misunderstanding and/or bad attitude and see the good with potentially "bad" news?
  

For Further Information.  For more about the various topics mentioned in this article, see:

• "A" for "Apostasy" and "Attendance"
• "B" for "Baptism"
• "D" for "Divorce", "Drinking", and "Drug Abuse"
• "F" for "Family"
• "G" for "Greed"
• "M" for "Marriage"
• "P" for "Profanity"
• "R" for "Repentance" and "Revenge"
• "S" for "Salvation" and "Smoking"