faith , Christianity Lite , you can certainly have it , but it inevitably leads to disappointment , heartache , and emptiness because it can ’ t provide the firm foundation of hope , forgiveness , and purpose . It ’ s self-focused , not Christ-focused . It ’ s shallow , not deep . It ’ s weak , not dependent on the Spirit ’ s power .
Christianity Lite promises we can live the way we want to live and do what we want to do . The kind of life Jesus offers is very different . He came to destroy sin , embarrass the flesh , insult the sinful nature , and transform our selfishness into humility and devotion to God . Jesus doesn ’ t want us to insult Him by going to church week after week without genuine change . More and more churches have forgotten they exist to see people transformed . Have we torn pages out of our Bibles that call us to authentic Christianity ? Jesus gave it all on the cross , and He deserves everything I can give to Him .
NOW Adapted from Christianity Lite by Glen Berteau . Published by Passio , a division of Charisma Media / Charisma House Book Group . Copyright © 2012 Used by permission .
Glen Berteau is the senior pastor of Calvary Temple Worship Center in Modesto , California , a church of more than 7,000 . He has a master ’ s degree in pastoral ministries and is the author of When God Shakes a City and the youth manual Strategies for Advancing Youth Ministries .
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