Watered Down Christianity
I became a Christian on a college campus. I got involved in the campus ministry and studied the materials produced by a national campus ministry organization. I learned salvation by grace through faith, faith that was evidenced by repeating a pre-written prayer. We were taught a lot. We learned about the Great Commission, and we were trained and encouraged to share the gospel with other spoiled, rich, white, American college kids. Pamphlets and booklets taught us everything we needed to know.
Everything we needed to know was packaged and delivered in small pamphlets and booklets. You almost expect to get a cheap plastic toy with every pamphlet. They paid lip service to personal Bible study, and they had pre-prepared Bible study guides to assist you in understanding the Bible. This type of McChristianity is prevalent not just on college campuses and in youth groups but in churches and parachurch ministries.
Christian doctrine (i.e. what they want you to believe) is predetermined. They present this in little pamphlets and study guides. Every belief is supported by a verse or several verses taken out of context. It’s a very close-knit group so most participants stay close. Not many stray very far to hear arguments against the pre-packaged belief system.
Lip service is paid to studying the Bible, but their way of using the Bible consists of little more than using verses taken out of context to support their pre-determined set of beliefs. Rather than teaching and studying Paul’s epistle to the Romans, a topic is taught, for example, salvation, and verses are carefully picked to support the topic.
One particular issue is losing salvation. Can one lose one’s salvation once one becomes saved? They cite John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” What they won’t cite are verses like Romans 11:21 or Hebrews 6: 4-8 or John 15:6. When someone brings up those verses, they’re told that they’re not really addressing Christians who are cut from the vine but people who never truly were genuine Christians. They say that because they already “know” that you can’t lose your salvation. The interpretation of the Bible molds itself around the pre-determined beliefs rather than their beliefs molding around the Bible.
Can one lose one’s salvation? That’s a legitimate debate. Some truly believe that a Christian cannot lose his or her salvation. Others truly believe that they can. My point is that the participant is taught to base their beliefs on the teaching of the pamphlets and booklets rather than through Biblical study.
The subject that is watered down the most is the degree of commitment that is required to become a Christian. An easy to read booklet is prepared for people to present the gospel to people. In the end all that is required for salvation is to believe in Jesus and repeat a pre-written prayer. As one reads through the New Testament several times with an open mind, one questions the simplicity of this contemporary suburban American “formula” for salvation. But they have answers for concerns.
In answering any question, the first premise is that the Bible must conform to their pre-determined easy salvation formula. In Matthew 19 Jesus has an encounter with a wealthy fellow. Jesus had said to the wealthy fellow, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The question arises: does Jesus want us to do that? Does he want us to sell our possessions and give the money to the poor?
At the end of the exchange, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
The explanation given is that Jesus’ comment about being difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven is not necessarily exclusive to rich men. Sure, it’s difficult for a rich man to enter the king of heaven. That is true. But, they say, it’s also difficult for everyone, rich or poor. But with God, one can enter the kingdom of heaven by repeating this pre-written prayer. So don’t worry about the specific warning for rich people. He doesn’t really mean it.
In Matthew 10, Jesus says that “anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me”. The image comes to mind of Jesus carrying his cross up the hill with his followers behind him carrying their crosses. But hey, they say, no one is worthy of Jesus. We’re all sinners. But you can receive forgiveness of sins by repeating this short prayer. The implied obligation to leave your riches, leave your life, leave everything and take up your cross and follow Jesus is not necessary.
In Luke 14:33 Jesus said, “any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” This seems like Jesus is asking for a very serious commitment. But it’s not really necessary. You see, they say, he’s talking about being a disciple. You can become saved through this simple short prayer, but becoming a disciple is the next step. You don’t have to become a disciple to become saved, they say.
