The Smell of Gospel in our Clothes

Series: The church as the extension of Jesus: His eyes, feet, hands, mouth, ears

An aroma is an odor. It can be as faint as a scent or as strong as an odor. We move in and out of aromas everyday. It’s one of the things we notice when we walk into a store, a home, or enter someone’s presence. It’s quite common to overhear someone say, “My, that’s a nice scent. What is that perfume or cologne called? Certain aromas are “part and parcel” of what goes on in certain businesses. Aromas get into our clothing simply because we lingered long enough in the presence of a strong aroma. Some aromas can be detected only in close proximity while others can be smelled a considerable distance away from what is causing the aroma.

Paul describes his ministry – and every believer’s life – as a fragrance of life and death. Strange language to say the least. But, it’s language that presents a picture of the gospel and of us as “carriers” of the gospel.

Teaching the gospel to people is compared to the fragrances that accompanied the triumphal procession when victorious armies returned home. To the victors the fragrances represented peace, joy and relaxation, but to the prisoners they were a prelude to death. Same aroma – different effects. Paul says,

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Ever thought about your life as the “aroma”…of Christ? Most people want to smell…good. No one wants to give off a foul odor. As people who have the scent of the gospel on us, we bring a message – a smell! – of both life and death. I think Paul’s words remind us that we can’t afford to travel “without a scent”. We should bring an aroma into the conversations and encounters we have with other people that is responsible to the gospel. We can listen for opportunities to present the gospel to people – both its opportunity and its ultimatum. And, this is a challenge for us today especially in our politically correct – don’t offend anybody – culture. Everything has to smell good. Values are neutral ideas. There is no ultimate storyline to which humanity should pay attention. Just stories. Just perspectives.

Paul’s words serve us well. To live as servants of the gospel means that we carry the aroma of the gospel in its completeness. Our message should present the incredible opportunity that is hope in Jesus while also laying before people the truth about our accountability to God. Later in 2 Corinthians Paul says,

”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men…We urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 6:1).

What do you smell like?

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas