The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
You think you know the Gospel…and maybe you don’t. Hey, those aren’t my words. Take that up with Matt.
The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler is a thought-provoking book that challenges believers who think they know the Gospel and offers clarity to those who don’t know the Gospel. The Gospel, enacted by the greatest historical figure ever, Jesus of Nazareth, offers us hope in a world full of suffering. Throughout his book, Chandler grips readers with his intelligent and slightly casual writing approach to explaining the Gospel, something akin to being on a Wednesday night Bible study call with a pastor and a few good friends. In other terms, it’s a Sunday sermon, one class in theology, and a Bible app devotional crammed into just over 200 pages.
In this compelling book, you read the truth from the Word, relevant anecdotes, and a few gut-punching wake-up calls that definitely leave you with something to journal about later. Chandler compartmentalizes the Gospel into two main themes: The Gospel on the Ground and The Gospel in the Air. I won’t give too much away, but I will say that you cannot have one over the other. Both are key to fully understanding the height, width, and depth of the Gospel. Chandler explains the character of God and his relationship with humanity. Readers learn how masterful God is and how blessed we are to have his expanse of power on our side of the very real spiritual battlefield.
Chandler doesn’t purely delve into the Gospel from an evangelical ‘I’m-in-a-church-service’ or ‘Fire and Brimstone’ perspective. He discusses theological principles like Christian Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (you try saying that ten times) and the shortcomings of false ideologies such as that. He backs up every point with Scripture and sound reasoning. This book will have you reaching for a few highlighters and sticky notes. It’s just THAT good. I’m a firm believer in annotating books, so this is highly encouraged. Chandler makes it hard to put the book down and turn off the light, so budget for the light bill well.
Overall, Chandler beautifully describes our purpose on this planet - to glorify God through our reconciliation to Jesus Christ and each other. The Gospel is imbalanced if you prioritize one over the other. The Christian faith is a delicate balance that many of us fall short of so we know there is work to be done. Reading this book is, in my opinion, a wonderful place to begin.
