Just as Israel at times would be diverted from their divine calling, so throughout the past 2,000 years since it was summoned to service by the Lord, Christians have too been sidetracked from its business of finishing the work God baptized them to do. Their job was to deliver to the world nations the message the Jews refused to give – the proclamation that Jesus Christ of Nazareth came to earth and appeared as Israel’s Messiah, and was introduced by a core group of Israelites who accepted him as the Savior of the Gentile world as well. Christians are to validate this truth about Israel being God’s chosen instrument by re-telling the story of that ancient people and sticking up for the covenant God made to them. They are to show that the God of Israel is a covenant keeping Deity who is faithful to the promises He originally made to His Hebrew people. But they are not to stop here. They also bear the good news that this same God accepts Gentiles, from all walks of life, as children adopted into His family of faith. And what is the most effective means by which they are to accomplish this mission? By sharing their own personal testimonies of how the God of Israel (Jesus Christ) saved them from eternal ruin. They are to say, “so we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I (we) mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I (we) think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:16, 17*)

The Apostle Paul said that in this way Christians will accomplish the real purpose for which God ordained them. That’s what he told the newly formed group of believers in Rome, “His (God’s) purpose was to make his salvation available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and want it for themselves.” (Romans 11:11*) This Divine strategy had been foretold as far back as Moses who spoke for the Lord saying, “They (the Israelites) have roused my jealousy by worshiping non-gods; they have provoked my fury with useless idols. Now I will rouse their jealousy by blessing other nations; I will provoke their fury by blessing the foolish Gentiles.” (Deuteronomy 32:21*) 

It is human nature to become jealous when we hear someone other than ourselves exploiting our story. Civilized countries have patent and copyright laws prohibiting such activity. But God holds the copyright on His gospel (story) thus protecting His exclusive right to share it freely to all peoples, be they Jew, or anyone not Jewish (Gentiles). Paul went on to teach, as do many other Old and New Testament writers, that before the Christ of Christianity returns to this earth, a remnant of His people Israel must rebound and accept Him as their Messiah! “Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the Jews refused his mercy, God was merciful to you instead. And now, in the same way, the Jews are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you. But someday they (the Jews), too, will share in God’s mercy.” (Romans 11:30, 31*) When this takes place the gospel mission will have completed its cycle, and the Lord will make real HISTORY by physically returning to earth to gather His redeemed people, both believing Jews and Gentiles “from every nation, tribe, people and language,” and not just Christians, to Himself. (Revelation 7:9)

So, why are we asking Why Christianity? Because Christians are the fuse that God now summons to ignite this sacred bomb of identifying the true Jesus Christ, and broadcasting the truth concerning His sacred relationship with Israel, thus lighting up the rest of the world with the glory of God! This is the gospel story! It is God’s story, and He has commissioned all who believe it to tell it to the entire world. No doubt these last day gospel bearers will possess the same passion as did Paul who told his converts in Corinth, “For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)