Road Trip Reads #1: The Gospel Is Bigger Than You Think by Anthony Delgado

Are you sure you know the Good News?

What is the Gospel?

For a lot of folks, the concept is taken for granted. But get ten people in a room to explain “the Gospel,” and you’ll get darts connecting all over the board. Usually, main ideas of salvation, atonement and forgiveness get blended into a theological milkshake of “Jesus died for your sins because God loves you.” All true. Nothing wrong. But is that the Gospel?

As a youth pastor, it grieves me how little people know about the imperative truth of the Gospel — and the Scriptures overall, really. We are in desperate need of a reorientation to the good news if we want to be able to spread it.

Enter Anthony Delgado and his recent book, The Gospel Is Bigger Than You Think. Anthony is a pastor, podcaster and author in Palmdale, CA (a hop, skip, and a jump from me in Bakersfield) who holds an MABTS from Knox Theological Seminary. I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Anthony a bit and was excited to open his latest work.¹

With that, let’s kick-off the inaugural installment of Road Trip Reads: a series of book reviews for those on their own highway to Zion.

In his introduction, Anthony begins by laying out his premises of the problem of apostasy in the Western Church. “More and more, it seems people believe the Gospel, but then the Gospel doesn’t stick. Fading in and out of lives of faith is becoming the norm for Christians rather than the exception… Some estimate that as many as 80% of new churches will fail within the first five years. Whatever is being presented as the biblical Gospel remains attractive to people for a time but does not produce lasting change in the hearts and lives of new believers” (pg. 1).

A message that misses the mark is a serious source of the issues we’re currently facing in America, which, according to Anthony, is why a full-bodied Gospel is desperately necessary. As one psychologist observed, our relationship with things is built on the fact “our only connection with them is that we know how to manipulate or to consume them.”² In a world of consumer-minded church attendees and cheap believism, “a comprehensive understanding of the Gospel… bears fruit when a simple ‘Jesus died for my sins so I can go to heaven’ Gospel does not” (pg. 4). That’s a bold and much-needed assertion right now. I like Anthony already.

He proceeds to outline his intentions for the rest of the book as follows:

• Part I — The Gospel Proper: an explanation of what the good news is according to the Scriptures, the importance of the concept of the Kingdom, and what the Gospel does.

• Part II — The Gospel’s Effects: five motifs that function as the “spokes of the wheel” around the central hub of the Kingdom Gospel:

  • Gospel Victory

  • Gospel Family

  • Gospel Restitution

  • Gospel Repentance

  • Gospel Transformation

• Part III — Conclusion: the simplicity of the Gospel should change the way we not only receive it, but share it with those around us.

The intent of Anthony’s book is straightforward and succinct from the get-go, and doesn’t waste time with frilly window-dressing or linguistic acrobatics. His impetus for the book is clear: Anthony wants the reader to “be changed in your understanding of the Gospel, the effect of the Gospel on your own life, and your ability to interact with the Gospel in the lives of others” (pg. 6).

I. Pretty early on, Anthony goes straight bulldog-mode on what he calls “the Gospel of Middle America.” Toward the beginning of chapter 1, he lets us peak behind the curtain of his personal reorientation to the good news during a pivotal moment in his faith journey.

Did the Gospel fail me? Or was the Gospel I received not the Gospel?³

Brrr. Chills.

What immediately comes to mind for me is Galatians 1:8-9, where Paul urges “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” Honestly, are we propagating the unadulterated message of the truth in our context?

According to Anthony, there’s work to do. “The Gospel of Middle America is the folk religion of the contemporary West” (pg. 15) he says, and I’ve gotta say, he seems to be right. He continues: “The Gospel of Middle America says you go to heaven if you believe Jesus died for your sins, with little concern for the work of the Holy Spirit, repentance, sacraments (or ordinances), or church involvement. It’s a cultural folk religion that certainly intersects with official church doctrine but keeps many people with one foot (or two) outside the church, hoping in private belief and spirituality apart from the lordship of Christ. Too many Christians think they don’t need the church” (pg. 16). This is a sad reality I’m seeing even in church families.

The sad truth is “we have professing Christians with no origin story” (pg. 20), in large part downstream of the fact “the church’s evangelistic zeal fails to transform people into disciples of Jesus in an effort to convert people to Christianity” (pg. 22). Incendiaries = thrown.

Hollow calls to weak religiosity are not our friend, especially in light of “a religious system that appears to have failed to transform its highest priests” (pg. 25). Recently I wrote on the impact scandal and failures have made on the cause of Christ and mission of the Church. Anthony calls us to reflect on the scope of a bigger Gospel in our society, saying “when Christianity conjures images of scandal and inauthenticity and is largely incapable of answering the culture’s spiritual questions, whatever Gospel it proclaims will be largely rejected by the world around us” (pg. 30).

II. One important factor Anthony highlights is the reality of the forces of darkness and their work in the world. This is most prevalently seen in the way he employs divine council theology.⁴ A few examples:

— “…every sin is an act of rebellion and siding with demonic spirits. Every act of human rebellion is inspired by divine rebellion” (pg. 58-59).

— “The nations’ gods were dethroned at Jesus’s resurrection” (pg. 71).

— “…the Apostle John sees the Devil as the ruler of the world and leader of the rebellion against Christ’s Kingdom” (pg. 59).

— “Jewish folklore teaches that demons are the disembodied spirits of deceased giants (1 Enoch 15.9)… They are the demons of the Gospel accounts who are unclean and chaotic or tyrannical spirits, often demonizing people to perform violent deeds (ex. Mark 5:1-5)” (pg. 62-63).⁵

— “The devil and his angels no longer enter the Divine Council to accuse the saints as in Job—they are cast out, thrown down, and fallen” (pg. 94).

