“Regarding the content of the Christian gospel, the gospel story of Jesus occupies the central place, but students should be instructed to avoid majoring on one phase of Jesus’ earthly life only, as often seen in Western preaching. Often, liberal churches in the West major on the life of Jesus, while conservative churches often major on the death of Jesus.

This dichotomy between majoring on the life and majoring on the death of Jesus closely corresponds to the general dichotomy in mission between “social action only” and “proclamation only,” neither of which grasp the full gospel story of Jesus and thereby do not practice the holistic gospel in mission. By presenting the more complete story of Jesus and his birth, baptism, temptations, public ministry, entry into Jerusalem, death, resurrection, and universal reign, the oral story approach employed in non-Western contexts has presented a more holistic picture of Jesus Christ who thus in the power of his person has drawn many people unto himself.”

— Quoting Damon So.  Damon So, “How Should a Theological Institution Prepare Students/Leaders Who Will Go Out into the Field to Train Local People (Storytellers) to Tell Bible Stories Effectively,” in eds. Samuel E. Chiang and Grant Lovejoy, Beyond Literate Western Models: Contextualizing Theological Education in Oral Contexts (International Orality Network, 2013), 33.  (Quoted by Werner Mischke in “The Global Gospel”, section 3.10.)

I do think this gives another angle on the very justified concerns with the search for the “kerygma” or kernel of the gospel. The gospel message is a story not a propositional statement. In becoming a Christian, we embrace the Gospel story, and become a part of that story.

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