Moralistic preaching is preaching the commands of scripture and nothing else. When you assume that people understand the gospel, or you believe that Christians don't need to be reminded of the gospel, you're left with a "be like" or "be good" message which leads to pride or despair. Only the gospel- a message about Christ and what He has done- brings the power and fuel for Christians to obey the commands of scripture.
Is Christianity Christ + the American dream? American Gospel examines how the prosperity gospel (the Word of Faith movement) has distorted the gospel message, and how this theology is being exported abroad.
At the core of just about every major religion is something we call advice, or a set of instructions intended to help you live a better life. But is that what lies at the heart of the Christian faith? Tips and instructions for personal transformation? Whatever happened to the Christian gospel?
Many Christian leaders today point to Jesus as a good moral guide (WWJD), an inspirational figure of self-sacrifice, or one who resolves our problem with loneliness. And in doing so, these shepherds have managed to avoid one of the most central teachings of the entire Bible; namely Jesus' atoning...
