The Gospel Is "Better" Than You Imagine

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Life Story
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The other day, Alison and I went to a small bookshop to browse and purchase some books. Alison happened to find some good children's book for the kids that she helps out with. I, on the other hand, immediately went to the Christian book aisle and the biography aisle. Little did I know, there wasn't an aisle for Christian books. I did, however, find a religious books section, which were filled with interesting books on different religions - I personally enjoy reading and understanding different faith backgrounds. 

I stumbled across a book by Rob Bell called, "Love Wins: For Teens". I was reading the description at the back cover of the book. There was this one sentence that bothered me a lot, "And what if the answer to life's meaning is much better than we ever imagined?" I immediately glanced over and picked up the original version of the book, "Love Wins", and I read another sentence that was similar to the former, "Rob Bell presents a deeply biblical vision for rediscovering a richer, grander, truer, and more spiritually satisfying way of understanding heaven, hell, God, Jesus, salvation, and repentance. The result is the discovery that the 'good news' is much, much better than we ever imagined." Just recently, I remember a person who said to me, "The good news is better than you think!"
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The Phrase
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I personally never bothered to try and find out what that phrase means. I do not even know who originally coined that phrase - it is possible for the meaning to have different nuances or semantics - but Bell is one of the first authors I know of who cited that phrase - by the way, I will be doing a critical or reflective reading of "Love Wins" for my seminary outcome. 

The phrase may be interpreted in several ways:

1. Our present perspective of the Gospel is dull and boring Therefore, we need a reminder that the Gospel is much better - not dull nor boring - than our present perspective. 
2. We have already have an understanding of the Gospel, but the teacher shows us something more that we're missing - the better aspects of the Gospel!
3. Our understanding of the Gospel is all wrong. Therefore, the teacher shows you the real Gospel, which is better than what you have!

Whatever the meaning may be, we need to be discerning when we come across this phrase. Because this phrase contains a lot of nuances, we need to understand it in light of the context of the book or the article or whatever the content may be in order to present a fair critique of the phrase. It is probably not a bad phrase if it is used properly and Biblically to clarify and correct our understanding of the Gospel or the Bible or the traditional orthodox teachings.

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Discernment
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Might I suggest passages of Scripture that may help us to discern what to make of the Gospel, whatever the content we are reading. 

1. The Gospel has to be presented "in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3) If the "Gospel" that is presented is contrary to the entire teachings of Scripture, then we have to immediately reject that "Gospel", which is no Gospel at all. 
2. If the "Gospel" is a different gospel from what Paul taught, confirmed with the other Apostles, and is contrary to the entire teachings of Scripture, then it is a distorted gospel. (Galatians 1:4-10)
3. If the "Gospel" is a different gospel from what Paul taught, confirmed with the other Apostles, and is contrary to the entire teachings of Scripture, then it is a "Gospel" preached by false teachers that promises health and wealth. If you have believed in that "Gospel", then you have received a demonic or a false spirit and have been greatly deceived. (2 Corinthians 11:1-6)

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Conclusion
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Having discernment and wisdom is important. The noble Bereans in Acts 17:10-12 should remind us about the importance to "examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." Apollos in Acts 18:24-25 should remind us about being "competent in the Scriptures" and being able to teach "accurately the things concerning Jesus". Paul's teaching to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 should remind us to "rightly [handle] the word of truth". It is not necessarily always safe to only listen to teachers. In our walk with God, we ought to balance between listening to teachers and studying the Scriptures. The Gospel is indeed glorious and has the power to save. The Gospel ultimately has to derive from the teachings of Scripture, not from people who create counterfeit gospels.