Why are so many people turning to watered down versions of Christianity?

Question

Is the purpose of Christianity to cater to the whims of worldy values and expectations or to serve God? Extreme fundamentalism is NOT what true Christianity is either, but being loving and forgiving is not the same thing as condoning and encouraging sins. If everything is relative and dependent on your own opinion rather than objective standards, then it becomes meaningless.

Answer 1

Because it tickles the ear and makes them feel good even though they continue to live in sin.

Answer 2

Real christianity is the christianity before it was changed and put into the bible. Most people are like the 'good' son in the prodigal son parable - they don't want nor understand Unconditional Love and, therefore, make god into what they do want him to be: someone who gives special reward for those who obey the rules. Even what I wrote here will be angrily attacked because that's what people have ALWAYS done -- it's no wonder why the gospels contain an image of god and jesus that is clearly in sync with what a human ego/self is all about.

Answer 3

Well I know that since I'm not christian I'm not going to answer for them. But it seems to me that everyone conveniently loses their sense of humanity and their values. Speaking in terms if "sin" is not my style because I believe everyone struggles to live peacefully and to be a good person generally speaking. But I find myself in places where I wish I wasn't. Like one place is my job. Where it's just not ever expected that management would ever make a decision based on treating your fellow man with dignity and respect. Every impersonal thing they do to another human being is for the bottom line and that's just o.k. with everyone. I've seen co-workers struggle with illnesses (of themselves and family members) and get "let go" for taking too much time off no matter how many years of loyal service they've given. I've seen whole departments get laid off 2 weeks before Christmas with no warning. Or people let go because they are human and can't work as fast as a machine. And as far as I can tell none of the decision makers seem to bat an eye about it. I on the other hand feel terrible and I'm ashamed to go to work for such people. The owners of the company I work for are Christians and they are real proud of the fact that they go to Africa and South America on mission efforts and yet can screw people they work closely with for no other reason than to make a buck. Not that this is only true of christians. It seems to be the way the world works and everyone accepts it. Even though I'm not christian, I pray often. And I ask God every day to show me where I can work and be among people who live by spiritual principles and do the will of God for the common good of their fellow man. Take me out of the negative spaces of greed and inhumanity. really I do. And my co-workers don't know I feel this way because they would think I'm insane. Or they would say I should be grateful to have a job at all. And everyone else just thinks this is all normal and right. They actually believe that you can't be kind to people and make money at the same time. I don't know if you can either, really. But it all actually hurts my soul and my well being.

Answer 4

I have been to different churches and heard many different preaching styles. I cannot abide the "fire and brimstone" preachers. Nor do I like the style of preaching that doesn't want to offend anyone. Then there are those who only want your money! Yikes!

Give me a preacher who preaches the Word of God and then tells me how to apply it to my everyday life, even if it makes me squirm. Living God's Word is not easy, especially in the modern world. Touchy, feely sermons don't help on most occasions. But sin needs to be called what it is, sin! Preachers should teach us how to follow the narrow path, the hard path.

Answer 5

Christianity is not learned quickly and the Word should be read more than once. Christian meditation of learning, questioning and getting answers from the Lord should be practiced as well as avoiding sin for the sake of the Lord to live a spiritual life.

Answer 6

'cos straight up is too strong too swallow..
PS are you asking a question or preaching? For example, why does it become meaningless? Because you said so? And who says what is a sin? you? I don't care what is a sin , and what is not. But I know that hurting other people is wrong, regardless. And that a lot of so-called sins are ridiculous arbitrary rules to perpetuate the state of guilt that many religions try to hold you with.

Answer 7

It's a combination of things. Preachers who don't have a proper balance of grace and truth like Jesus did and people who are described in this prophetic passage.

2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Answer 8

It maybe that they need to be challenged in their life. By just blending into society and not making waves they don't have to be persecuted in any way or have a spiritual attack brought on because of a desire to share their faith. It's when the trials come the hard stuff that causes them to dig down and seek and walk closer to God and get what they need.

Answer 9

Not sure what you're getting at with staying away from "watered down versions of Christianity" -- unless you mean talking specific theological points from the pulpit intended to turn certain people away. I'll go for a little watering down to allow slightly different beliefs to be held in order to preserve some semblance of unity.

Answer 10

Problem with your question is that nobody thinks their brand of Christianity is watered down -- but they think everyone else's is..

I myself, find that the early Christians were not American Fundamentalists nor were they Protestant. The early Christians did not believe "once saved always saved", nor did they believe that their works counted for nothing. No early Christian writer ever said, "salvation is by faith alone". And the only place in the Bible where "faith alone" is used is where James says we are not saved by "faith alone". So what is in your watered down version of Christianity?

Answer 11

Because if you're going to pretend to follow a pretend religion, why not pick an easy one?

Look how much christianity has evolved in the past 100 years. If god created everything, including DNA, why isn't DNA mentioned in the bible? Why does religion somehow manage to have answers for everything Science discovers? I know - because it's BS.