THE GOSPEL AND “BAD” PEOPLE
by Phil Lineberger,
pastor Williams Trace Baptist Church

Mark Coppenger, the new president of Midwestern Seminary, recently spoke to a Virginia group about the condition of people who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Coppenger expressed his disgust with those who refer to non-Christians as “good” people. According to Coppenger, non-Christians are “bad” people. They are not “good” fathers, husbands, etc., they are “bad.” Why are they “bad” people? Because they have not trusted Jesus as their Savior. Maybe Coppenger has never met a “good” heathen. I’ve met lots of them, “good” people who are not Christians. In fact, sometimes their “goodness” stands in the way of their becoming a Christian. These are honest, hard-working, loving husbands and fathers. They are under the impression that only “bad” people need to be made right with God. They compare themselves to the behavior of some Christians (good people) they know, and assume that they are actually better off spiritually.

The Good News, the Gospel, is that “God loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son so that whoever [bad or good] believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him.”

Coppenger’s attitude is more that of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, who upon seeing a certain woman pour perfume on Jesus’ feet replied, “If this Man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner [bad woman].” In other words, according to the Pharisee, Jesus should have told her that she was “bad.” Instead, Jesus said, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Coppenger’s attitude is also seen in those who “began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a “sinner”’ [a bad person], as Jesus walked away to go to the home of Zacchaeus. Jesus seemed to be welcomed by the “bad” people of his day and rejected by the “good” people. Maybe it was because He saw them, not as “bad” people who needed to be punished, but lost people who needed to be saved. Matthew tells us that “When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, He felt sorry for them because they were hurting and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Just as judgment for the unrepentant is certain, so is salvation certain for those who believe. The Good News according to Paul is, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” “Badness” is something that afflicts all—Christian and non-Christian. Goodness comes only through Jesus Christ.

The next time Coppenger wants to see a “bad” person, he has only to look into the mirror… and… thank God for Jesus.

April 1996