It is fair to say that our generation likes things to be quick, easy, and to the point. Just take a look around your household or room and tell me there isn’t one product that has made your life a heck of a lot easier. I will give you a hint – you are staring at one! What is it that entices us to live this way? I have come to the conclusion that we are a society that is drawn to comfort and success. To know that a person can do something fast, efficient, and successfully would put anyone in a great mood.
This leads me to my topic of discussion: why is it that churches think they need to truncate or sugar coat the gospel? Think about it – If you were a non-Christian coming to church for the first time what part of the gospel would sound the most easy or appetizing to you? Maybe if you receive Christ, things will go better for you. Or maybe if you receive Christ, all of your sins will be wiped away. All you have to do is confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”. That sounds quick, easy, and to the point. But wait…what about denying yourself and taking up your cross? No one said that this was a life long process; no one said that I would face persecution. It doesn’t sound too appetizing now does it? It is no wonder why so many churches today truncate the gospel. It gets people into the church, and it gets people saved! How can we communicate the gospel in a way that gets people saved, but at the same time get them to grow as true disciples?
– Brian
In our consumerist society, we tell ourselves that people will only come to Christ if we present Him in a way that makes Him seem easy – like He will make our lives on this earth better. But, like Hirsch wrote in Forgotten Ways, often the churches that are most successful and attract the most new members are the ones being violently persecuted – where new members know that their new life will not be at all easy.
I have been in many close relationships with people very antagonistic towards Christianity, and I know exactly how this dichotomy feels. I don’t want to talk about my faith because I know how difficult it is, but I can’t bear to water it down enough to talk about it trivially, so, for better or for worse, so much of the time I end up saying nothing. It is troubling sometimes, I think.
I agree with you Brian. Part of the problem is many people who claim to be Christians today don’t really know what being a Christian is all about, an interesting dilema.
Brian, I really like your thoughts. The most important aspect of our faith and practice is love: and love is neither comfortable nor practical. Look where it got Jesus. It seems like the foundation of our faith is counter-cultural to the societal mindset we live in…