I love the cover of Ray Comfort's God Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life. The title is contrasted with a picture of the stoning of Stephen.
More and more "churches" these days preach a watered-down, feel-good message that has nothing whatsoever to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ or His teaching that His followers would suffer. I'm not saying we need to suffer all the time every day; but these modern messages stay as far away from suffering and persecution as they can get. They give the false impression that being a Christian means: You will become more prosperous, healthier, learn to enjoy the good life now, discover your "destiny" (discovering your destiny is really just bowing down to the god of fate), become a better version of yourself, etc., etc., etc. It's all about this life.
Jesus' message and the message of the apostles by contrast was to hate this life and patiently look forward to the Kingdom of Heaven. Nowhere in the New Testament are we promised, as Christians, the good life now. Recall the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
More and more "churches" these days preach a watered-down, feel-good message that has nothing whatsoever to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ or His teaching that His followers would suffer. I'm not saying we need to suffer all the time every day; but these modern messages stay as far away from suffering and persecution as they can get. They give the false impression that being a Christian means: You will become more prosperous, healthier, learn to enjoy the good life now, discover your "destiny" (discovering your destiny is really just bowing down to the god of fate), become a better version of yourself, etc., etc., etc. It's all about this life.
Jesus' message and the message of the apostles by contrast was to hate this life and patiently look forward to the Kingdom of Heaven. Nowhere in the New Testament are we promised, as Christians, the good life now. Recall the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
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