Something has gone terribly wrong when Christians become more excited about politics, prosperity, prophecy and personalities than the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That is the sobering warning from respected Bible teacher R.T. Kendall, who is sounding the alarm about what he sees happening across the modern church.
“I would say that at least 90% of what we watch on religious TV today focuses on almost everything but the gospel,” Kendall says. “I’m sorry, but the common denominator of religious television today is mostly about money.”
His question is piercingly simple: Whatever happened to the gospel?
Kendall argues that the church has allowed a host of other messages to compete with—and sometimes overshadow—the simple message of salvation through Jesus Christ. He points to the prosperity gospel, health-and-wealth teaching, hyper-grace, the “name it and claim it” message and even an excessive fixation on politics.
But his warning cuts especially close to home for charismatic believers.
“People in charismatic churches flock to hear what they call a rhema word, a word of knowledge, a personal prophecy, but sometimes show no interest in the real gospel where God sent His Son to die on the cross,” Kendall says.
Prophecy matters. The gifts of the Holy Spirit matter. Healing matters. But Kendall’s message raises an uncomfortable question: Have believers become more fascinated with what God might say about tomorrow than what Christ already accomplished at Calvary?
To pre-order R.T. Kendall’s new book, Holy Fear, visit Amazon.com.
Kendall also targets the political obsession gripping parts of the church.
“There are those who feel that they have a mandate to support certain candidates owing to their conservative views,” he says. “I wish they were as excited about the gospel as they are who is going to be elected to political office.”
Kendall makes clear that his concern extends across the political spectrum. In his view, when political and social issues become more exciting to Christians than “the pure, simple, undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ,” something has gotten out of order.
He also warns about the disappearance of preaching on hell, eternal punishment and the fear of God, while questioning the growing acceptance of universalism.
For Kendall, the solution is not another Christian trend. It is a return to the foundation.
Returning to Martin Luther and the Reformation, Kendall emphasizes justification by faith: the realization that salvation cannot be earned through human works. He defines the gospel as the good news that a person can exchange trust in his or her own works for trust in what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, accomplished on the cross.
Kendall says that truth turned Luther’s life upside down. Eventually, it helped turn Europe upside down.
Perhaps the church needs that kind of awakening again.
The answer will not ultimately be found in a political candidate, a bigger bank account, the latest prophetic word or another religious fad. Kendall’s challenge is to bring believers back to the message that transformed the world in the first place.
“We don’t trust our works,” Kendall says, “but put all our eggs in the one basket. The blood of Jesus.”
In an age overflowing with Christian content, Kendall’s warning is worth considering: We can talk about countless things in the name of Christianity and still neglect the very message Christianity exists to proclaim.
Whatever happened to the gospel?
Maybe it is time to put it back at the center.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
