“I can’t accept a God who sends people to hell.” “I can’t believe in a God who requires the death of his son for me to be forgiven.” “I can’t accept a God who…” These are common protests against Christianity. Strangely, however, many who make them continue to attend Christian churches. Admittedly, these Churches tend to embrace mutated forms of Christianity which cater to the sensitivities of those who prefer to play God than to worship the true God. They accommodate those who prefer to stand in judgment over the bible and to ignore or change scriptures they find intolerable.
Usually, these people want pastors who only teach about God’s love and mercy. They want a God who fits their comfort-zone and adjusts to their crowded schedules. They don’t want a God who places demands on them or makes them feel guilty. And they don’t want a God who judges people (unless it’s the really bad people they read about in the newspapers).
What do they think of Jesus? He is reduced to a nice guy who did nice things for needy people. These people want a gentle Jesus—one the children can learn about in Sunday school. They don’t want too much emphasis placed on the miracles of Jesus and they would prefer not to focus on Jesus’ death for sinners. The miracles are often portrayed as merely stories made up about Jesus to help us learn about kindness to others.
The Jesus who said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28) is to be avoided as too judgmental. And, the Jesus who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) is too exclusive for the demands of pluralistic civility. Finally, the Jesus who said, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38-39), is too demanding. The preferred teaching of Jesus is “judge not lest you should be judged.”
The Pastors of these churches face a number of challenges. First, it is mandatory that their sermons be brief (people start squirming after 15 minutes). Secondly, they must avoid large portions of scripture as they delicately prepare non-offensive messages. Finally, they must live with the shame of concealing the truth from those they lead. Of course, these pastors themselves usually don’t believe in the God revealed in scripture. They are wolves posing as shepherds.
The bible spoke in advance about these people and their pastors. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (II Timothy 4:3-4).
This “pick and choose” approach to scripture implies that we stand as judges over God. It contradicts the truth that scripture, “never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:22). Without exception, “all Scripture is God-breathed” (II Timothy 3:16).
Those who reject major themes of the bible have no reason to believe any of it. The God they believe in is a creation of their own imaginations. He is a custom designed deity to fulfill their own desires. But, why do such people feel compelled to hold to selective forms of Christianity? Why not reject it entirely and embrace something else? Perhaps they attend their designer Churches and listen to their appointed teachers to pacify their guilty consciences. How sad to pacify what God is willing forgive and cleanse. But such forgiveness would require a savior who saves sinners and this is just too much for proud of hearts to accept.
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Some times I whole hearted disagree with the opinion pieces posted on this site.
This time I whole heartedly agree with you. Far too often we strip out the core of our beliefs leaving nice squishy version that goes down easy.
For real believers, such nonsense is a waste of time. I hate churches who tolerate such things just to swell the rolls. If you can't take the truth, get out of the church. Click here to reply to this post
Many years ago I seen a young man drive like an idiot, and I said to myself "what a jerk". The words had not even left my mouth when I was reminded I used to be that jerk when I was younger. God spoke to me a said; "anything that bothers you like that; it is My Holy Spirit holding up a mirror and showing what you are like". I was devastated for I knew it was true. I asked God to forgive me for driving like a jerk when I was young and asked Him to help me see the other things in my life He wanted me to change. Every time I would be really bothered by something, I was made aware that it was me that God wanted to change and NOT those I was bothered by. Steve we are bothered by these professing Christians who design their own Christianity. But I say it is the Holy Spirit holding up a mirror to us and showing us what we are like. We all design our own Christianity. We accept this but not that, we are the ones that choose and not the Holy Spirit. I would ask all of us this one question: WHAT IS IT ABOUT GOD THAT WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND REFUSE TO ALLOW HIM TO SHOW US THE TRUTH. Remember these words from John who Jesus loved: 1 John 1 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. In His Grace Lou Click here to reply to this post
Steve:
An excellent article that serves to build the true body to be wise as serpents but gentle as doves. Steve; I agree with everything you wrote but have a different conclusion. You wrote: "Perhaps they attend their designer Churches and listen to their appointed teachers to pacify their guilty consciences. How sad to pacify what God is willing forgive and cleanse. But such forgiveness would require a savior who saves sinners and this is just too much for proud of hearts to accept."
My take would be that they reject a Christ that requires something from them. It is easy to accept a Christ that loves us, protects us, blesses us, and saves us from the world and our sins. However most of these Christians, in my opinion, view Christ as a loving mother hen protecting her brood while allowing them to bumble thru life making mistakes (sinning), trusting themselves (lack of faith), all the while secure in their profession of faith and christian appearances. The truth of their faith is their belief in the goodness of man and man's ability to ACHIEVE, when sprinkled with the sugar of love. When you get down to it, their error is having a loving God who is always merciful, always tolerant, always accepting, always understanding, and always saving who requires nothing from us other than a prayer and love in our hearts. They misunderstand baptism into His death, dying to ourselves daily, perserverance, and the meaning of TRUE Love- the choice to sacrifice to God and each other. Click here to reply to this post
