CHRISTLESS CHRISTIANITY (Part 3)
Calling The Modern Church Back from The DARK ABYSS
In this third and final part of our discussion on Christless Christianity, we’ll dive even deeper into how both churches and individuals can fall into this dangerous trap set by Satan. We’ll also explore the root issue of this demonic trend and the remedy for it. (You can read the two previous parts of this bog series here: Part 1 and Part 2).
First, let’s examine another stumbling block that makes it all too easy for churches and ministries to slip over the edge into Christless Christianity:
THE SNARE OF TECHNOLOGY
(This is not a battle against technology—I use it myself to serve the Body of Christ and to communicate His Word in ways that were previously unimaginable. I’m deeply thankful to the Lord for His sovereign provision in making these tools available. Rather, this is a battle against the misuse of technology…)
In the modern church, technology—through multimedia, sound, lighting, music, and visuals—has become a powerful tool in worship services. When used appropriately, it can enhance the focus on Christ, aid in discipleship, and encourage genuine worship.
THE POTENTIAL OF TECHNOLOGY
Technology, when applied properly, serves as a valuable aid in enhancing Christ-centered worship, discipleship, and meaningful engagement with the message of the Gospel.
THE MISUSE OF TECHNOLOGY
However, when misused, technology can become a stumbling block, diverting attention away from Christ. It can shift the focus onto people, entertainment, emotional excitement, or even the technology itself, fostering a form of Christless Christianity that elevates the medium over Christ and His message.
TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL, NOT A DISTRACTION
Technology should only be used as far as it serves to direct people’s attention to Christ and the effective communication of Christ’s Word. Its purpose must always be to enhance true worship of Christ, not to distract from Him. Unfortunately, when the lights, sounds, and multimedia presentations become too captivating, the focus can shift from Christ to the production and the entertainment factor. Instead of facilitating worship, technology can easily become a spectacle, and in the worst cases, an idol—something people are awed by and focused on more than Christ Himself.
THE DANGER OF EMOTIONAL APPEAL
The sensory and emotional appeal of high-quality music, lights, and visuals can create an atmosphere that feels spiritual but lacks true substance. People can be misled into thinking they are experiencing God when, in reality, they are simply being entertained and led to emotional highs. When the experience becomes the primary goal, rather than facilitating a genuine encounter with Christ, technology has crossed a line—it has become a distraction rather than a tool for worship.
THE ELEVATION OF PERFORMERS
Furthermore, there is an increasing risk of elevating the speaker, worship team, or church leaders because of how technology enhances their appearance and presentation. With the help of professional-grade lighting, sound, and visual effects, speakers can appear more dynamic, and worship teams can seem more proficient and impressive. This can lead to the celebration of people rather than Christ. The focus shifts subtly from glorifying God to admiring the production and the performers.
THE TRAP OF IDOL WORSHIP
When the attention of the congregation is directed more toward how polished the presentation is—how impressive the musicians sound or how eloquent the speaker appears—rather than on the message of Christ, technology has become an idol. Instead of serving the body of Christ, it begins to serve the elevation of individuals, turning them into celebrated figures.
BIBLICAL WARNINGS AGAINST IDOLATRY
The Bible has strong warnings concerning idol worship:
Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
TECHNOLOGY’S PROPER ROLE
Technology must never become the object of worship or the source of awe. Its role is to serve the worship of Christ, not to distract from it or to entertain. It should not be used to create an atmosphere where people are simply impressed by the production quality, being emotionally manipulated into the agenda of those who lead the Church, nor should it be employed to make leaders appear more skilled, proficient, or celebrated.
TECHNOLOGY & CHRISTLESS CHRISTIANITY
When this happens, technology has failed in its role and has become a vehicle for Christless Christianity—where the focus is on humans and performance, rather than Christ, His honor, reality, and truth. In its proper place, technology can be an aid to worship, but it should never become the reason for it. The church must guard against allowing technology to take center stage, ensuring that Christ remains the true focus and object of worship, and that everything—whether music, visuals, or presentation—points solely to Him.
