Do You Promote Artificial Faith?

© 2014 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

As churches seek to draw sinners to Christ, there’s often a temptation to soften the gospel thereby spawning artificial faith. Striving to be “seeker friendly,” they become world friendly. The problem with this is that Scripture condemns it.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

The world friendly church emphasizes temporal needs above the eternal demands of God’s righteousness. Consequently, discussion of sin is avoided, because it seems unfriendly to suggest that the seeker is a sinner. Christ becomes a great family genie dedicated to furthering our life agendas. Success is claimed when everyone feels like part of this cozy church family. However, artificial faith never saved anyone. Scripture shows that Christ described a faith quite different from artificial faith. In Matthew chapter 3, a lost religious leader, named Nicodemus, is identified. Of him we read,

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

In many of today’s churches this flattering Nicodemus would be asked to walk to the front of the congregation, pray a prayer and, perhaps, receive water baptism. However, Jesus’ reaction was quite different.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus didn’t welcome Nicodemus with a hug, and initiate a religious ceremony for membership in his group of followers. He told Nicodemus he was lost and needed to be born again. Without this, Nicodemus could never enter Christ’s kingdom. Without this rebirth, grim consequences await the one with only artificial faith.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Notice that, not just a few, but many, will meet this fate. Christian: Do you present a softened Gospel which invites artificial faith, or do you preach the gospel that Christ, Himself, did?

 

You may leave comments for Tom & Kathy (website administrators) below.