Feel Good Christianity

Pastor Grady Clark

This is part 2 from Pastor Grady’s book “The dangers Of Emotionalized Christianity”. 

I ran into an old friend the other day and she said their church is growing fairly rapidly. She went on to say that if the church isn’t showing growth then she questions whether or not something is wrong. I can understand this thought process, and I don’t totally disagree, but what defines growth? Is it how many people attend? Is it how big the building is, or how much money you have in the bank? This whole discussion of church growth has to be as everything else is, filtered through God’s word. We just covered what the church is supposed to do which is to love the Lord first and then others. Following certain church models for growth doesn’t necessarily mean that you are putting Christ first. Outreach for outreach sake may bring in the people, but it can’t sustain them. Church growth should be measured from the inside out, instead of the outside in. First we must understand that as believers, you and I are the church. 

1 Corinthians 6:19, 

 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 

It’s not the building or programs that identify the church but rather each one of us growing closer to God through His word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. You can pack in a stadium and give a powerful message, but one has to respond to the Holy Spirit’s call, not man’s call. This is why it’s so important to teach the full counsel of God’s word. This means all of God’s word even the difficult passages that may go against today’s culture. Today many shy away from talking about sin because it’s too negative. We don’t want to talk about the cross, or the blood of Jesus because it might frighten the children. We can’t speak about what God’s word says about sexual sin, adultery, and homosexuality, lesbianism and transgenderism, because that would offend and cause people to leave. In some churches, they have brought so much of the world in the church that they welcome this lifestyle and even allow them to be pastors and teachers in the church. Now I know that some will read this and immediately declare that I am a homophobe and a hater. I don’t hate anyone, I love them enough to tell the truth regarding what God’s word says about these things and pray that they would believe His word not mine, above the lies they have been told or even have told themselves. I love them enough to show them that living these lifestyles will lead them to an eternity separated from God. This is not hating. You wouldn’t let someone get in a car knowing the breaks are completely gone without warning them. You wouldn’t let someone drink and drive without trying to take their keys. Love is often speaking truth even when others don’t want to listen. This is why it’s important to focus on what God says rather than what men or the culture says. Feel good messages may send one home with the warm fuzzy’s but can’t sustain them when real life hits them on Monday morning. The word of God is our spiritual food.

1 Peter 2:2, 

 As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

As a new Christian, they need to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. Understanding that He is the only way to the Father and to heaven. They also need to be taught that He is the word of God, and in Him alone can we find truth.

 John 1:1-4,

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

 These are the simple truths of the gospel. But once we have grasped these simple truths, we then need to move from the milk of the word as babes, to the meat of the word. The attributes of God, learning to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and learning to die to yourself and follow Him.

Hebrews 5:12-13,

 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the [a]oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

 That does this mean for the church? It means we need to preaching and teaching all of God’s word not just the feel good stuff. How is one to know he must repent if sin is not talked about? How do we expect Christians to mature in their faith if all of God’s truth is not preached? There are some today who are calling for the Old Testament not to be taught because it causes people to stumble in their faith. I do understand that we are the New Testament Church, we have the New Covenant with Jesus Christ and we are no longer bound by the Law of Moses. Paul makes this very clear specifically in his writing to the churches in Galicia. But that doesn’t mean that we need to separate ourselves from it. If you look at the epistles in the New Testament, they are filled with quotations from the Old Testament. It’s all the Story of Jesus. From beginning to end. The Old Testament points to the coming Jesus, and the New Testament tells of His arrival and what He accomplished as our Lord and Savior. And the last book of the bible is the Revelation of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and the only one worthy to judge the world. Again it’s the full gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing should be left out or withheld because of fear of offending or causing people to leave. I believe pastors and teachers will be held accountable for what they teach or don’t teach regarding God’s word. I would rather preach to a small crowd who love God’s word, that a massive crown who only come because they like the social aspect or they don’t want to be challenged with God’s truth. Jesus is an offense to those who stand against His word.

 1 Peter 2:7-8,

 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

  We are appointed to the word of God. We are to study it, meditate on it, pray over it and apply it. We have to take our eyes off of ourselves and stay focused on Him. When we are in the emotional or Americanized Christianity mindset it is all about us. We have been taught about the blessings of God and truly we are blessed, but somehow in our culture it has become all about blessings. Nothing about relationship with the Lord. We have a culture who has been taught that they have a right to everything weather or not they can afford it or not. Free healthcare, free college tuition, deserving of this or that with no cost to them. This mentality has filtered into the church and they look at God as the source for all they want or desire. The truth is that the ultimate price has already been paid for our salvation at no cost to those who will believe. But in belief, there is a cost. Not regarding works or deeds, but submission and obedience. Wait a minute, do you mean I have to give up my expectations, my desires or dreams? Not give them up but give them over to Him. If we are in relationship with Jesus Christ, we understand that He knows what’s best for us more than we know ourselves. By giving these things to Him He can then fulfil those which are in His will for our lives, or take away those things that are not. This is trust, this is faith, and this is obedience. The more of God’s word we study, the more He reveals to us His will for our lives. The more we understand His character and how to listen to Him,

 The more we submit to Him. This is not feel good Christianity. This is not based on emotion or culture, it’s based on truth. And it’s not based on monetary blessings which lead leads us to the prosperity movement.