In this way, they’ve managed to water it down. Total commitment is not necessary. You say the pre-written prayer, and that’s it. You have eternal life. You can’t lose it no matter what you do. There is no requirement to be transformed by a renewing of your mind or become a living sacrifice. But if you want, you can become a disciple and pick up a cross and follow Jesus. You don’t have to do that, but you can if you want to.
Everything we needed to know was packaged and delivered in small pamphlets and booklets. You almost expect to get a cheap plastic toy with every pamphlet. They paid lip service to personal Bible study, and they had pre-prepared Bible study guides to assist you in understanding the Bible. This type of McChristianity is prevalent not just on college campuses and in youth groups but in churches and parachurch ministries.
Christian doctrine (i.e. what they want you to believe) is predetermined. They present this in little pamphlets and study guides. Every belief is supported by a verse or several verses taken out of context. It’s a very close-knit group so most participants stay close. Not many stray very far to hear arguments against the pre-packaged belief system.
Lip service is paid to studying the Bible, but their way of using the Bible consists of little more than using verses taken out of context to support their pre-determined set of beliefs. Rather than teaching and studying Paul’s epistle to the Romans, a topic is taught, for example, salvation, and verses are carefully picked to support the topic.
One particular issue is losing salvation. Can one lose one’s salvation once one becomes saved? They cite John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” What they won’t cite are verses like Romans 11:21 or Hebrews 6: 4-8 or John 15:6. When someone brings up those verses, they’re told that they’re not really addressing Christians who are cut from the vine but people who never truly were genuine Christians. They say that because they already “know” that you can’t lose your salvation. The interpretation of the Bible molds itself around the pre-determined beliefs rather than their beliefs molding around the Bible.
Can one lose one’s salvation? That’s a legitimate debate. Some truly believe that a Christian cannot lose his or her salvation. Others truly believe that they can. My point is that the participant is taught to base their beliefs on the teaching of the pamphlets and booklets rather than through Biblical study.
The subject that is watered down the most is the degree of commitment that is required to become a Christian. An easy to read booklet is prepared for people to present the gospel to people. In the end all that is required for salvation is to believe in Jesus and repeat a pre-written prayer. As one reads through the New Testament several times with an open mind, one questions the simplicity of this contemporary suburban American “formula” for salvation. But they have answers for concerns.
In answering any question, the first premise is that the Bible must conform to their pre-determined easy salvation formula. In Matthew 19 Jesus has an encounter with a wealthy fellow. Jesus had said to the wealthy fellow, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The question arises: does Jesus want us to do that? Does he want us to sell our possessions and give the money to the poor?
At the end of the exchange, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
The explanation given is that Jesus’ comment about being difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven is not necessarily exclusive to rich men. Sure, it’s difficult for a rich man to enter the king of heaven. That is true. But, they say, it’s also difficult for everyone, rich or poor. But with God, one can enter the kingdom of heaven by repeating this pre-written prayer. So don’t worry about the specific warning for rich people. He doesn’t really mean it.
In Matthew 10, Jesus says that “anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me”. The image comes to mind of Jesus carrying his cross up the hill with his followers behind him carrying their crosses. But hey, they say, no one is worthy of Jesus. We’re all sinners. But you can receive forgiveness of sins by repeating this short prayer. The implied obligation to leave your riches, leave your life, leave everything and take up your cross and follow Jesus is not necessary.
In Luke 14:33 Jesus said, “any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” This seems like Jesus is asking for a very serious commitment. But it’s not really necessary. You see, they say, he’s talking about being a disciple. You can become saved through this simple short prayer, but becoming a disciple is the next step. You don’t have to become a disciple to become saved, they say.
In this way, they’ve managed to water it down. Total commitment is not necessary. You say the pre-written prayer, and that’s it. You have eternal life. You can’t lose it no matter what you do. There is no requirement to be transformed by a renewing of your mind or become a living sacrifice. But if you want, you can become a disciple and pick up a cross and follow Jesus. You don’t have to do that, but you can if you want to.
posted by Dave at Saturday, August 21, 2010
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