The Trouble With Feel Good Gospel

There are real truths.  The gospel is made up of real principles.  God is real.  Hell is real.  Too often in our modern culture we try to spin the gospel to mean different things to different people.  It’s not complicated, but it’s not wishy washy either.

Recently I read that there are only six religions in America that are growing.  All the rest have membership statistics that are flat or declining.  All of those that are growing make demands of their adherents.  Demands that they feel come from God.  While unpopular today, God does have expectations of us.  As Joseph Smith put it: …a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.

Here’s a clip from ER that poignantly expresses why liberal religion is declining….

The Good News of the Gospel, though, is that it is easy, but not in copping out or choosing our own way. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father, but by him. When Moses held the brazen serpent up before smitten Israel, all they had to do was look and be healed. That serpent was a type of Christ. Too many of Israel were too certain the answers lay elsewhere and refused to look. And, because of the simpleness of the way, perished. Still, today, we concoct alternative means by which we might obtain forgiveness and salvation and in the end discover that Jesus Christ is the bread of life. He only, can provide the living water. Still, we insist on turning, every man, to his own way when all we need to do is turn our whole heart, our whole mind and our whole soul to Christ, and live. He is the author and finisher of our salvation. There is none other name under heaven whereby men can be saved.