The Gospel is Holy, Not Woke: Rediscovering Christ's True Message
The central theme of this episode revolves around the imperative to discern the authenticity of the gospel amidst a culture increasingly inclined to dilute its essence. We engage in a critical examination of the contemporary tendency to rebrand Jesus, transforming Him into a figure that aligns with societal trends rather than the profound truth of His teachings. This discourse serves as a clarion call for believers to reassess whether their faith is genuinely transformative or merely a reflection of cultural norms. We assert that the gospel is not a vehicle for political correctness or social endorsement, but a sacred proclamation that challenges sin and calls for repentance. As we navigate these complex issues, we invite our listeners to reflect deeply on their relationship with Christ and the authenticity of their faith in a world rife with distortion.
In this incisive discussion, the speaker tackles the growing phenomenon of a 'woke gospel', critiquing its implications for authentic Christian discipleship. A salient point made is the distinction between a socially palatable Jesus and the biblical Christ, who is portrayed as a figure of authority and truth rather than a mere cultural symbol. The host expresses concern that many contemporary believers are drawn to a version of Jesus that validates their preconceptions and societal trends, rather than confronting their sin and calling for genuine repentance. This critique is framed against the backdrop of scripture, particularly highlighting the teachings of Paul to the Galatians, where he warns against altering the true gospel for a more comfortable narrative.
The episode further emphasizes that the gospel is not a reflection of societal trends but an eternal truth that must remain unaltered. By referencing various scriptural passages, the speaker articulates the need for a faith that not only acknowledges social issues but also addresses the root cause of humanity's struggles—sin. The exhortation to return to scriptural integrity and to challenge contemporary distortions of the gospel resonates throughout the discussion. This episode serves as both a warning and an invitation to listeners to reassess their understanding of faith in light of biblical teachings, advocating for a discipleship that is vigorous, uncompromising, and deeply rooted in the holiness of the gospel.
The conversation also touches upon the necessity of understanding sin and grace within the framework of the gospel, countering notions that seek to redefine sin for the sake of societal acceptance. The speaker contends that true grace is found in confronting sin head-on, as opposed to merely excusing it under the guise of compassion. As the discourse unfolds, listeners are challenged to consider the implications of their faith on their worldview, prompting them to evaluate whether their beliefs are informed by scripture or shaped by contemporary societal values. The episode concludes with practical steps for listeners to deepen their faith, urging a commitment to biblical literacy and an active engagement with the community of believers. This clarion call emphasizes the importance of living out faith authentically, with an unwavering focus on the holiness of the gospel rather than its cultural commodification.
Takeaways:
- The contemporary church faces a challenge of presenting a diluted version of the gospel, reminiscent of trends rather than truth.
- It is imperative for believers to discern whether their faith is shaped by the culture or the teachings of Christ, as this distinction is crucial.
- Jesus's message transcends cultural conformity; it is about transformation rather than mere affirmation of personal desires.
- We must understand that the gospel's essence is not to make us comfortable, but to initiate a profound change in our lives and hearts.
Transcript
You just locked into Discipleship Decoded, where we get raw, real and relevant about what it means to follow Christ in a culture that is absolutely losing its mind.
Speaker A:This ain't about playing church.
Speaker A:We're here to make disciples preach the truth and call out everything that opposes the kingdom of God.
Speaker A:So if you're tired of watered down messages and already for some real talk, you're in the right place.
Speaker A:I'm your host, Malden Mitchell.
Speaker A:Now let's get into it.
Speaker A:Hello, hello, everyone everywhere, and welcome back to another episode of Discipleship Decoded.
Speaker A:I'm Malvin, your host.
Speaker A:I want to thank you for joining me today.
Speaker A:So let me keep it a buck right from the jump.
Speaker A:We got a whole generation that is trying to remix the gospel like a tick tock sound, making it trendy, palatable, and, dare I say, politically correct.
Speaker A:See, they don't want a Jesus who flips tables.
Speaker A:They want a Jesus who takes selfies at rallies.
Speaker A:They don't want the lion of Judah.
Speaker A:They want a house cat of culture.
Speaker A:They want a messiah who affirms them not to transform them.
Speaker A:But I got to tell you the truth in love.
Speaker A:Jesus didn't come to be our mascot.
Speaker A:He died to be our master.
Speaker A:So I saw a reel the other day that made my spirit ache.
Speaker A:It said, if you're not fighting for LGBTQ rights, abortion access, and decolonizing theology, then you're worshiping white supremacy.
Speaker A:I said, like, hold up.
