Has the Gospel been watered down to a mere self-help message? The reason I mention this is because it seems that many professing Christians believe that becoming a Christian is about “making their life better and then going to heaven.” I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this is not the Gospel. It is a counterfeit.
For example, in 1st century Jerusalem, when Jesus was claiming He was the Messiah, God in the flesh, and was calling people to follow Him, do you think that was a self-help message? Let’s think about the implications.
1. If we were living in 1st century Judea as Jews and began to follow Jesus, we would probably be disowned by our family. (Luke 12:51-53) Why? Jesus was not merely claiming to be a great teacher, He was claiming to be God (John 10:31-33). Even greater than the temple (Matt. 12:6).
2. We would be put out of the synagogue. In other words, you would be “cut off” from the community because of your “blasphemy” against God (John 9:22; 12:42). You would be treated as a leper–totally isolated. You would be THE conspiracy theorist of conspiracy theorists.
3. We would be persecuted (Matt. 5:10; 24:9). People would hate and want to kill you because you would actually be sharing with others Jesus is Lord and He is the ONLY way to salvation (not ceremonial and ritualistic works) (Acts 4:12; John 15:18).
I can go on and on. But the whole point is Christianity was never intended to be about “self-help” (I want a better life). Never. In fact, pledging one’s life to Jesus, historically and currently invitites ostracism, mockery, persecution, and in some parts of the world, death.
When one has surrendered to Jesus and thus been regenerated (John 3:3; Titus 3:5), their “better life” is concerned about intimacy with God, walking in holiness and sanctification, making disciples, furthering missions, being more consistent in love, upholding the values of Christ, as opposed to the trends and fads of the world, and etc. In short, we are more concerned about the glory of Christ as opposed to being “liked” by the standards of the world.
So drill down on this question(s), “Why have I decided to follow Christ? What were/are my motivations?”
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev. 12:11).