— “…ignoring real demonic influences will strengthen the influence of the secret enemy, not lessen it… there is an authentic correlation between sin and demons” (pg. 158-159).

Currently, I’m writing on the nuances of the kingdom of darkness, and so I really appreciate the spiritual awareness Anthony points the reader to.

III. Atonement theories all have some validity, like pieces of a 3D puzzle. Tribalism tends to fracture us into echo chambers where we’re unable to hear the unique insights outside our denominations. What Anthony advocates for is a zoomed out, fuller picture of how Jesus’ sacrifice affects our state of being one with God again. What comes up short in any single theory is rectified when we look collectively — seeing Jesus’ redemptive work through all perspectives (pg. 139). I like the way Anthony worked these themes into the chapters on the Gospel’s Effects in Part II. Ideas of atonement are not the Gospel, but merely aspects of the outworking of it.

IV. Probably one of the best things this book does is confront the reader with a renewed vision for the essence of the Gospel being the Kingship of Jesus. “Peter believed Jesus was Israel’s rightful King and that was the thrust of his Pentecost message to the Jews” (pg. 70). In the penultimate chapter, Anthony bares down: “If you haven’t shared that Jesus is King, you haven’t shared the Gospel” (pg. 225). When you think about it, that’s very true; Jesus came on the scene “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23). In many ways this becomes the central message of the book:

The good news for all nations is fundamentally that Jesus is King.⁶

I am absolutely here for it. It’s time this became the clarion call of the Church.

1. I really enjoyed this read, but there are a couple minor qualms I have. One is that there were times that Anthony made reference to a quote, myth or bit of information I found interesting, but there wasn’t always a note telling me more. While the lack of notes did lend to a more fluid reading experience, some readers may be looking for more background info on concepts or references they’re unfamiliar with. I’m a nerd. Give me more.

2. There were a few statements I felt could have used more qualifying:

   1. (On Satan) “The pinnacle event in his turning to the dark side, the moment of no return, occurs when Satan possessed Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:3, John 13:27)” (pg. 61, emphasis mine). When read in a certain light, is the author suggesting Satan could have repented prior to Judas’ betrayal? Hard to say.

   2. “…the sacrifices of ‘goats and calves’ brought the faithful in Israel under the New Covenant promises. Rather, the Israelites participated in Christ’s sacrifice as they performed the temple rites. The pattern of animal sacrifice under the Old Covenant brought the Israelites under the blood of Jesus Christ” (pg. 150, emphasis mine). I understand (I think) what Anthony is saying regarding the righteous of the OT era, but I don’t know if I fully agree regarding the rituals bringing them under Jesus per se. Retroactively, perhaps.

   3. I’m not 100% certain the criminals on the cross were necessarily “very pious Jews” (pg. 213). Could have just used more convincing (again, information-nerd here).

3. “Scaring people into uneducated ‘decisions for Christ’ on the grounds of misguided eternal securities does more long-term theological damage to the individual’s faith than good” (pg. 227). I agree in principle that fear should never be our driving tactic, but we do see Jesus and the Apostles warn people regarding judgment and Hell (Mark 9:42-43, Matt. 23:33, 2 Thess. 1:8-10, 2 Cor. 5:10, 2 Peter 3:7, etc.). My hope is, like Anthony, that we can focus on “the glory of God’s eternal Kingdom” (pg. 228), but the reality of what we are saved from should sober us. To quote him near the end of chapter 8, “we should change, not be left as we are” (pg. 199).

The Church will only expand and grow as far as she embodies the complete story of the Gospel. To that end, Anthony Delgado makes a notable contribution to the conversation of the Church’s mission. In the center of the folk religion of Middle America, Delgado redirects our gaze to a renewed focus on the prime message of our faith: that Jesus Christ is the rightful King of all things Who has redeemed a people as His inheritance, now and forever.

This is a great addition to your library, accessible yet relevant, and such a solid read. You’d do well to pick up a copy and challenge yourself: do I really know the Gospel?

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CLICK HERE to order your copy of The Gospel is Bigger than You Think

CLICK HERE to listen to the Biblical Reenchantment Podcast

• Website: https://www.anthonydelgado.net/

• Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AnthonyDelgadoBR

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anthony.A.Delgado

1. I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) in exchange for an honest review.

2. Erich Fromm (2013). “Sane Society Ils 252”, Routledge. p.134 .

3. Delgado, A. (2024). The gospel is bigger than you think: Why a Comprehensive Gospel Creates Lasting Kingdom Impact. p. 12.

4. Divine council theology explores the existence of lesser divine beings — sometimes called “angels” — and their relationship with Yahweh and humanity. Per Dr. Michael Heiser: “The term divine council is used by Hebrew and Semitics scholars to refer to the heavenly host.” Though the word translated from the ancient Hebrew elohim can refer to Yahweh, it frequently indicates divine beings or “gods” (often plural) as in Psalm 82. Importantly in these cases, these are understood to be spiritual creatures who are derivative less than Yahweh as nothing is on par with Yahweh Himself. See Michael S. Heiser, “Divine Council,” in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings (ed. Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns; Downers Grove, IL; Nottingham, England: IVP Academic; Inter-Varsity Press, 2008), 112. Also see BibleProject. (2019, March 14). Learn about the hidden forces guiding the world • Spiritual Beings (Ep. 3) [Video]. YouTube. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1rai6WoOJU

5. For a scholarly treatise on the nature of demons and their connection to the giants in the Scriptures and ancient Jewish literature, see Wright, Archie T. (2015). The origin of Evil spirits: The Reception of Genesis 6:1-4 in Early Jewish Literature. Fortress Press.

6. Delgado, A. (2024). The gospel is bigger than you think: Why a Comprehensive Gospel Creates Lasting Kingdom Impact. p. 71.