THE DEEPER PROBLEM: LORDSHIP
At the core of Christless Christianity lies a profound issue—the absence of Christ’s lordship in the lives of those who participate in it…
This isn’t just a surface-level issue; it’s foundational to the entire phenomenon. At its deepest essence, Christless Christianity is a lordship problem. Many profess faith in Christ, speak His name, and even perform religious/spiritual activities, but their lives reveal that He is not truly LORD. Without His lordship, Christianity becomes a hollow shell, devoid of real transformation and power.
LORDSHIP VS. EMPTY PROFESSION
Jesus directly addressed this issue when He said in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” This statement cuts to the heart of the matter. It is not enough to call Christ “Lord” with our lips if we are not submitting to His will and living in obedience to His commands. This disconnect between verbal profession and actual submission is what fuels Christless Christianity.
The problem is clear: many want the benefits of associating with Christ—salvation, blessings, or even just the appearance of righteousness—but are unwilling to surrender control of their lives to Him. True Christianity is about more than acknowledging Christ in name; it’s about yielding to His lordship in every area of life.
LOVE EXPRESSED THROUGH OBEDIENCE
This lordship issue is also tied to a misunderstanding of what it means to truly love God. In Christless Christianity, love for God is often expressed only through emotional experiences, powerful worship songs, or passionate declarations. But according to Scripture, love for God is demonstrated through obedience, not emotion. As Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
This is where many fall short. Emotional expressions of love may feel authentic in the moment, but they are not the biblical measure of true devotion. Jesus makes it clear that genuine love for Him will always manifest itself in obedience. It’s not enough to sing beautiful songs or make grand proclamations, or claims of so-called miraculous acts, if our hearts are not truly surrendered to Him in daily life.
Obedience to Christ, as a demonstration of our love, is the essence of living under His lordship – and this is the essence of discipleship. It means submitting to His will even when it’s difficult or inconvenient, and aligning our lives with His teachings and commands.
THE ILLUSION OF LORDSHIP
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus speaks of those who claim to know Him but are ultimately rejected because their lives did not reflect true obedience:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
This passage reveals the tragic reality that many who outwardly perform religious works, even miraculous ones, can still miss the heart of what it means to follow Christ. Despite their outward activity, their lives were marked by lawlessness, showing that Christ was not truly Lord over them. Their profession of faith was hollow because it was not accompanied by genuine submission to His will.
THE CALL TO SURRENDER
Christ’s lordship demands full surrender, not selective obedience. It’s about allowing Him to reign over every part of our lives—our thoughts, desires, actions, and plans. Romans 12:1-2 calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as an act of spiritual worship. This involves the complete submission of our lives to His authority, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out.
Paul also speaks to this in Philippians 2:10-11, where he proclaims that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This is not merely a verbal confession; it is a declaration of His rightful rule and reign over all creation, including our individual lives.
LORDSHIP AND THE FRUIT OF TRUE FAITH
James 2:17 states, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” While salvation is by grace through faith alone, true faith will always produce the fruit of obedience. This obedience is not about earning salvation but is the evidence of Christ’s lordship in our lives. If Christ is truly Lord, our lives will reflect His rule, producing a life that increasingly mirrors His character and desires.
A faith that professes Christ without obeying Him is a dead faith, as James makes clear. This is why Christless Christianity thrives in environments where profession is prized over practice, and where lip service is valued over life transformation. But the Bible teaches us that genuine faith and submission to Christ’s lordship go hand in hand.
THE RESULT OF CHRIST’S LORDSHIP
When Christ is truly Lord, everything changes. Obedience flows from a heart transformed by His grace, and our lives begin to reflect His character. Galatians 2:20 beautifully captures this transformed life:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
True Christianity involves a radical exchange—our life for His. When He is Lord, our desires, priorities, and actions align with His will.
Christless Christianity is ultimately a lordship problem, or in other words, a “follow Jesus” problem. At the heart of the issue is the refusal of individuals to fully surrender to Christ as their Lord. While many may profess to follow Him, their lack of obedience reveals a deeper issue—a life that has not been fully submitted to His rule. As Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). True love for Christ is expressed through obedience, and without this submission to His lordship, Christianity becomes hollow and powerless.
