Why promote the gospel?

For many (if not most) of us, the reality of God's coming judgment is pretty good motivation to share or preach or promote the gospel to our friends and loved ones.

But in his book 'Promoting the Gospel', John Dickson, reflecting on Psalm 96, rightly points out that the Bible supplies us with a more basic motivation for mission: "Declare God's glory among the nations because he is the only true Lord."

Dickson explains:

Promoting the gospel to the world is more than a rescue mission; it is a reality mission. It is God's call to the people of the world to realise they are his sole and beloved possession. This is why the central confession of the first Christians, recorded throughout the New Testament, was not "Jesus is healer' or 'Jesus is friend'; it was 'Jesus is Lord'. These words declared Jesus to be the embodiment of the lordship of the one true God, the one to whom all people - Jews and Gentiles alike - owe their loyalty.

The implications are worth pondering over. Dickson continues:

WHY PROMOTE CHRIST to your atheist friend with a nice car and the self-confidence to match? Not simply because he would be happier or more fulfilled with Jesus, but because in reality your friend belongs to the one true Lord (revealed in the gospel). Why reach out to the super-student with the first class honours degree and wardrobe of designer clothes? Not simply because Christianity will make her more moral or productive in life, but because in reality she is the possession of her one and only King. Why send out (and support) missionaries to Mongolia or Burkina Faso? Not only because Asians and Africans need rescuing from God's judgment (as we all do) but because they are creatures of the one Creator, and he alone deserves their worship.

 As the psalmist puts it in Psalm 96:3-4:

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Quoted from John Dickson, "The One and the many: why get involved in mission?", in Promoting the Gospel (Blue bottle books) [revised and republished under the title 'The Best Kept Secret of Mission']