Coke or Pepsi?

which do you prefer?

Coke or Pepsi?

Steak or Chicken? McDonalds or Burger King? Packers or Lions? Wolverines or Buckeyes?

These are preferences. That’s all they are.

What we value and enjoy informs our choice. Our story informs our choice. We grow up with a set of experiences that shape our preferences. My wife loves the Packers because she was raised in northern Wisconsin. I love the Wolverines and hate the Buckeyes as a true son of the Mitten. It may feel emotionally charged but, at the end of the day, we aren’t going to die over one of these choices.   

If someone is a diehard Pepsi fan, I’m not going to press them to come over to the Coke-side. In fact, if they are coming over for dinner, I might by them Pepsi because they are my guest!

Healthy people are pushy about preferences. They respect what people like and where people come from.

Tragically, many Christians treat the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a preference. We enjoy the Gospel. We see how the Gospel impacts our life for the better. We understand the value of the Gospel. We grew up hearing the Gospel.

But if someone else prefers a different life or grew up with a different story–who am I to press my preference on them?

We must not pretend the Gospel is a lifestyle choice. We must not pretend the Gospel is a cultural artifact we inherited. We can’t push anyone to believe the Gospel, that’s for sure. Presenting Jesus to people as the one who meets your needs like Dawn Dish soap or State Farm Insurance is dangerously misleading. Presenting Jesus as your family’s heritage for those who might be interested distracts from the true story.

We suggest preferences, but we declare facts.  

The Gospel is a fact to be declared. The apostles knew Jesus is the center of everyone’s story and the hope of life for everyone. That’s why the apostles announced, “Jesus is Lord!”

They declared who Jesus was and what He had done–He was the appointed Savior and Judge who had lived perfectly, died sacrificially, and risen victoriously! The apostles didn’t present equally valid options for life– they called people to respond to this truth-declaration by repenting (turning to God) and believing the Gospel. The apostles held out benefits to people–forgiveness of sins and the power of the Spirit to live a new life–but they were not suggesting preferences.

When we tell someone about Jesus, we must not make Him optional or preferential. Jesus is not an option for your life… He is the only path to life. “Jesus is Lord!” is a declaration of truth that calls for a response. We can’t force the response on anyone–the Spirit gives faith. But we should not pretend we’re offering one option among many for how to live.

You don’t need to be pushy about your preferences. You should present Jesus clearly as the only Savior out of love. The Enemy wants you to fear being pushy with your religious preferences. The Enemy hates the facts of reality–Jesus is Lord, and the world is headed for a glorious “Jesus Over Everything!” future. Present the facts of Jesus with joy!