THE REMEDY
The opposite of Christless Christianity is simple: Christlikeness. The biblical remedy for this widespread and subtle drift is a return to a life where Christ is truly at the center—both for individual believers and the corporate body of the church. This means living in full obedience to Him, allowing Christ to be all in every area of life, and serving only His true interests individually, and corporately. True Christianity, at its core, is not about outward displays, modern trends, or flashy programs. It’s about faithfully following Jesus in simplicity, childlikeness, and genuine devotion.
In fact, the outward displays that dominate much of modern-day “Christianity” can often be stumbling blocks, distracting us from the simplicity of following Christ. Being “cutting edge” or “cool” has nothing to do with being Christlike. It is in the ordinary moments of life, in daily obedience, and in the simplicity of the gathering of Christ’s followers that Christ is most glorified and honored.
REPENTANCE: CHRIST’S CALL TO THE CHURCHES
In Revelation, when Jesus addressed the seven churches, His message for those who had strayed was simple and direct: REPENT. This is the first and most essential step for those trapped in Christless Christianity. Christ’s call to repentance was not just a suggestion—the LORD commanded it, and it was the urgent remedy for their condition. In Revelation 3:19, He says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
Repentance means turning away from anything that has taken the place of Christ in our lives—be it self-interest, superficial pursuits, or worldly success—and returning to a focus on Him. It is a deep change of heart, one that moves us from a place of spiritual complacency to a life fully surrendered to Christ’s lordship.
SIMPLICITY IN FOLLOWING CHRIST
One of the great deceptions of Christless Christianity is the idea that following Christ must be outwardly impressive. But true faith and discipleship are not about extravagant shows or flashy displays. Jesus calls us to follow Him in childlike simplicity. As He said in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
This simplicity is not about neglecting excellence or passion but about removing the distractions that prevent us from a true focus on Christ. It is about stripping away the unnecessary in order to see Jesus more clearly. Christlikeness means walking humbly with God, living in obedience to His Word, and prioritizing holiness over hype.
ABIDING IN CHRIST: THE SOURCE OF TRUE POWER
To prevent Christless Christianity, we must return to the fundamental truth that without Christ, we can do nothing. As Jesus says in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
Abiding in Christ means living in constant, daily dependence on Him. It’s about more than attending church or performing “cool” and impressive spiritual/religious activities—it’s about having a vibrant, ongoing relationship with Christ, where He is the source of all life and power. Without this abiding relationship, all our works, programs, and activities are empty.
RETURNING TO CHRIST-CENTERED WORSHIP AND MINISTRY
The remedy for Christless Christianity is not found in reinventing church but in returning to Christ-centered worship and ministry. True worship is not based on emotional highs or outward forms; it is rooted in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Worship should direct people’s hearts to Christ, not to the experience or the performance.
Similarly, ministry must be centered on Christ alone. As Paul reminded the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Ministry should not be focused on numbers, fame, or worldly success, but on preaching Christ and making disciples who are transformed into His image.
THE CALL TO RETURN
The remedy for Christless Christianity is a return to Christ-centered faith. This involves repentance, simplicity, abiding in Christ, and ensuring that every aspect of worship and ministry points to Him. Without Christ at the center, the church loses its purpose and power, becoming a shell of what it was meant to be.
THE DANGER OF WORLDLY TRENDS
As believers, we must resist the temptation to follow the trends of the world or to rely on external success as a measure of our faithfulness. Instead, we must heed the call of Christ to “abide in Me” and return to the simplicity of following Him in love and obedience. Only then can we experience the fullness of life He offers.
RECOGNIZING THE DRIFT
The journey toward Christless Christianity is subtle, marked by small compromises and shifts in focus. But by recognizing the red flags and returning to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, we can guard against this drift. The Bible warns us to remain steadfast, rooted in Christ and sound doctrine, so that we are not led astray. As 2 Peter 3:17 reminds us, “Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.”
RETURNING TO THE SOURCE
In the end, the solution to Christless Christianity is simple: we must return to the One who is the true source of life—Jesus Christ. He must be our Lord, our Savior, and our ALL.
