Many of us have played the child’s party game, “Telephone”.  A message is started at one point in a circle that is then passed on by whispering into the ear of the person sitting next to you.  The last one to hear the message repeats it out loud.  Then the one who started the message gives the original version.  It is always intriguing and hilarious to see how the original has been altered during the various exchanges.  Obviously it is difficult, if not impossible, for a verbal message to be repeated often and yet remain accurate.

But when we are handling the ultimate message we must be careful to preserve its integrity.  One of the most common problems reported by missionaries is something called syncretism.  This is the tendency of young Christians to mix their old belief system with the message of the Christian gospel.  The sad result is a changed message that loses its original power.

The same thing has happened in western Christianity through the build-up of barnacles of tradition on the message of institutional churches.  Over the years novel and creative ideas have been added by well-meaning people.  The original message has become encrusted with these additions.  The result is a changed message.

Evangelical Christians have tried to stay “true to the Word.”  Yet, in our attempts to mass market the message of salvation we have modified the Word.  In simplifying and clarifying the gospel we have inadvertently forgotten to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and best communicator of our faith.

Here’s the key question, can anyone communicate the gospel better than Jesus?  Shouldn’t we assume that His way of presenting His message is the best way?  His word choice, His way of framing the issues, His understanding of the basic definitions is not optional but essential.  We have a benchmark, let’s not try to recreate it or improve on it.

Our job as communicators of the Good News in our generation is to adjust the message to the way people around us think, not change it.  We interpret, illustrate, and contextualize the message so that today’s hearers can understand.  But it remains Jesus’ Gospel of the Kingdom!  (Matthew 24:14)