Something Seems Off?
- Kingdom Kulture
- Aug 19
- 7 min read
A few weeks ago, I made a late night trip to Walmart. I typically steer clear of Walmart because they're always packed and a simple errand often leads to wandering through the toy section or browsing make-up. However, this time, my wife and kids weren't accompanying me.
I remember walking down the aisle looking for something and was completely shocked to see my wife there. As I got closer to the woman I believed to be my wife, I realized something seemed off. My wife is Slavic; her parents were born in Ukraine during the Soviet Union era. Therefore, living in America, we don't often encounter people with Ukrainian ancestry.
As I approached the woman who I thought was my wife, the quick-thinking side of me decided to walk by her, reasoning that if it were truly her, she would see me and jump for joy. Just kidding. But I did expect her to at least say something.
As I walked past, the woman looked at me very annoyed -- as anyone would if a stranger seemed to be staring at them for no reason. I laughed to myself and later FaceTimed my wife to tell her. While driving home, I started to consider how disastrous it would have been if the woman had played along, and how chaotic it would have been for me to explain the situation to my wife.
The main reason my wife and I got married was because of her deep-rooted faith. Although on the surface her upbringing appears similar to that of many Americans, her family experienced religious persecution, with relatives facing threats of death and some even imprisoned for their beliefs. She had a clear understanding of what genuine faith truly entails.
Since surrendering my entire life to God, I've realized that, just as I was almost deceived by my wife's Walmart doppelgänger, many of us in the Western world have embraced a Gospel that merely resembles the true one. We have accepted a decent sounding, self-gratifying version of the Gospel. Outwardly, everything seems similar: We all proclaim Jesus as Lord and believe in God's grace. However, the expectations He has for us and the way we should live differ significantly from how He actually lived.
"21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]." - Matthew 7:21-23 AMPC
We have diminished the true Gospel into ignorant, religious gossip about how the Savior might have intended for us to live rather than studying how He actually lived according to God's Word. If we examine the Roman occupation during Jesus' time, we will see that there were many religious scholars as well as other individuals who professed a belief in God. Yet, very few of them embraced the message of Jesus Christ Himself. They couldn't refute the words of Jesus, but something still seemed off to them.
"34 Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced (muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of their number, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him." - Matthew 22:34-35 AMPC
"46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day did anyone venture or dare to question Him." - Matthew 22:46 AMPC
Jesus Himself says that the religious scholars of the time knew the right things to say, but had trouble practicing what they preached.
"3 So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice." - Matthew 23:3 AMPC
Perhaps one of the things that seemed off was the fact that Jesus Himself actually lived what He preached. Their sermons were similar, but the actions behind the scenes were completely different because He put those sermons into practice. Jesus Himself even added that all of the people that were "saved" by them were actually children of satan.
"15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are." - Matthew 23:15 AMPC
In fact, We see Jesus refer to people who are led by their flesh and not their faith as satan himself, making a parallel between satan and other people who reject the purpose of God to pursue their own carnal desires which ultimately led to satan's exile from the kingdom Heaven. Unfortunately in today's society, we tend to only listen to what pleases our flesh and not what strengthens our faith.
Not only have we convinced ourselves of a distorted version of the Gospel, but ministers have also spread this misinterpretation globally, promoting a version that doesn't require significant life change. This has led many even further from the Christ that they claim to have living on the inside of them. We see the same problem arise with Paul later on in the New Testament. Although there were numerous pastors, Paul tearfully stated that they were, in fact, enemies of the Cross of Christ.
"17 Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you. 18 For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One). 19 They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party." - Philippians 3:17 -19 AMPC
Preaching the Word was not an issue for them, but it was their failure to live by it that truly disqualified them.
"10 We are [looked upon as] fools on account of Christ and for His sake, but you are [supposedly] so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! You are highly esteemed, but we are in disrepute and contempt 11 To this hour we have gone both hungry and thirsty; we [habitually] wear but one undergarment [and shiver in the cold]; we are roughly knocked about and wander around homeless. 12 And we still toil unto weariness [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When men revile us [wound us with an accursed sting], we bless them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure it. 13 When we are slandered and defamed, we [try to] answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world [the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth]. 14 I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children. 15 After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel). 16 So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me." -1 Corinthians 4:10-16 AMPC
We see the trials of Paul and his sufferings. Now, we must be honest with ourselves. Wouldn't we rather hear a different story?
"26 Many times on journeys, [exposed to] perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from [my own] nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as believers [but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety]; 27 In toil and hardship, watching often [through sleepless nights], in hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold and exposure and lack of clothing. 28 And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care and anxiety for all the churches!" - 2 Corinthians 11:26-28 AMPC
Wouldn't we rather hear a message that doesn't come with trials and hardships? A message that focuses on the sufferings of Jesus and not our own? Wouldn't we rather our missions tips to be vacations at exclusive resorts rather than toughing it out in the desserts for Christ?
If I'm being honest, I was also initially drawn to the misguided version of Christianity that focused solely on what Jesus did for me and even more so on what God wanted to give me. However, I came to realize that it seemed as though God and I were always on different pages. This prompted me to study His Word on my own, only to discover that we were not just on different pages, but in entirely separate books. One was the book of mike and what he thought GOD should expect, and the other was the Bible, explaining Gods instruction for the lifestyle and dedication he expects from us.
"7 Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! 9 As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!" - Galatians 1:7-9 AMPC
It's not too late. If you have fallen for a version of the Gospel that has left you even emptier than you were before, I encourage you to also pick up His Word for yourself and choose today whom you will serve and actually give your life to.
Question of the Day: Have you fallen in love with a different Gospel?
