A Gospel Without a Cross
Across America today, something tragic has happened: the Gospel has been reduced to a message of self-fulfillment rather than self-denial. In countless pulpits, what is preached is not the Word of God in its fullness, but a false gospel. It is a gospel of “God’s love without justice”, of “forgiveness without repentance”, of “how to live your best life now” rather than how to “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Christ”.
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23)
This distortion tells people that sin is negotiable, that sex outside of marriage is not really a sin, and that God’s only concern is that you are happy. It divorces the mercy of Christ from His holiness. It tells believers to avoid politics and cultural engagement under the pretense that “we’re just called to spread the gospel”, while ignoring that the gospel touches every aspect of life—including morality, justice, and truth in the public square.
This is not the message Jesus preached, nor the message the apostles carried to the nations.
Pastors Who Fear Man More Than God
The reason this watered-down gospel has taken root is not because Scripture has changed, but because pastors have. Instead of fearing God, too many pastors fear man.
Jesus Himself spoke more about Hell than about Heaven. Yet in most churches today, Hell is never mentioned. Prophecy is avoided for fear of offending modern ears. Sermons that should be a call to repentance become little more than weekly pep talks.
Many pastors have reduced their churches to social gatherings, more concerned about keeping “butts in the seats” than keeping souls out of Hell. The Old Testament is ignored, hard truths are sidestepped, and worldly ideologies are embraced in the name of being “relevant”.
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1)
Those entrusted with preaching the Word will one day answer to God—not to their congregations, not to the culture, not to their denominational leaders.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Some pastors defend their soft approach by claiming, “It’s what people want.” But the statistics show the opposite.
Gallup polling reveals that weekly church attendance has dropped from 42% in 2000 to about 30% today. Pew Research finds that even when you include online participation, fewer than half of U.S. adults attend church monthly. Lifeway Research reports that over half of churches in America are declining or plateaued, with many closing their doors entirely.
But this decline isn’t just about numbers. The Bible describes a “falling away” in the last days—not just a decline in attendance, but a turning away from sound doctrine.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
That is exactly what we are seeing today: churches abandoning the full counsel of God in favor of messages that are easier to swallow.
Young People Are Looking—But for Substance
Interestingly, surveys suggest that more young people are beginning to return to church—but not to the liberal, seeker-friendly Protestantism that dominates much of the American landscape. Instead, many are gravitating toward Catholicism or Orthodoxy, traditions that at least present a sense of seriousness and depth.
But even here, many find a different distortion of the gospel. Catholicism elevates saints and traditions in ways that water down the supremacy of Christ and obscure the Trinity. Orthodoxy can sometimes lean on ritual without relationship. These shifts reveal that the hunger of young people is not for entertainment or casual churchgoing—it is for substance, for something real.
The tragedy is that many Protestant churches could meet this hunger if they would simply preach the Word of God, fully and faithfully. Instead, many choose compromise.
Churches That Teach Boldly Are Thriving
There are exceptions—and they prove the point. Churches that stand on Scripture, without apology, are not shrinking. They are growing.
- Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California has seen thousands come to Christ, baptizing more than 1,200 people in a single event. This is the fruit of bold preaching that addresses sin, prophecy, and truth without compromise.
- Athey Creek Church in Oregon has grown from a small congregation to over 8,000 weekly attendees by teaching the Bible verse by verse, book by book. Pastor Brett Meador doesn’t skip difficult passages—he embraces them, and the church flourishes because of it.
These are not churches trying to impress the world—they are churches trying to honor the Word. And in doing so, God has honored them.
The Danger of a Social Club Church
For too long, many congregations have been treated as social clubs, where being a member is more about fitting in than being transformed. The problem with social club Christianity is that it offers all the trappings of religion without the power of salvation. It may provide community, but it does not provide conviction.
People today—especially young people—are not looking for more social clubs. They are looking for truth. And when churches fail to deliver, they leave.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
The sheep are not leaving Christ—they are leaving churches that no longer preach His voice.
A Call to Repentance
So where does that leave us? With a clear call: pastors must repent. They must return to the full preaching and teaching of God’s Word. They must fear God more than they fear man.
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Churches that teach the Bible faithfully—word for word, book by book—are growing. They may not be the biggest, but they are healthy, vibrant, and alive. They are the churches that will stand in the days ahead.
To every pastor reading this: your flock does not need another motivational speech. They do not need another watered-down gospel. They need the whole counsel of God. They need to know how to be saved, how to repent, and how to live in holiness before the Lord.
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Fear God—not man. For the day is coming when you will stand before Him and give an account. Better to offend man today than to displease the Lord for eternity.
