Chris Erdman hit it out of the park again!

“Chris Erdman writes: What often passes for Christianity may be religious but is not Christianity–not yet at least (and one wonders if it ever will be given such a start). Culture Christians are not terribly interested in Jesus of the Bible who said such silly things like: “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you . . . . Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6.27, 36) and “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8.34). No, their god is not the One who says such outlandish things; their god promises safety, security, and abundance–in short, the American Dream. Jesus of suburbia. Culture-Christians and the churches that form them will never see things this way; their Jesus has been fashionably refashioned to be the god of safety. “Jesus died to get me to heaven.” “Jesus wants me to get others to heaven.” “Jesus blesses the guns and bombs and planes and policies that keep me safe and happy until I get there.” So much of this non-Christian Christianity is really about creating a safe world where I’ll never have to love my enemy, deny myself my create comforts, or die as a witness to Jesus Christ. This is a gospel but it is not the Gospel.”

But it’s one thing to find agreement. It’s another thing to actually live an alternative kingdom life.

Jesus, help me to follow you and spend my life on the good of your kingdom and not on a culturally-defined image of safety and comfort. Help me to hear and sing the music of THE GOSPEL and not a gospel. Forgive me for living my life in a way that has reinforced my suburban gospel upon myself, my family, my church and the world. Lord have mercy and come quickly to my aid.