Watered Down Christianity

I’ve been troubled by a growing trend in the church in America. The trend is catch phrases and buzzwords. It is seeking to appease the world. It is a watered down gospel. It is not Christianity.

What am I talking about exactly? I am talking about the American Church’s continuing quest to no longer preach the Gospel in order that the world might love us.

Look at our philosophy of church. What do a bulk of churches in America do today? They seek ways to appeal to the lost. They want to find ways to put more bodies in the seats. They have concerts that are more like secular rock shows. In fact, for a few months, I attended Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and they really did put on a rock show playing songs like “Purple Haze” and “Time to Pretend” right there in the middle of the church service. It was disgraceful.

We want so badly for the world to love us that we have forgotten what Christ has said to us, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.” (John 15:19 ESV).

The last thing we should want is for the world to love us. If the world does not have a problem with us we are not living out the Gospel. If the world loves us we are not pointing anyone to Christ. If the world loves us we have a major problem, we have become one with the world. That is the truth of the Gospel.

I hear all the time Christians rebuking me for speaking the truth about sin we see in the world. They quickly parrot the world’s line of “You are a Christian and you are supposed to love your neighbor and you are not being loving!”

Yes, it is true that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. But loving your neighbor doesn’t mean we do not tell them the truth. It doesn’t mean we always speak in a soft tone. It doesn’t mean that we are passive.

Consider this, I love my daughter. Nobody can question that. If you know me, my daughters are two of the greatest joys of my life and a true gift from God. But does that mean I am never stern with them? Does that mean I never punish them? Does that mean they are never rebuked? Of course not, and yet, nobody questions that I love them.

Why then, do we change our definition of love when we are talking about the souls of men? When we are talking about the difference between Heaven and Hell? It is nothing but a feel-good, virtue signaling, false gospel.

Jesus did not say come to me as you are and stay that way. He said to go and sin no more (John 5:14, 8:11). To not confront people with the reality of their sin is not loving. It is a lie. It is deceptive. It is not the Gospel.

It is time to stop preaching a watered down, false gospel. It is time to stop trying to get the world to love us. It is time we start preaching the truth and take the words of Jesus seriously when he says, “You will be hated for my name.” (Luke 21:17)