When a false gospel is preached, it seems that often the
falsehood is simple derived from over-emphasis on one trait, one gain, one
reward, etc.
For example, a gospel of “prosperity” is considered false
because of its focus on personal gain and the misconstrued beliefs that follow,
like that Christians should always prosper and that Jesus exists to make us
happy. Likewise, a gospel of “experience” may put excessive value on the
personal encounter with God, leading many to believe that whatever they feel or
interpret must be true.
When such a one-sided gospel is presented, it is often to
make the true Gospel more palatable. “Gospel” means “good news.” The Gospel of
Jesus Christ is the Gospel. It’s the good news that we are redeemed in
Christ and can be reconciled with God. But that is big news, and, while giving
the deepest joy and peace and purpose to life, is also hard news.
Often false gospels are just snippets of the easier parts of
the good news. They address one particular need that is being felt.
Many false gospels, rather than sharing the truth of Jesus
Christ, select and run with a chunk of the truth easier to accept for those who
aren’t looking to give their lives over to God, acknowledge their sinfulness,
and spend eternity glorifying the Lord instead of themselves (and really, how
many of us are eager to do that?)
Prosperity gospels share good news about feeling fulfilled
and gaining what you desire, not self-sacrifice or laying up treasures worthy
of heaven and denying the power of currency of this world. Experience gospels
validate feelings and soothe fears of inadequacy at the cost of standing on the
more difficult to like, whole truth.
Sometimes, apologetics becomes a false gospel of reason and
intellect. Addressing the needs of those who find God irrational or
Christianity foolish, the false gospel of apologetics often fails to address
the aspect of Christ that is indeed foolishness to this world and that isn’t
rational within our bounds of reason.
Apologetics can be presented as being supportive of faith rather than supported
by faith. Further, rather than basing a relationship with the Lord on a faith
so deep and true that it includes reason, apologetics at times suggests that as
reason stands, faith can have a place if you’d like it to.
It’s not that apologetics or appreciating intellect is
wrong. Or that the Lord causing you to prosper or blessing you with His
presence is anti-Jesus.
Few false gospels that live under the auspices of
Christianity say “this is it. It’s all intellect. It’s all in your heart. Or
it’s all in your wealth.” It’s rare for such false gospels to even claim to be
anti-Jesus.
But rather, in “sheep’s
clothing,” many who proclaim false teaching seem harmless and even enticing
(Matthew 7:15). At their core, many false gospels fit within the confines of
truth, but rather than building up off the foundation of Christ, they build out
additions to make the space of faith a little more comfortable.
In Jeremiah 5:30-31, we read that:
“An appalling
and horrible thing
has happened in the land:
the prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule at their direction;
my people love to have it so,
but what will you do when the end comes?”
2 Timothy 4:3 seems to echo the words: “For the time is coming when people will not
endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate
for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”
It’s no surprise that false teachings always seem to align
with the fears or obsessions of current generations or cultures. Many arise not
out of a desire to divert from the truth, but to gratify the part of the flesh
that is currently hungering most. Like a piece of candy given to a crying
child, false gospels are given in response not to needs, but to desires.
We’re a part of that. Our demands to have things our way and
to have our preferences often affect the truths we’re willing to hear. We feed and reward those churches that
perhaps aren’t heretical but certainly aren’t mature, wholesome, or
Biblically-based when we fail to seek the Lord for what He says we need. Instead,
we tell the Lord or we direct His words in order to meet the wants that we
perceive.
Imagine what we lose.
