Counterfeit Gospels
April 30th, 2009 by Tullian Tchividjian
In their excellent book How People Change, Paul Tripp and Tim Lane identify seven counterfeit gospels—-”religious” ways we try and “justify” ourselves apart from the Gospel of grace. I found these unbelievably helpful. Which one (or two, or three) of these do you tend to gravitate towards?
Formalism. “I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.”
Legalism. “I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.”
Mysticism. “I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.”
Activism. “I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.”
Biblicism. “I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.”
Therapism. “I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.”
Social-ism. “The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.”
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
THE RESURRECTED LIFE
Paul begins Colossians 3 by admonishing us this way: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (verses 1-2). The Message puts it this way: Pursue the things over which Christ presides…See things from his perspective (The Message, Colossians 3:1-2). Paul makes a contrast here between a life that is focused on Christ and the life that is focused on everything else.
Because of our relationship and identification with Christ in his death and resurrection, we are to embrace for ourselves a life that reflects the very life of Christ himself. This means that the character of Christ is my character. The virtues of Christ are my virtues. His priorities are my priorities.
A resurrected life means that I am more concerned with Christ and what he desires then I am with those things that occupied my life before I knew him. He is my pursuit.
Whereas so many of us find our fulfillment in things related to this life, they are temporary pleasures that will quickly lose their value. But all that is related to Christ has eternal value. This, to me, is where all of us struggle most often. We have difficulty distinguishing between the temporary and the eternal. By nature, we want instant gratification in life. We fail to understand the incredible significance and eternal value of pursuing Christ and making his priorities ours. We get lost in the meaningless, the insignificant, things that do not truly represent Christ or exemplify our relationship with him.
The resurrected life, in its simplest terms, is a pursuit of Christ.
Because of our relationship and identification with Christ in his death and resurrection, we are to embrace for ourselves a life that reflects the very life of Christ himself. This means that the character of Christ is my character. The virtues of Christ are my virtues. His priorities are my priorities.
A resurrected life means that I am more concerned with Christ and what he desires then I am with those things that occupied my life before I knew him. He is my pursuit.
Whereas so many of us find our fulfillment in things related to this life, they are temporary pleasures that will quickly lose their value. But all that is related to Christ has eternal value. This, to me, is where all of us struggle most often. We have difficulty distinguishing between the temporary and the eternal. By nature, we want instant gratification in life. We fail to understand the incredible significance and eternal value of pursuing Christ and making his priorities ours. We get lost in the meaningless, the insignificant, things that do not truly represent Christ or exemplify our relationship with him.
The resurrected life, in its simplest terms, is a pursuit of Christ.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A FAVORABLE REPUTATION
The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people (Exodus 11:1-3).
Here is a passage of Scripture that always amazes me. Moses provided leadership that brought hardship and suffering to the people of Egypt as he announced God’s plagues upon them. The Egyptians could have logically considered Moses their worst enemy. It is a wonder they did not hate him and try to take his life. Yet we are told that Moses was considered great in the land of Egypt, even by Pharaoh’s servants.
The message of the gospel and Christianity is contrary, even offensive, to those who are outside of Christ. As contrary as our message may be to those who watch us and listen to us, it is possible, as Moses demonstrates, that we can still beheld in high regard.
Here is a passage of Scripture that always amazes me. Moses provided leadership that brought hardship and suffering to the people of Egypt as he announced God’s plagues upon them. The Egyptians could have logically considered Moses their worst enemy. It is a wonder they did not hate him and try to take his life. Yet we are told that Moses was considered great in the land of Egypt, even by Pharaoh’s servants.
The message of the gospel and Christianity is contrary, even offensive, to those who are outside of Christ. As contrary as our message may be to those who watch us and listen to us, it is possible, as Moses demonstrates, that we can still beheld in high regard.
Monday, December 29, 2008
PRAYER: IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD
Prayer is about the glory of our God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus made this statement: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13). The focus of our praying must be the glory of God and of Christ. Many believers treat prayer as if they were a child requesting things from Santa. Prayer means that God gives me whatever I want. For others, it’s a form of self-help. Prayer helps me feel better about my problems. This creates a lot of confusion. People wonder why God hasn’t “answered their prayers.”
Idolatry takes over my heart when my focus becomes my glory, my personal fulfillment, my desires, my comfort, deliverance from mt problems. When I worship Christ, everything else pales in comparison. When I desire the glory of God my focus changes; my prayer life changes. I long for and pray that his name would be exalted and honored in my life, in his church, and among the nations.
