Three Replacements To Christianity

Three replacements to Christianity. American society has grown increasingly secular over time. And slowly replaced traditional, Biblical truth with secular alternatives. Here are three of them.

Three replacements to Christianity. Replace theology with ideology.

Theology is the study of God. It attempts to know and understand him better. And involves studying, understanding, and applying the Bible to life.

It quickly presents two fundamental teachings: The importance of knowing God’s law and obeying it. Furthermore, you learn God is more than a divine genie who grants spiritual wishes. But a relational God who makes covenantal promises. He faithfully keeps his end and expects us to keep ours.

Jesus pushed the commitment level even further.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (ESV, Matthew 16:24)

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (ESV, Luke 6:46)

For many people who find this level of commitment too demanding, ideology is a convenient replacement.

By definition, it’s a system of ideas that represent your social or political philosophy and guide your affiliation with an organization and political party. And while not religious, it has components that address the spiritual longings hardwired into all of us. Like mission in a greater cause. A sense of belonging and belief your cause will improve the lives of people and the world. And best of all? There are no relational demands, sacrifices to make, or lifestyle choices to give up.

Three replacements to Christianity. Replace Biblical righteousness with personal virtue.

The call to righteousness is a clear Biblical teaching. And it involves learning and applying God’s law to your life. This is something Christ-followers do out of devotion and a desire to please God. Of course, we all still sin and fall short of perfect righteousness. But the point is, righteousness requires us to conform our lifestyle to God’s law rather than let our lifestyle determine our beliefs.

Furthermore, Biblical righteousness is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not primarily about obeying God’s rules but walking with him in a spiritual relationship. It recognizes that as Christ-followers, we do not posess righteousness. But it is imputed to us through Jesus Christ.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (ESV, Romans 5:)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

What makes virtue especially misleading is that it can involve activities scripture calls righteous. Like feeding the poor and caring for widows and orphans. But they should be motivated by a desire to honor and glorify God, not earn his approval or recognition from other people. Furthermore, virtue can involve a declaration of virtuous ideals without any actual demonstration. A loud, passionate, public plea is sufficient.

However, the greatest danger is that virtue calls attention to personal goodness without recognizing sin. Because sin separates us from God. And we must confess our sin to Jesus and seek his forgiveness to restore our relationship with God. Virtuous acts without Jesus are not enough.

Three replacements to Christianity. Replace God with yourself.

Atheists deny God’s existence and automatically move to first place. No apology. Guilt. Or need to concern yourself with meaning, purpose, or reason for existence since there isn’t any.

But for the 81% of Americans that do believe in God, his command is pretty clear.

You shall have no other gods before me. Make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. And you shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, (ESV, Exodus 20: 3-4)

Few people in today’s secular society actually worship a physical, man-made idol. So at first glance, there’s no danger of breaking this commandment. However, idols can also take other forms. Like the pursuit of career, hobbies, entertainment, pleasure, success, possessions, and wealth. Of course. These aren’t bad in and of themselves. It’s when you pursue them with an all consuming passion they turn idolatrous.

God wants to sit on the throne of our hearts. But our selfish sin nature works against it. And we push him aside in our “all about me” pursuit of self-help, self-empowerment, and self-improvement. Placing God first takes a consistent realignment. Absorbing his word daily, worshiping him weekly, and serving others. Why? Because they go against our sin nature and must be Spirit led. And is exactly where we find meaning, purpose, and reason for existence.

About Chip Tudor:

Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.