A critical issue facing many churches today is the rise of what is known as "Christless Christianity." This concept, articulated powerfully in Michael Horton's book “Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church”, suggests that some segments of the modern church have embraced a version of Christianity that accepts Christ's offer of salvation but reduces Him to merely one aspect of a life spent chasing the American Dream. This adaptation of faith dilutes the true message of Christianity, making it more about self-fulfillment than about following Christ. In this context, Christless Christianity emerges as a belief system that strips away the difficult terms of discipleship, focusing only on the more palatable elements of the Bible that suit our fleshly desires.
Christless Christianity is a diluted version of the faith that is rapidly replacing doctrinal purity. While professing itself to be biblical, this form of Christianity treats the Bible as a collection of moral stories similar to Aesop's fables, offering a moral lesson at the end of each story without acknowledging the grand narrative of Scripture—God’s redemption of sinful humanity through Jesus Christ. This superficial approach fails to recognize the centrality of Christ in Scripture and in the life of a believer. As a result, instead of fostering self-denying disciples (Matthew 28:19), this form of Christianity produces adherents who are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power," as Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3:4–5.
The Bible cautions that, as history progresses, much of the opposition to the truth will arise not from outside the church but from within its own ranks (2 Peter 2:1–2; Acts 20:29–30). While external threats are often easy to identify as enemies of the faith, internal compromises, like Christless Christianity, are more insidious. They are akin to rot that remains hidden beneath the surface, only revealing the extent of the decay when it is too late. Christless Christianity is this type of internal rot, transforming the church into little more than a platform for self-help seminars and self-affirming messages. At its core, it is a form of self-worship, dressed up in selective Bible verses to appear spiritual.
Many evangelical churches today are drifting closer to embracing a Christless Christianity. As Paul stated, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18), leading some church leaders to de-emphasize the cross to be more "seeker-friendly." These leaders may frequently speak about “God” but rarely discuss the person and work of Jesus Christ. When Jesus is mentioned, He is often portrayed merely as a means to obtain blessings in our earthly lives. This perspective diminishes the role of Jesus to that of a moral teacher whose teachings are selectively applied to align with humanitarian ideals, while the call to "take up the cross" and follow Him (Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24) is largely ignored.
One of the most pernicious manifestations of Christless Christianity is the popular prosperity theology, which is not the gospel at all. This teaching has misled countless believers into thinking that the God of the Bible exists to fulfill their desires and that Jesus is merely a key to unlocking personal potential and achieving earthly success. This is starkly different from the true Gospel message, which emphasizes salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the need for repentance and a transformed life. The "converts" to this ideology believe they are following Jesus, but in reality, they are following a “Christ” of their own creation—a comfortable, non-demanding version that requires no true change of heart or lifestyle.
The danger of Christless Christianity is that it masquerades as the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for many seekers and those unfamiliar with the Bible, it seems to offer everything they are looking for: both worldly benefits and the promise of heaven, without requiring true commitment or repentance. However, this belief system has gutted the heart of Scripture, keeping only an outline while discarding the substance. The Apostle Paul warned about such distortions in the early church, writing in Galatians 1:6-9, “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... If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
The essence of true Christianity is the person and work of Jesus Christ. To remove Christ from Christianity is to destroy its very foundation. Jesus is not merely a guide to self-improvement or a model of good behavior; He is the Savior who bore the penalty for our sins on the cross and rose again to grant us eternal life. As Paul reminded the Corinthians, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). This must remain the focus of the church's message and mission. The Apostle warns that those who preach a different message do so to please human beings rather than God, stating, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
In conclusion, Christless Christianity represents a dangerous departure from biblical truth, rooted in humanity's inclination to satisfy its fleshly desires. As Romans 8:7-8 clearly states, "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God." This form of pseudo-Christianity arises from our reluctance to deny ourselves and fully submit to Jesus as Lord (Mark 8:34).
By reducing the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) to a series of palatable affirmations, Christless Christianity caters to what people's "itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:3). It offers a deceptive compromise, allowing individuals to believe they have God's favor without the demands of true discipleship. While the message of the cross may seem foolish to those perishing, for those being saved, it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
As we navigate these perilous times of increasing apostasy, let us remain vigilant and discerning. True Christianity demands that we fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), embracing the full gospel message rather than a watered-down version that appeals to our human nature. We must stand firm in our faith, rooted in Christ and His Word, recognizing that a Christless Christianity is, in fact, no Christianity at all. May we, as true believers, continue to hold fast to the transformative power of the gospel, shining as lights in this darkening world and eagerly awaiting the return of our Lord.
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