Somewhere in the cracks of potent doctrine, a strange gospel has slowly woven itself into the church—a gospel that claims to love God yet negates any form of sacrifice or self-denial. In a bid to attract larger audiences, the church has abandoned the ancient landmarks (Proverbs 22:28). As a result, we have raised a generation of believers who are deeply superficial in their knowledge of God—those who accept Jesus as their Savior but not as their Lord. Brethren, I present to you the Gospel of Convenience: a gospel that is comfortable, undemanding, and tailored to personal preferences.

Jesus calls us to be His disciples and to make disciples. True discipleship demands commitment and sacrifice, yet many prefer a diluted gospel that requires little effort. Jesus made it clear that following Him would not be easy:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23, NIV)

The Christian faith is not a walk in the park; rather, it is a death sentence to the flesh. It is a journey of transformation through trials, perseverance, and surrender to God’s will. Every other religion seems to understand the role of sacrifice in worship—except the modern believer. Somehow, we have come to believe that quick prayer sessions, rushed Bible studies, and Sunday-to-Sunday sermons are enough to access the deep things of God. Yet, the story of Cain and Abel reveals that God does not give participation trophies. When we come to Him, He expects our very best. Yes, God is our Father, but He is also a King and must be honored as such. No amount of familiarity should cause a prince to place his father’s crown on the floor.

The church has a role to play. Sound doctrine is becoming increasingly difficult to find because the church is more focused on believers’ earthly gains than on the true riches of God promised in Luke 16:11. This is why we lack the potency of the early church. The church has become so deeply materialistic that when we look at God, instead of seeking His face, our eyes are fixed on His hands.

You may ask, is there still hope for the church? The answer is yes—but only if we return to preaching the authentic gospel. A gospel that begins with the knowledge of Christ, not just His benefits. A gospel that emphasizes the importance of dying daily to the flesh. A gospel that reminds us that mere church activities do not define a true Christian. True Christianity is not about public displays of faith but about the sacrifices we make when no one is watching, knowing that the God who sees in secret will reward us openly.

The antidote to the gospel of convenience is the Gospel of Jesus. The gospel of sacrifice and death to self. One of total surrender to God as King of our lives. We must accept that service to God will always have a cost implication for us. This was the reality of the early apostles who rejoiced when they were beaten by the Jewish council for the Gospel’s sake. Because, they knew that one of the products of alignment is to be a partaker of the sufferings of Christ.

So the question to us is, what has the gospel cost us? What has been the cost implication of our profession of Jesus as our Lord? What restrictions has the cross placed on us? What burdens do we bear for it? As long as we continue to ask what Jesus can do for us, rather than what we can do and endure for Him, the true glory of the gospel will remain hidden among us.