“And the angel said to them:  ‘Fear not, for behold I “good-report” to you great joy which is unto all the people…’” (Luke 2:10). Although traditionally the words of the Christmas herald are said:  “I bring you good tidings of…,” literally, the angel said “I good-report to you.” A euaggelion (Greek) is the report of good news (e.g., the report of a battle victory).  The angel makes a verb out of it:  euaggelizomai—I ‘good-report,’ or ‘bear a good report,’ to you.

Too often the good report of the euaggelion (or Latin, evangel; or English, gospel) is not permitted to sing above the fields of our lives in its full glory.  Why?  Well-meaning church leaders hoping to incite Christians to share the gospel unintentionally reform the good-report into a work-order.  It’s done via that caveat:  “…the Word and the Sacraments are important, but… (here, usually some form of admonition or exhortation to share the word follows as a required duty of the Christian life).  As soon as one adds the caveat “but,” it frankly doesn’t matter what’s said next.  The good-report is diminished.  It’s mingled, diluted.  The fact that the incarnate God, crucified for the iniquities of all humanity, comes to meet humanity within His chosen means to bear to us eternal life and salvation is the gospel!  Add no “have to, must, need to, etc.” to it, or the gospel will be taken from the sheep—they’ll not be allowed simply to graze.  While sharing the news is important, so as not to take away from the gospel instead say, “The Word and the Sacraments [bearing Christ to us] are important!  Now (taking nothing away from their importance), will we not share the good-report with others?”

How will we?  I write this with Christmas on the near horizon.  Last night my wife wrapped the first of the presents to be placed under the tree.  This morning, my oldest son, John, found them.  When he woke, my second son, Jacob, came to me; and one of the first things he said was:  “There are presents under the tree!  …John showed them to me.”  John showed them to me…John understood what the presents meant, and he couldn’t contain the news.

Isn’t that how the news of God-incarnate’s presence/presents with/for us is naturally shared?  Sure, at times an organized effort will be helpful.  But, when Goliath fell, did the word not spread from house to house “organically”?  They knew what their newly-won freedom meant.  But far more:  “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Christ the Lord!” It’s a great report that incites its being shared.  Brothers share it with brothers; mothers with daughters; friends with neighbors…organically.  It’s how Nathanael heard if from Phillip (“We have found the Christ!” John 1).  No yoke of duty was hung on the necks of the shepherds, either.  The joy of the news is the wind in the sail that moves the ship bearing the gospel, not the drumbeat driving the oarsmen! Rejoicing in the gift given, they couldn’t help but spread the news:  “And when they saw it [the manger with the Christ therein], they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this Child…And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:17, 20).