We live in a culture that is so self-absorbed and self-centered that it is hard for us to see far beyond ourselves. It’s hard to not get caught up in the spirit of this age. If you want to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God you have to really work at keeping yourself separated from a culture that is constantly trying to lacerate your conscience, while telling us not worry and everything is all right, even though deep down we know this is not true.
I’m not saying that people don’t give to others or have a social conscience. The message of social consciousness is popular today and it’s hard because as a culture we want to be thought of as caring, socially aware, and responsible people, but at a base level we are unwilling to do much at a personal cost to ourselves.
We are willing to pay more for organic chicken raised on farms where they are not caged or mistreated because it is trendy. On the other hand, we are willing to murder a baby in the womb that might inconvenience our future, even though it was our reckless behavior that caused the unwanted pregnancy in the first place.
I’m not saying that all Christians agree with this. What I’m saying is that we have become so passive in the name of tolerance and comfort that we are unwilling to call out sin and call out evil. Much of this because we have a flawed view of the love of Jesus. God calls us to forgive sin when a person repents, not for us to tolerate it—especially in the church.
So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:3, 4 (NIV)
We are told by many modern preachers, life coaches, and motivational speakers, that the problem is we don’t value ourselves enough. What we need is more self-esteem and if we dig deep enough the solution is inside of us. Unfortunately, that is simply not true. We are not the solution; we are the problem.
The problem isn’t that we don’t value ourselves enough, the problem is that we value ourselves above all else. Now I know some of you might say, “Wait a minute. I know people who are too nice. They are codependent and should put themselves first more often.”
To that I still disagree; people who are codependent still do that to gratify themselves. The solution in all cases is to put God first and live in accordance to the Scriptures. This is the only way people who are selfish or self-deprecating, will live lives that honor God. The goal of our lives should ultimately be to honor God, not to find individual self-fulfillment, although leading a God-honoring life will lead to a life of fulfillment.
Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:5 (NIV)
This self-centered version of Christianity that is full of pleasure seeking, selfish ambition, and arrogance may attract a crowd, and may be popular, but in the words of Paul it is powerless. Not only is it powerless, but it is poison to true believers. This is why Paul says in his letter to Timothy to stay away from such people.
The Scripture says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). God resists pride, so can there be a selfish version of Christianity? I think not. In fact, I believe that pride, arrogance, and selfishness is a litmus test to expose things that are false or corrupt in the faith.
What is the power that they deny? The gospel! The true Gospel of Jesus Christ. A gospel that is centered on self and personal gain is a false gospel and I believe it is the other gospel Paul refers to in Galatians 1:6-10. It is the opposite of everything Jesus taught and did, and everything Paul taught and the way he lived.
These are not small errors. You have to intentionally distort or blindly overlook the main teachings of Jesus and the message of the gospel, to come up with the gospel of prosperity, or a theology built around us rather than one focused on God. But it’s easy to do if the climate is right, and postmodern America has the perfect environment for it.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10 (NIV)
Paul says that if he were still trying to please people that he would not be a servant of Christ. How is it in this day and age we have found a way to please both people and Christ and serve both money and God? Let’s be honest, we haven't. We have invented a version of Christianity where we can have our cake and eat it too.
Paul preached the true Gospel of Christ, just as many other men throughout history have done, and it didn’t always please people. More often it offended people because the true gospel is a call to repentance, and repentance for sin is the door that leads to salvation from sin, through the power and forgiveness bought by our Savior Jesus Christ.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16, 17 (NIV)
The gospel is the power of Christianity. Like the Scripture says, it brings salvation to everyone who believes. Without the gospel, Christianity is nothing. It is powerless to change anything or anyone. This is why a social gospel is powerless. Doing good deeds is a good thing and Christians should feed the poor and take care of the sick, but don’t think for a minute that this cancels out our sins.
The gospel is the way a holy God chose to bring salvation to sinful mankind. A social gospel doesn’t deal with sin. If we live a life of doing good deeds we will still die in our sins, because it's only through the repentance of sin and faith in Christ that we will escape God’s just judgement.
We have bought into the lie that we are the center of the universe or the star of our own show. We do play a part, but in the body of Christ each part is important to the body. Who we are matters only when we are connected to Christ.
Our society, and even much of the church, tells us that we should do what we feel, or follow our dreams. Or that it’s God will for us to rise to the top. The truth is you were made to fill a particular role in the body of Christ. It’s not about personal greatness, or personal success, it's about being faithful in the place where God has placed you.
Alistair Begg, a preacher whom I respect, gave a great analogy of the body of Christ by using the illustration of a symphony orchestra. They are made up of many musicians, playing many different instruments, doing many different things, but because they are following the same music all that sound put together makes an amazing score that evokes feeling and emotion. It’s beautiful and amazing because every musician plays their part, waits their turn, and what is produced could never be simulated by a soloist. Some parts may be noticed more than others, but a symphony isn't about a part, it's about the whole.
Christ is our conductor, arranger, and star of the show. Let us never forget this. Apart from him we can do nothing. Christianity has never been and will never be about making Jesus a part of our life, it is about making our entire life a part of Christ. He is the vine and the way, the truth and the life.
Although the world tries to tell us that life is about us, remember that the apostle John told us in his first epistle that if we love the world, or anything in the world, the love of the Father is not in us. There is only room for one person to sit on the throne of your heart, you or Jesus. Choose wisely.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)
In Christ,
Pastor Joshua
Joshua West is a pastor, evangelist, and author. He is also director of the World Challenge Pastors Network.
