Listening to Christian radio on WAY-FM last week, we heard Wally talking about how he was sold a false gospel.

Wally said that God is sold like the latest and greatest product to resolve your problems, and many act like marketers, and start lying to make the sale.

People were calling into WAY-FM to talk about what they were told life would be like if they became a Christian:

• God will make life easy. 
• You'll be healthy. 
• You'll live longer.
• You'll be rich. 
• Life will always be fun, and you'll always be happy.
• And more...

With my friends and those with whom I volunteer, I've seen a lot of these ideas lived out. When we are sold these false ideas, our faith becomes idolatry: we start to believe that God exists to serve us.

God's promises are far more significant than an easy life, health, long life, or wealth.

When we believe or tell deceptive views of the gospel, we're turning things upside down. It doesn't matter if you're rich - it matters if you have treasure in heaven. It doesn't matter if you live a long life - it matters that you're looking toward your eternal life.

Jesus didn't teach his disciples to pray for extravagance for themselves.
     He taught them to pray for their daily bread.

Jesus didn't teach his followers they'd have fun lives.
     He promised they'd be persecuted.

Is Jesus your genie in a bottle that you'll leave behind if he stops granting your wishes? Or is he your Lord to the extent that none of these worldly values affect your faith?

What are you communicating about the gospel by how you live? Most people stop trusting perpetual smilers because like the bikini-clad girls in beer commercials, it just seems fake. The life of faith isn't lollipops and sugar rolls.

Further, the point of sale is not the goal.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 28)

Discipleship. Obedience. This is what we are called to. How did Jesus give an alter call?

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
...
any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
(Jesus, as recorded in Luke 14. for the "..." content, read Luke 14,the post was just getting really long.)

Jesus did not offer a discipleship of convenience. He didn't offer lives of ease. He said that we have to give up everything to serve him.

• Were you sold a false gospel?
• Are you tempted to think of the blessings in your life as guaranteed from God?
• Do you consider this life and physical blessings greater than that of eternity?

1 Comment

1. Unknown on 2/24/10, 12:11 PM

   I don't think I was sold a false gospel I was sold "fire insurance" or the get out of hell free card. Meaning when the Gospel was presented to me it was presented as "you are sinner and going to hell, Jesus can save you from hell, so get Jesus" I would say only in the past 5-10 years do I sorta understand what it means to get Jesus.