As we enter a new year, may our focus in prayer be upon Christ and his glory, rather than our own pleasures.
Idolatry takes over my heart when my focus becomes my glory, my personal fulfillment, my desires, my comfort, deliverance from mt problems. When I worship Christ, everything else pales in comparison. When I desire the glory of God my focus changes; my prayer life changes. I long for and pray that his name would be exalted and honored in my life, in his church, and among the nations.
As we enter a new year, may our focus in prayer be upon Christ and his glory, rather than our own pleasures.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
Some of the most familiar words of the Christmas story are those the angels spoke to the shepherds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is well pleased. How do we define "glory?" Is it one of those words that we communicate often without a real sense of its true meaning? The New World Dictionary defines "glory" as "worshipful, adoration, praise, splendor, beauty" and "glorify" by the words "exalt and honor God." The Dictionary of New Testament Theology defines glory as "God’s power, honor, and majesty."
Scripture tells us that Christ is the glory of God (John 1:14), creation reveals the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and Christ would be glorified in his death (John 17:1). We are admonished in I Corinthians 10:31 to glorify God in our eating or drinking or whatever we do. God is glorified in his Son, in his creation, in the redemption of sinners, and in the activities of his children when they live out the normalcy of life with a focus upon him. To glorify God means that my life is God-centered, God-focused, and God-exalting. John Piper states it this way: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
God is glorified in his Son as well as in the death of his Son and the redemption of sinners. Nothing is more important than Christ being at the very center of our lives. Paul was so consumed with the glory of Christ that he said, "Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
Celebrate Christmas by making Christ the center of your life.
Scripture tells us that Christ is the glory of God (John 1:14), creation reveals the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), and Christ would be glorified in his death (John 17:1). We are admonished in I Corinthians 10:31 to glorify God in our eating or drinking or whatever we do. God is glorified in his Son, in his creation, in the redemption of sinners, and in the activities of his children when they live out the normalcy of life with a focus upon him. To glorify God means that my life is God-centered, God-focused, and God-exalting. John Piper states it this way: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
God is glorified in his Son as well as in the death of his Son and the redemption of sinners. Nothing is more important than Christ being at the very center of our lives. Paul was so consumed with the glory of Christ that he said, "Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
Celebrate Christmas by making Christ the center of your life.
Monday, November 17, 2008
SUCCESS FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE
Genesis 39:2, 23 tell us of the success that God gave to Joseph both in the house of Potiphar and in prison after being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. The word in the OT language speaks of “accomplishing satisfactorily what is intended” (Theological Workbook of the Old Testament, Volume 2, page 766). In other words, God was fulfilling His purpose in Joseph's life. Whatever definition one may use for the word "success," God defines success as His purpose being fulfilled in our lives. Scripture uses the same word in Joshua 1:8 where God promises Joshua "success" if he obeys the Scriptures. It is also the word used in Isaiah 55:11 where God says that His word shall not return to Him "empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
The temptation Joseph faced was an attempt by Satan to thwart the plan of God, just as Satan attempted to thwart God's plan for Christ in tempting Him. Every temptation requires a response. Do I choose success, “accomplishing satisfactorily what is intended” by God, or do I choose to hinder His intended purpose?
The temptation Joseph faced was an attempt by Satan to thwart the plan of God, just as Satan attempted to thwart God's plan for Christ in tempting Him. Every temptation requires a response. Do I choose success, “accomplishing satisfactorily what is intended” by God, or do I choose to hinder His intended purpose?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
INCARNATION AND TRANSFORMATION
The incarnation of Christ may be one of the best examples of what it means to be involved in people's lives for the sake of the Gospel and to be the salt of the earth. Jesus entered into the messiness of humanity. He did not observe us from a distance but he came to us. Too many of us in the modern church have done just the opposite. We have tried to influence from a distance. We have sent our missionaries around the world but we have not walked across the street. We have mistakenly believed that God has called us to separation rather than incarnation. We live in a believer’s bubble, isolated and unengaged with the people who need Christ. Too often the Christian community lives in isolation. We falsely conclude that “not of the world” means no interaction, no relationships with the people of the world. This is hardly what John meant. Jesus spent the bulk of his ministry with sinners, those with whom the self-righteous religious leaders refused to associate. If we practice such isolationism, how will we demonstrate truth and transformation before the lives of those who need Christ? Salt accomplishes nothing when left in its container.
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