Christless Christianity refers to a form of Christian belief and practice that lacks a true focus on Jesus Christ. It describes a Christianity where Christ is not at the center, where His life, death, and resurrection are not the foundation. The concepts and teachings of Christless Christianity may use Christian language and imagery, but Christ is not emphasized as Savior and Lord.
There are a few hallmarks of Christless Christianity:
- Jesus is not presented as the only way to salvation – His atoning sacrifice on the cross is downplayed or ignored.
- Sin and repentance are scarcely mentioned – the need for redemption through Christ is not taught.
- The Bible is not regarded as the sole authority – worldly philosophies and ideas shape belief instead.
- There is little mention of Christ’s second coming or future judgment.
- Outward morality replaces true inward transformation by the Holy Spirit.
- Feelings, emotions, and experiences take priority over knowing and following Christ.
In Christless Christianity, Jesus is more of an optional add-on than the vital foundation He must be. Topics like social justice, psychology, self-help, politics, or prosperity may eclipse the Biblical Gospel. The culture’s values can supersede Scripture’s commands. Self-realization displaces knowing God through Christ.
Christless Christianity waters down, distorts, or outright rejects core tenets of Biblical Christianity. It removes Christ from His rightful place of authority and majesty. Sin is excused or defined away, and people are told they are fine as they are. Eternity and salvation through Jesus are pushed aside for temporal, worldly goals. Any form of Christianity without the Lord Jesus Christ at the absolute center is dangerous territory.
Common Forms of Christless Christianity
There are a few broad categories that much of Christless Christianity falls into:
Moral Therapeutic Deism
This makes Christianity about being a good, moral person and feeling happy. Jesus is seen as a teacher or example of love, but not divine Savior. Sin and the cross are ignored. Self-fulfillment and following one’s heart are emphasized over Scripture and Christ’s Lordship. It paints God as distant but wanting people to be nice and satisfied with life.
Self-Help Messages
These teachings use Christian language but focus on personal well-being, success, and achievement. Biblical truths are twisted to promise health, wealth, promotion, or realized potential for those who follow certain spiritual laws or principles. Jesus’ death and resurrection are irrelevant to these promises.
Progressive Christianity
This asserts that Biblical teachings must adapt to modern cultural sensitivities. Core doctrines like Christ’s divinity and exclusivity, the reality of hell, and sexual ethics based on Scripture are open to reinterpretation or rejection. Jesus is framed in solely human terms. The goal becomes affirming people’s chosen identities and liberation on human terms rather than representing Biblical truth.
Politically-Driven
These groups subordinate Scripture to political ideologies and agendas like socialism, progressivism, or nationalism. Issues of social justice, environment, or partisan politics take precedence over the Gospel. They primarily seek societal reform versus preaching salvation through Christ alone. Jesus is useful inasmuch as He advances a political cause, not as Savior and King.
Universalist
This asserts that all religions hold some truth, and in the end everyone will be reconciled to God. There is no need for atonement, regeneration, or faith in Christ alone. Some universalists even deny God’s just punishment for unrepentant sin and rejection of Jesus as the only Savior. Jesus and His sacrificial death become irrelevant.
Customized, Feel-Good Message
These churches or ministries downplay unpleasant Biblical truths like sin, hell, repentance, God’s judgment, and Jesus as the exclusive way of salvation. They avoid controversial parts of Scripture. The messages aim to make people feel good and self-affirming. While Jesus may be referenced, the focus is comfort and validation versus submitting to Christ as Lord.
In different ways, these all have drifted from the Biblical Gospel centered on redemption through Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection. They diminish Christ and elevate other ideas in His place.
Dangers of Christless Christianity
Christless Christianity, though using Christian language, is dangerous for a number of reasons:
- It breeds false assurance – people assume they are safe and heaven-bound because they hear a skewed gospel and feel good at church, even as they lack saving faith in Christ (Matthew 7:21-23).
- It promotes ear-tickling false teaching instead of Biblical truth (2 Timothy 4:3).
- It fails to prepare people to stand before a holy God on judgment day (Hebrews 9:27).
- It cannot bring true inward transformation without the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25).
- It focuses on self rather than humbly glorifying God and enjoying Him forever, which is mankind’s purpose.
- It keeps people enslaved to sin rather than finding freedom in Christ (John 8:31-36).
- It inoculates people to the real Gospel of salvation through Christ alone.
- It lets people feel spiritually satisfied when they remain under God’s wrath (John 3:36).
Ultimately, Christless Christianity leads people astray. It gives false hope today and in eternity. Only Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There is no true Christianity without Him at the center.
Getting Back to Christ-Centered Faith
How then can believers and churches steer clear of Christless Christianity and remain focused on Jesus?
- Preach the full Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ’s finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Uphold Scripture alone as the final authority, not shifting culture (2 Timothy 3:16).
- Teach the hard truths of sin, repentance, God’s judgment, and Christ’s sacrifice for sins.
- Lead people to depend fully on the Holy Spirit, not self-effort (Galatians 5:16-18).
- Equip believers to live as disciples of Jesus, not just converts (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Keep Christ’s second coming and eternal perspective central (Titus 2:11-14).
- Warn of false gospels that sound appealing but deny Christ (2 Corinthians 11:4).
- Stay grounded in prayerful study of Scripture versus novelty (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Focus on Christ’s Lordship, not using Him for partisan agendas (Colossians 1:15-20).
- Elevate knowing, loving, and glorifying God over self-help (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Christless Christianity has always plagued churches and believers who drift into theological liberalism, adapt to culture, or seek numbers over truth. But the eternal Gospel remains anchored to Jesus Christ, the only cornerstone. He must have preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). Our faith centers on who He is and what He has accomplished for us. Holding fast to Jesus keeps the Gospel pure and forever relevant. He must not be forgotten or replaced in the shifting tides of human ideas. A Christianity without Christ at its core is no Christianity at all.