For the past several weeks I have been thinking, praying over and writing about a more authentic Christian faith. It is my sincerely held belief that we are seriously missing out in our faith today. Seriously. There has got to be more than showing up at a building every Sunday, (and Wednesday if you’re ‘serious’) and putting on Christmas/Easter pageants.

So why are there so few willing to talk about this?

Every once in a while someone has some sort of ‘crisis of faith’ (my term for it), somebody writes a bestselling memoir, in some cases a low budget film is made, people start to have the makings of what could be meaningful conversations, and then everything fizzles out. We go right back to where we were. Apathetic. Dull. Spiritually lethargic. As ignorant as we were before.

Something has to change.

I’m reading my way through the Old Testament. It’s amazing, reading about God manifesting his power in astounding. ways. A valley of dry bones coming to life, the Red Sea parting, Elijah travels to heaven in a fiery chariot, I have to tell you, this is good stuff. I mean, even if I didn’t believe this happened (I do, just to be clear) I would still appreciate this.

Then I am told by most of the evangelical community that this is all just good history to know, but not to expect anything impressive in my life. We all preach that God is always the same, and then we live as if He has somehow decided to take a break.

I can’t be the only one who sees the problem with this. I have yet to hear anyone else discussing this sort of thing. I can’t be the only one who feels this way.

In a world torn apart by violence, racism (on both sides), corruption, and general evil, I need to believe in a God whose power extends beyond a church building. I need a gospel that is more than just ‘keep your nose clean until we get to heaven’. I need a gospel that frees me from the chains of sin, that allows me to live a holy life, especially in this world that is so evil and corrupting.

I need that. And so does everyone.

So will someone please tell me why this isn’t being preached today? Why aren’t we preaching a gospel that preaches freedom, and gives us a new purpose and calling? Why aren’t we preaching that the Kingdom is come, that the Kingdom is you and I? Instead I am dismayed to see other evangelicals preferring to divide over politics, and denominations.

We are witnessing an epidemic of people struggling with hopelessness, anxiety and depression. Thus far, the church has done a terrible job of dealing with these problems. I know it’s hard not to be a little snarky sometimes, seriously I get it. I don’t think it’s worth protesting over fast food restaurants serving potentially smaller portions. Not in a world where slavery is still rampant, children are starving in Africa and corrupting sin is pervading these buildings we call churches.

That doesn’t mean that those who think their lives are futile and meaningless should be ignored. Can you really blame people? I can’t hardly watch the news anymore. Everything going on in the world is utter chaos, hatred on every level, and let’s not forget the murders. This shouldn’t exactly be a surprise given that Jesus did prophesy that such things would take place. He prophesied that there would be ‘wars, and rumors of wars’, ‘brother would turn on brother’. Sounds like today, doesn’t it?

No one can possibly have any hope in such times. Make no mistake, this is a subtle tactic of the devil. Satan is attempting to inject an absolute nihilistic worldview into people. Nobody can hardly wake up in the morning without getting bombarded with a message that essentially states ‘you have no future, you have no purpose, you will never accomplish anything meaningful’. That is a lie from the pits of hell itself.

I rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ, and so should you.

You are not useless. You are not hopeless. You should never accept such a monstrous lie. I’m telling you that without faith in Christ, this is exactly what the world will force feed you. I’m not afraid to deal with this head on and call these lies out for what they are. I sincerely hope that other believers will do the same. I sincerely hope the church will awaken and start to preach a message of hope to a world in desperate need of it.

We do not need another conference on Calvinism/Arminianism/What Have You. We do not need another debate between theological heavyweights over some obscure issue that nobody cared about to begin with. And please, I am begging you, do not pay twenty dollars for some new web domain i order to start another ‘movement’. We’re organized to death already. Seriously. We’ve got enough. This isn’t what we need right now.

We need a more authentic faith. We’ve got enough systematic theologies to last us several lifetimes. We have more than enough churches, more than enough doctrinal debates, and none of it has done any real good. Really think about this.

We are the Kingdom.

We are the Church.

So why aren’t we making a bigger impact? Why aren’t we addressing the spiritual and mental attacks mounted by the devil? Why are we not boldly proclaiming that no one need ever feel lost, purposeless, ashamed, or useless? Jesus has come, the Kingdom has come.

So why are our messages so hopeless?

Isn’t that what the world needs most right now?