The American Gospel

It's not enough that we merely talk about God or acknowledge His existence,we must begin to bring what He has brought to us to all those around us. Miracles, healings,signs,wonders and supernatural events should be NORMAL for believers. Unfortunately,many American churches are filled with unbelieving believers rather than whole-hearted followers! This is largely due to an incomplete message ,an American gospel catered around the American culture rather than the Word of God.The entire culture of the church must be transformed. Here is a look at the typical American gospel preached in all too many churches every Sunday:
The American Gospel

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
The Word of God is clear that days are coming or are already here when men will not want to hear the Truth of the gospel but instead create an alternative gospel, even an American Gospel. Instead of having a love for and desiring the truth, believers will begin to want to hear only that which makes them feel good and does not confront their old man-“Christian happy talk”, one leader calls it. More than 30 years ago, Vance Havner, in his book "Playing Marbles with Diamonds," offered the following insight:
The devil is not fighting religion; he is too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it. … We are plainly told in the Scriptures that in the last days men will not endure sound doctrine and will depart from the truth and heap to themselves teachers to tickle their ears. We live in an epidemic of this itch, and popular preachers have developed ear-tickling to a fine art. Today, the angle is to avoid "negative" preaching and accentuate only the positive.

In thousands of American churches now it is no longer acceptable to preach about subjects like: Jesus is King and has a Kingdom, sin, hell, money or the power of the Holy Spirit. I recently heard of a very large church, which was part of what used to be a charismatic denomination, which banned mentioning the words, “Holy Spirit” on the platform! Why? Because it wa
s too controversial! These areas are considered taboo as they might “scare away” people from attending the growing number of seeker-sensitive ,mile-wide, inch-deep churches springing up all over the land.

Look at some of the differences between what many are being taught versus what the Word of God teaches:

American gospel says you have many choices&options -God PLUS Me ;
The gospel of the Kingdom says you have only one choice-“Follow ME” (Mark 8:34)

The American gospel says to be comfortable;
But the gospel of the Kingdom is uncomfortable to our flesh(Mt 26:41)

The American gospel is unoffensive;
But the gospel of the Kingdom offends the mind & reveals hearts
(Romans 9:33)

The American gospel looks back
The Kingdom gospel tells us to go forward (Luke 9:62)

In the American gospel convenience is all-important ;
But the gospel of the Kingdom stresses covenant (2Timothy2:11-13)

In the American Gospel ministry determined by people’s needs&priorities;
But the gospel of the Kingdom ministry is directed by the Holy Spirit's leading;

The American Gospel is democratic-the people-Lao rule-dicea (Rev3:14-16)
But according to the gospel of the Kingdom,the Word of God is the final authority(2Tim3:16)
and apostles and elders rule

The American Gospel stresses avoiding conflict: ”peace,peace” (Jer 23:17) ;
But the Kingdom gospel is all about a war ,a conflict of Kingdoms( Col 1:13-14)

The American gospel stresses people-pleasing;making the people happy;
But the gospel of the Kingdom is for the King ,it's about God-pleasing! (Heb 13:21)

Many American churches now stress being seeker-friendly ;
But the gospel puts an emphasis on the church gathering being Holy Spirit friendly (Gal 5:13)

The American Gospel attempts to get people “saved” into their church;
But the gospel of Jesus stresses we are to make disciples (Mat 28:18)

The American Gospel maintains that ministry is done only by an elite,qualified few;
However Kingdom gospel ministry was and is done by all of the Body
(1 Corinthians 12:12-20)

The American gospel pushes a program-oriented worship;
But Jesus preached "worship in Spirit& Truth" and Acts speaks of a devotion to apostolic (Acts 2:42) teaching, fellowship&prayer

The American gospel is“an inch deep and a mile wide” ;
But Kingdom preaching makes us rooted &grounded inChrist(Col2:7)

Sadly the American gospel breeds immaturity and creates piritual babies;
But the Kingdom gospel of denying self leads to a maturity;

The American Gospel allows for attendees to be easily offended;
But a selfless gospel makes us unable to be offended (Psalms 119:165)

The American Gospel makes us go "around the mountain"endlessly;
While Kingdom gospel preaching causes you to takes spiritual territory(Deut 9:4)

The fruit of the American gospel a people who are proud & puffed up (1Corinthians 8:1);
While the gospel of the Kingdom produces a humble,meek people (Zech 3:12)

Finally,the American Gospel allows foolishness to flourish;
but preaching and living the gospel of the Kingdom brings forth a people who love wisdom more than being right


By Marc Lawson

Mighty Warrior Ministries © www.ngca.org