Speaker A:Like, that blew my mind.
Speaker A:Like, wait a minute.
Speaker A:See, we've gone from following Christ to branding Christ, from worshiping the Lamb of God to rebranding him.
Speaker A:Like he's some type of celebrity influencer.
Speaker A:So let's be honest.
Speaker A:If your Jesus never disagrees with you, never convicts you, never corrects your desires, then you're not worshiping Jesus.
Speaker A:You're worshiping a projection of yourself.
Speaker A:So?
Speaker A:So does your faith shape your worldview, or does your worldview shape your faith?
Speaker A:Is your doctrine anchored in the Word or only in what makes you feel woke and safe?
Speaker A:So let me ask you straight up.
Speaker A:Is the Jesus that you following changing lives or is he just changing the culture?
Speaker A:Because here's the reality.
Speaker A:We got people preaching woke gospel from the pulpit, and platforms and social posts sound more like sociology than salvation.
Speaker A:You know, I remember, like, a few years back, I was sitting in the church pew and this preacher said, and it blew my mind when he said this, that the most important thing that Jesus ever did was flip tables in protest of oppression.
Speaker A:And he said that that was the gospel.
Speaker A:No family.
Speaker A:The most important Thing Jesus ever did was shed his blood to flip the script on sin.
Speaker A:Now that's the gospel.
Speaker A:See, people want a gospel that claps for them, but they don't want a gospel that calls them out.
Speaker A:They want a Jesus who shows up for protest, but not the one who prunes their pride.
Speaker A:But the gospel is not here to make us feel better.
Speaker A:It's here to make us brand new.
Speaker A:In the book of Galatians, chapter 1, verse 6 through 8, it says, rather Paul says that I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.
Speaker A:Not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Speaker A:He goes on to say, check this out.
Speaker A:But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him.
Speaker A:So let me say this again so that it echoes in your spirit.
Speaker A:The gospel ain't woke.
Speaker A:The Gospel is holy.
Speaker A:Say it with me.
Speaker A:The gospel ain't woke.
Speaker A:It's holy.
Speaker A:There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one bloody cross, one empty tomb, one gospel.
Speaker A:Everything else.
Speaker A:I don't care how good it sounds.
Speaker A:I don't care how plausible it sounds.
Speaker A:I don't care how much conviction they say it with.
Speaker A:It's a counterfeit.
Speaker A:So let's open the word of God and not the comment section.
Speaker A:And let's hear from the ancient of days, not the influence of the day.
Speaker A:See, Paul was writing to the Galatian Church because they started in grace but got seduced by garbage.
Speaker A:False teachers had crept in like snakes in the garden, twisting the truth and distorting doctrine.
Speaker A:Now, that word distort in the Greek is metatastrophore, which means reverse to corrupt, to pervert something that was good into something dangerous.
Speaker A:And so these teachers weren't shouting heresy, they were whispering distortion.
Speaker A:And just like today, we got preachers saying that Jesus was a revolutionary who came to tear down systems.
Speaker A:They say that the gospel is about centering the marginalized.
Speaker A:They also say that Christianity needs to evolve with society.
Speaker A:But that is a lie from the pit of hell.
Speaker A:The Gospel doesn't evolve, it endures.
Speaker A:Second Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 3 through 4, it says, but I fear that as a serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from the sincere and pure devotion of Christ.
Speaker A:For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or you receive A different spirit or a different gospel which you had not accepted.
Speaker A:You put up with it splendidly.
Speaker A:See, Paul was shook because the church was getting played.
Speaker A:And guess what family we are too.
Speaker A:Second Timothy, chapter four, verse three through four.
Speaker A:It says, for the time will come when people would not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply or they will make these preachers famous.
Speaker A:But they will multiply or make teachers famous for themselves because they have an itch.
Speaker A:And to the ear of what they want to hear, they will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Speaker A:And this is why we got to go back to the root.
Speaker A:We got to go back to the rock.
Speaker A:Jude, chapter one, verse three through four, says, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.
Speaker A:For some have come in stealth, turning the grace of God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
Speaker A:They're not denying Jesus with their mouths, but they deny him with their message.
Speaker A:They say that Jesus cared about the poor and yes, he did.
Speaker A:But he didn't preach socialism, he preached surrender.
Speaker A:They say that Jesus flipped tables.
Speaker A:They would be right.
Speaker A:Yes, he did.
Speaker A:But he flipped them in his Father's house because of spiritual corruption, not to endorse a civil revolution.
Speaker A:They say that Jesus hung out with the sinners.
Speaker A:Absolutely he did.
