As the name implies, Christless Christianity refers to a Christianity without the true knowledge of Christ. The term was coined by Michael Horton in his book Christ less Christianity: The Alternative Gospel Of The American Church , Horton argued that the American church has embraced a form of religiosity that whittles away the difficult terms of discipleship and emphasizes only those elements of the Bible that the flesh finds pleasant. I have had cause to attend most of the prominent Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and after close observation, I have concluded that Horton's book accurately captures the true state of a lot of Nigerian Pentecostal churches.

In many Nigerian churches today, a watered down version of Christianity has replaced doctrinal purity. Many Pastors are de-emphasizing the necessity of a Christian to conform to the image of Christ, they rather present Jesus as merely a ticket to God's blessings for our earthly lives. These pastors try to be 'customer friendly', they have become trendy and fashionable superstar celebrities who specialise in reducing " The whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) to a series of tweetable affirmations and quotable quotes to the applause of an adulating audience that are getting what their "itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:3). These pastors avoid passages of the scriptures that talk about taking up our cross daily to follow Christ (Luke 9:23), Taking His yoke and learning from Him (Matthew 11:29), The fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10) e.t.c and focus on the ones that appeal to their audience's humanitarian ideals. Rather than building self denying disciples, they create adherents who are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the form of Godliness but denying it's power (2 Timothy 3: 1-5). The 'evangelism' of such churches are targeted at winning more members to the church rather than winning more souls to Christ. They view their targets as potential customers rather than potential converts hence the need to sugercoat the gospel and present a 'customer friendly version' . Apostle Paul cautioned against this in Galatians 1:6-10 (emphasis on verse 10)

Christless Christianity appears to offer people every thing their flesh desires on earth with a guarantee of heaven hereafter while requiring no sacrifice of them in this life. It tells them the God of the Bible only exists to make all their dreams come true ( often trusting that sowing a seed in cash is all that's needed to unlock God's blessings), It presents Christianity as an opium complete with a euphoric feeling that makes adherents feel that they know and belong to Christ without equally feeling the need to allow Him Lordship over every aspects of their lives. They therefore hope and indeed believe for God's blessings and favour while on the other hand fulfilling every lusts of their flesh.

The Bible warns that as history draws to a close, much of the opposition to the truth will come from within the church (2 Peter 2:1-2, Acts 20:29-30). External opposition Is usually easy to identify as an enemy but internal compromise is like rot that may not show externally for a long time; when the decay finally becomes noticeable, it has already destroyed what was once solid. Christless Christianity is an internal rot, it has turned churches into a platform for self help seminars, self affirming messages, and feel good recreation/entertainment dressed up in Bible verse pieces to make it appear spiritual. Michael Horton stated in his book that we are getting dangerously close to a time when the Bible is only useful as a mine for 'relevant' quotes, God is used as a personal resource rather than known, worshipped and trusted. I've observed that this is the situation with a lot of our churches and 'christians' in Nigeria. For them, christianity has become a means to feel among the saints, feel good or holy and still continue to live their lives as they please.

Christless Christianity masquerades as the real gospel of Jesus Christ and the millions of 'converts' to this ideology may erroneously think that they have decided to follow Jesus when in fact, they are following a 'christ' they have created for their selves. A Christless Christianity is no Christianity at all

Mynd44, Lalasticlala

Chai, this one long o

demiladegold:
Chai, this one long o

Lazy Nigerian youth

coluka:

Lazy Nigerian youth

Taink you

Good write up by the op but I'll like to refer this to olaadegbu for his opinion before I make my own comment

The selfless Christ battling with the selfish today's church.

I noticed this trend right before my eventual exit from Christianity. I read Watchman Nee, Charles Spurgeon, A. W Tozer, Austin Sparks and many others. I noticed that their Gospel centered around the person of Jesus Christ just like Paul and the other Apostles in the Bible.

In contrast the churches were preaching sin, prosperity, the Bible, church programmes, revival and a thousand and one things that did not center on the person of Jesus Christ. Alot was being done in his name but the churches were just using his name as licence. The person, the presence of the living Christ was absent.

I tried to explain to people that even if a man opens the Bible and preaches from the book of Exodus or Psalms, or Romans he has not preached the Gospel. That talking about Moses, David, Abraham is not the Gospel, that preaching healing and prosperity without Christ being the hub of the message is not the Gospel.
That talking about God is not the gospel. Yes, you read that right. The Gospel is God through Christ. If you talk about God and leave out Christ that is not the Gospel. In the bible it is called the Gospel of his son, the Bible said Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ there. Paul said I resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. Talking about God without hinging it on Christ makes Christianity the same as Islam or any other religion.

Talking like this made me look like a heretic. The churches have long fallen away from their truth (at least by Bible standards)

In the end I could not endure the deadness of Churchianity, my soul longed for a living word. I was tired of church programmes, tired of reading a dead book, tired of the whole shebang. That's how I returned to the state I was born in before religious indoctrination was poured into my mind. Now I am without religion and I feel freer and happier.

Now I am even happy that the churches preach christless Christianity. It's a sure sign that this religion is a sham and a fraud.

Mujtahida:
I noticed this trend right before my eventual exit from Christianity. I read Watchman Nee, Charles Spurgeon, A. W Tozer, Austin Sparks and many others. I noticed that their Gospel centered around the person of Jesus Christ just like Paul and the other Apostles in the Bible.

