Tag: Progressive Christianity

Tell Me What I Want, What I Really, Really Want

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
—2 Timothy 4:3 (NET)

We live in an era saturated with options. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find someone who’s willing to deliver it. And this isn’t just true of entertainment or politics—it’s deeply ingrained in the spiritual landscape as well. Paul warned that the day would come when people would stop tolerating sound teaching and instead choose voices that aligned with their preferences. That day is now.

Look around at the world of Christian teaching today. The Prosperity Gospel tells us we deserve wealth and health, avoiding Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow Him. Progressive movements twist Scripture to align with cultural trends, diluting or outright denying doctrines like sin and repentance. Celebrity pastors are often more concerned with followers on social media than faithful discipleship, trading the depth of the Gospel for catchy soundbites. It’s easy to see why these messages are attractive—they’re comfortable. They don’t demand much of us. They make Christianity feel more like a club and less like a covenant.

But what about the hard truths? What about the narrow path Jesus talked about? God’s Word isn’t a self-help book or a feel-good anthem. It’s sharper than any two-edged sword, exposing and cutting away the sin that keeps us from Him. When we surround ourselves with teachers who only tell us what we want to hear, we’re not pursuing God. We’re chasing after idols made in our own image.

This isn’t just a problem “out there” with false teachers. It’s a problem in our own hearts. Paul points to the core issue—desire. We like to hear what makes us comfortable, what makes us feel good about ourselves. But if we’re honest, the messages we seek often reveal where we’ve placed our hope. If you find yourself gravitating toward a teaching that conveniently avoids sacrifice, self-denial, or accountability, it might be time to ask: am I following God’s truth, or just my own preferences?

Faithfulness to God’s Word requires effort. It requires humility to hear what we might not want to hear and courage to obey it. The Gospel isn’t about being comfortable; it’s about being conformed to the image of Christ. That’s a hard road, but it’s the only road that leads to life.

Don’t settle for what feels good. Pursue what is true. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Let the Word challenge you, shape you, and draw you closer to the One who is Truth itself.

Stop Believing in Nonsense!

Paul’s warning to the Colossians couldn’t be clearer: “Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” He doesn’t mince words. Why? Because the stakes are eternal. The Colossian church faced a tidal wave of false teaching—mysticism, legalism, and syncretism. These “philosophies” sounded profound but pulled people away from the sufficiency of Christ.

Today, we’re swimming in our own sea of nonsense, and the undertow is strong. Consider the self-help industry, which promises transformation through affirmations and “manifesting your truth” but leaves people empty and more self-absorbed. Or the rise of progressive Christianity, where core doctrines like sin, repentance, and substitutionary atonement are dismissed as relics of a bygone era. When we prioritize being “authentic” over being holy, we’ve bought into a Christ-less philosophy.

Look no further than bestselling authors like Rachel Hollis (Girl, Wash Your Face) or Glennon Doyle (Untamed), who preach a gospel of self-reliance disguised as empowerment. The mantra? “You’re enough.” But are you? Scripture says otherwise. Without Christ, we’re hopelessly lost, no matter how many self-care routines or vision boards we craft.

And let’s not ignore the insidious creep of postmodern thought into the church itself. When Andy Stanley calls for the “unhitching” of the Old Testament, he treads dangerous ground. Paul didn’t call us to abandon the roots of our faith but to anchor ourselves firmly in the fullness of Christ.

Even social justice movements, while supposedly well-intentioned, routinely devolve into performative virtue signalling because they are untethered from Gospel truth. These movements are merely empty philosophies because they address symptoms but ignore the heart issue: sin. The Gospel isn’t about reforming systems—it’s about transforming hearts (Which will lead to systemic reform, we are putting the cart before the horse). Without Christ, activism becomes just another idol.

So, how do we stop believing in nonsense? By measuring every philosophy against the Word of God. If it denies Christ’s sufficiency, diminishes the authority of Scripture, or elevates self above God, reject it outright. Fill your mind with what is true, noble, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Don’t let the world’s empty promises rob you of the joy and freedom found in Christ alone.

Christ is sufficient. Don’t settle for anything less.