Speaker A:But he didn't leave them in their sin.
Speaker A:He called them to repentance.
Speaker A:See, you got to learn how to answer these arguments with scripture and love.
Speaker A:Don't just react.
Speaker A:Respond with truth, with charity, and with tenderness.
Speaker A:Because the Gospel isn't woke, it's holy.
Speaker A:Say it with me again.
Speaker A:The Gospel isn't woke, it's holy.
Speaker A:So here's the where it gets real.
Speaker A:I mean, we could talk about the Gospel all day, but you can't talk about the Gospel without talking about sin.
Speaker A:And you can't shout about grace without facing the truth.
Speaker A:Romans, chapter 3, verse 23 says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Speaker A:See, every one of us was born broken, born blind and bent toward rebellion.
Speaker A:Romans, chapter 6, verse 23.
Speaker A:For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Speaker A:Sin isn't a cause to be managed, but it is a curse to be crushed.
Speaker A:John, chapter 14, verse 16.
Speaker A:Jesus told them that I am the way, the truth and the life.
Speaker A:No one comes to the Father except through me.
Speaker A:No movement, no cause, no hashtag, no subscribe button no.
Speaker A:No like button no Thumbs up only Jesus and Romans chapter 10, verse 9 says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Speaker A:So this is the gospel, not Jesus plus activism, not Jesus plus your identity, just Jesus.
Speaker A:So right now, if you've been tangled in deception, wrapped up in a gospel that comforts your sin but never confronts it, say this with me, Jesus.
Speaker A:I surrender.
Speaker A:I repent of false beliefs.
Speaker A:I receive your truth.
Speaker A:I trust in your blood and I believe you died and rose again.
Speaker A:Be my Savior.
Speaker A:Be my Lord.
Speaker A:Welcome to the real thing.
Speaker A:Because the Gospel isn't woke, it's holy.
Speaker A:So let me land this plane and leave you with some power.
Speaker A:Here are five signs that you've been sipping the woke gospel.
Speaker A:Number one, you only post verses that go viral, but not the ones that go vertical.
Speaker A:Number two, you quote Jesus on love, but not on lordship.
Speaker A:Number three, you redefine sin as self expression.
Speaker A:Number four, you measure truth by your timeline and not the text.
Speaker A:And number five, you preach justice without ever preaching Jesus.
Speaker A:But here's your moment to choose.
Speaker A:Not popular Jesus, not political Jesus, but real Jesus.
Speaker A:So here's your action steps.
Speaker A:Repent daily and ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.
Speaker A:Number two, recommit to reading your Bible from COVID to cover, not just cherry picking verses.
Speaker A:Number three, replace content that feeds your feelings with content that feeds your faith.
Speaker A:4.
Speaker A:Realign with community that teaches the full counsel of God.
Speaker A:And five, refuse to be salad.
Speaker A:Speak up in love and live holy in public.
Speaker A:And remember what I said before that the gospel isn't woke, it's holy.
Speaker A:So take a deep breath, let it settle and ask yourself, have I been following the Jesus of the Bible or the Jesus of my bias?
Speaker A:Have I been molded more by culture than by Christ?
Speaker A:I want you to really like straight up pause right now and reflect.
Speaker A:And if this hits you differently, don't run from it.
Speaker A:Run to him.
Speaker A:Share this with your circle.
Speaker A:Live this with your life.
Speaker A:And for never forget that the gospel ain't woke.
Speaker A:It is holy.
Speaker A:Say it again with me.
Speaker A:The gospel ain't woke.
Speaker A:It's holy.
Speaker A:So go out there and live like it.
Speaker A:Unapologetically, unashamed and uncompromised.
Speaker A:Peace.
Speaker A:That's it for this episode of Discipleship Decoded, where we don't play church.
Speaker A:We expose fake faith, challenge cultural lies and build up bold disciples for the kingdom.
Speaker A:If the word hit hard today, don't run from it, run with it, apply it, live it and preach it with your lifestyle.
Speaker A:Listen, we're not called to blend in.
Speaker A:We're called to stand up, stand out, and stand firm.
Speaker A:And next week, we're taking it up another level.
Speaker A:I'm talking about deeper truths, stronger conviction, and real answers for the battles that we're facing in this culture of compromise.
Speaker A:So make sure you're locked in, subscribe and ready.
Speaker A:Because Discipleship Dakota isn't just a podcast.
Speaker A:It's a movement.
Speaker A:Until next time, stay rooted in the word, stay bold in faith, and stay ready for war.
Speaker A:Let's go, Sam.
