The Great Heresy of American Christianity

on Sep 19 in Church, Everyday Life, Faith

The term “heresy” is a harsh one, and reserved only for belief systems that directly contradict the clear teachings of Scripture. I’ve been encountering a modern-day heresy lately, and had to post. The heresy is a subtle, and can best be described by looking at the life of Bill.

Bill is a Christian. He attends church regularly, serves in the Children’s Ministry every other month, loves his family, and prays every night. He is kind, and likable. He is normal. Bill works hard at his job, complains every now and then, but is never disrespectful to his authority figures. Bill is a good guy. And he will definitely be in heaven one day.

But Bill’s core belief about life is where the heresy lies. Simply put, Bill “gets through” every day, and asks God to help him do that. Bill’s life is in the driver’s seat, and God is his Assistant. With “God’s help”, Bill makes it through every day.

It is subtle. It is popular. And it is heresy.

And our churches are filled with people who function and believe just like Bill does.

The Bible paints a completely different picture of our lives. The Bible paints a picture of a Sovereign and Loving God who is not only in the driver‚Äôs seat, but One who also created the road we’re riding on. He is the Driver. He is the fuel. He is the destination. He is the starting point. He is the journey. The truth is that we are assistants. We are speaking His words, and we are explaining and displaying His character to the world, because It ALL points to Him.

God’s goal is not to help us get through our days (although He does this every day). God’s goal is to get us to see the world the way He does, and then to respond with the mind of Christ in appropriate, and sometimes irresponsible ways.

Galatians 2:20 explains it best: “For I have been crucified with Christ, and it is NO LONGER I WHO LIVES, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live, I live BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.”

Christianity does not offer anyone a God who becomes our Assistant. Christianity offers an EXCHANGED life РHis life for ours. And it does so with an entirely new purpose Рto make known the majestic name of the Most High God. Before Christ, it was all about us. The Great Heresy of North American Christianity has figured out a way to continue to make it all about us, but with God’s help.

Nothing could be further from the truth.