Christless Christianity

If you were to ask the average person on the street about what they think about Christianity you would undoubtedly get a variety of answers.  There are those who are confused, those who are antagonistic, those who are open, and those who are committed to Christianity.  However, the problem is not how Christianity is viewed by those outside the church, the problem is how Christianity is presented by those inside the church.

The sad reality is that many people are presenting a Christless Christianity.  This is not just limited to one certain type of church such as traditional or contemporary or liberal or conservative; it is true on both ends of the spectrum.  Christless Christianity confuses real faith for dead faith, relationship for religion, and  worshipping for working.   The focus is on the external instead of the internal, on duty instead of love, and on “what would Jesus do?” instead of ”what has Jesus done?”  Those presenting a Christless Christianity are confusing going to church with being the church, business for true ministry, and activity for effectiveness.  They would rather knock on the door of a stranger in a neighborhood that they will never revisit than build a relationship with the family next door.  They are substituting emotion for knowledge and sacrificing  inward reality for outward conformity.

So what kind of Christianity are you presenting to those outside the church?  Is it a Christless Christianity or a Christ-centered Christianity?