In contrast the churches were preaching sin, prosperity, the Bible, church programmes, revival and a thousand and one things that did not center on the person of Jesus Christ. Alot was being done in his name but the churches were just using his name as licence. The person, the presence of the living Christ was absent.

I tried to explain to people that even if a man opens the Bible and preaches from the book of Exodus or Psalms, or Romans he has not preached the Gospel. That talking about Moses, David, Abraham is not the Gospel, that preaching healing and prosperity without Christ being the hub of the message is not the Gospel.
That talking about God is not the gospel. Yes, you read that right. The Gospel is God through Christ. If you talk about God and leave out Christ that is not the Gospel. In the bible it is called the Gospel of his son, the Bible said Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ there. Paul said I resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. Talking about God without hinging it on Christ makes Christianity the same as Islam or any other religion.

Talking like this made me look like a heretic. The churches have long fallen away from their truth (at least by Bible standards)

In the end I could not endure the deadness of Churchianity, my soul longed for a living word. I was tired of church programmes, tired of reading a dead book, tired of the whole shebang. That's how I returned to the state I was born in before religious indoctrination was poured into my mind. Now I am without religion and I feel freer and happier.

Now I am even happy that the churches preach christless Christianity. It's a sure sign that this religion is a sham and a fraud.

Whatchman nee and aw tozer, this two are example of what christian s ought to be.

Mujtahida:
I noticed this trend right before my eventual exit from Christianity. I read Watchman Nee, Charles Spurgeon, A. W Tozer, Austin Sparks and many others. I noticed that their Gospel centered around the person of Jesus Christ just like Paul and the other Apostles in the Bible.

In contrast the churches were preaching sin, prosperity, the Bible, church programmes, revival and a thousand and one things that did not center on the person of Jesus Christ. Alot was being done in his name but the churches were just using his name as licence. The person, the presence of the living Christ was absent.

I tried to explain to people that even if a man opens the Bible and preaches from the book of Exodus or Psalms, or Romans he has not preached the Gospel. That talking about Moses, David, Abraham is not the Gospel, that preaching healing and prosperity without Christ being the hub of the message is not the Gospel.
That talking about God is not the gospel. Yes, you read that right. The Gospel is God through Christ. If you talk about God and leave out Christ that is not the Gospel. In the bible it is called the Gospel of his son, the Bible said Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ there. Paul said I resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. Talking about God without hinging it on Christ makes Christianity the same as Islam or any other religion.

Talking like this made me look like a heretic. The churches have long fallen away from their truth (at least by Bible standards)

In the end I could not endure the deadness of Churchianity, my soul longed for a living word. I was tired of church programmes, tired of reading a dead book, tired of the whole shebang. That's how I returned to the state I was born in before religious indoctrination was poured into my mind. Now I am without religion and I feel freer and happier.

Now I am even happy that the churches preach christless Christianity. It's a sure sign that this religion is a sham and a fraud.

I totally relate with this...

When the truth is substituted for religion and traditions...this is what happens...

hisgrace090:





Whatchman nee and aw tozer, this two are example of what christian s ought to be.

Try Austin Sparks and Charles Spurgeon. Their archives are both online. I especially recommend Spurgeon. Check the Spurgeon archive. You will be fed spiritually.

I hope most Christians realize Christ is not under attack, Christianity is. And its enemies are within, teaching and deceiving, feasting on and harvesting the pockets and minds of the citizens of the failed Republic of Nigeria.

If Christians had continued to act like the Christ they claim to believe in, Nigerian Pentecostal Christianity won’t be the mediocrity it is today. Noisy. Pompous. Arrogant. Petulant.

Sunday, walk into any church. Raise these prayer points.

Let all who lie die by fire.
Let all who abuse public offices and office of trust be brought down by the Holy Ghost.
May the mouths of those who have eaten “government money” be cut open.

And watch the service end early. The congregation had rather fight unseen enemies, evil uncles/aunties, and their village people. For that’s all Christianity has become — a list of prayer points and tithes.

I acknowledge there are a few good Christians, who still appreciate the use of intellect and reason and understand that miracle is not NairaBet made in heaven.

Unfortunately, a vast majority of their brethren would consider these Christians ‘oversabi, atheist-to-be’. To use the brain is to be carnal, to be in the flesh. Those in the Spirit, simply believe, no questions asked. Doubt or skepticism is not permitted.

But without doubt, how would you know truth or fact? How you go sabi wetin you sabi if you no ask question? Without skepticism, how do you tell TRUE from FALSE? Na only robot dey follow wetin person tell am, no question, zombie.

So when you see fellow Christians asking questions about tithes, be thankful for their doubts. Be grateful, for it gives a chance for one to review, and reveal new things. Doubts, when dismissed with reproach and threats, breeds rebellion. Even Christian history tells this story.

But, alas, how much does the average Nigerian know about Christianity? Most even believe Christianity is not a religion. Call me mad.

lalasticlala

Truth be told; it is now very difficult indeed to differentiate between the church and the world, a very thin line between them.

I remember when the newly born again found it hard to identify themselves as born again.

Now we are in the era where every so called Christian shouts "I'm born again " from the rooftop but still living a life as filthy as sin.

Like every other state in life, you can't really make a change unless you acknowledge your condition; in this case being a "sinner". There are no sinners anymore.

You join a church, go for discipleship...don't be deceived, without a personal encounter nothing is changed.

Then you become a church worker...Hallelujah, you are now a saint.

DECEPTION!!!

demiladegold:
Chai, this one long o

where have you been Demilade?