MORE ME ,
LESS GOD
GLEN BERTEAU
Blessings , but without obedience . Comfort , but without sacrifice . Happiness , but without repentance .
Many church leaders today communicate pleasant , positive , inspiring messages . In fact , their services are bulging with people who want to hear these promises ! Their message , though , is only half of the gospel — and half of the gospel is no gospel at all . From a distance it looks like real Christianity , but it ’ s not . It ’ s weak and powerless . It ’ s attractive , but it can ’ t accomplish God ’ s ultimate purpose to radically transform lives . It ’ s fun to go to church where everything is positive , but this is a “ lite ” version of the Christian faith . It focuses on the grand and glowing promises of blessing , but it overlooks the requirements of courage , obedience , and sacrifice .
Not long ago a pastor asked me to come to his church to preach . I flew to his city and met with him on Saturday afternoon . He told me he was using a new ministry strategy to help his church grow . Confidently he explained , “ We expanded our coffee shop so it ’ s the best in town ! And our media department is knocking it out of the park every Sunday . We ’ re edgy , current , and attractive . I ’ m glad you could come this weekend .” He didn ’ t say it , but I was pretty sure he assumed I ’ d learn a lot from being at his church .
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