3 Ways We Distort the Gospel (#1)

This past Sunday, I spoke for the first time at Genesis Church. I’ve spoken many times at the youth and college services, but never on Sunday morning. It was a great experience, both nerve-racking and exciting. My message was about sharing the message of Christ with those we encounter in every-day life. A lot of times, we miss that opportunity because we distort the true gospel, which is simply: Jesus. Over the next 4 blog posts, I’m going to post some of my notes from the message and maybe a little extra content. The first 3 will be 3 ways we distort the gospel, and the last blog will be the solution. Here goes…

1. We Make It About Ourselves

You may have heard of the prosperity gospel. It’s basically this: “If you give your life to Jesus, if you truly follow him, then God desires for you, prosperity in your finances, your relationships, and your health.” I’ve heard one prosperity preacher go as far to say that God wants you to drive a Lexus. That’s not necessarily true. Let’s just compare that gospel with Jesus. Was he born into a rich family or poor family? Did he have any strained relationships? Did he ever suffer pain? Just the answers to these questions alone would make anyone reconsider the “prosperity gospel” as a real gospel at all. It is not about God giving us what we want, it’s about us sacrificing all of ourselves for Him.

Prosperity Gospel tells us that ultimate happiness comes from the same place that our culture tells us it comes from – health and wealth. And this so-called gospel makes it all about US. It’s all about ME! And it leaves out one very important factor of the gospel: Jesus.

Hopefully you don’t believe in the prosperity gospel (or “ME” gospel), but how many times do we walk into church on Sunday mornings, expecting God to do something for us. We base how good our church experience was on whether the band sounded good, the video was cool, and the message was right on. Do we ever walk in church ever expecting to bless God through our worship and for God to change our hearts through the message so that we can walk out the church doors and not be ashamed to spread the Gospel? Because when it’s all about US, it can’t be all about Jesus, and we miss the opportunity to share the Gospel.