Don't Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully

by David Platt

For far too long, we have traded in the biblical gospel that exalts Jesus above everything in this world for an American gospel that prostitutes Jesus for the sake of comfort, power, politics, and prosperity in our country. The evidence is all around us. Instead of being eager to unite around the glory of Jesus, Christians are quick to divide over the idolatry of personal and political convictions.

As followers of the just Ruler of the universe, we’re ignoring rampant injustice around us, and we’re so caught up in calls to promote the greatness of our nation that we’re essentially disregarding Jesus’s command to take the gospel to all nations.

A future of doing justice instead of merely debating it.

In a similar way, it’s possible for followers of Jesus to have different views on different issues—and discuss those differences—but still be a united church.

I am concerned that Christians, on average, don’t have the skills to have a genuine, loving, humble conversation when we disagree with someone on a personal, emotional topic. I think this is a skill that we ought to develop, and we are not representing Christ well if we do not develop this skill of dealing with conflict and remaining united with those with whom we disagree.

Am I in any way guilty of participating in the Ku Klux Klan? No, I’m not. For that matter, am I guilty of owning slaves in the mid-1700s, fighting for slavery in the mid-1800s, or opposing civil rights in the mid-1900s? No. But am I responsible for knowing the history of racism in America, for understanding how it is enshrined in the places around me, for recognizing how it influences people in my country, and for making sure that I don’t repeat or preserve the harmful effects of the past, especially in the church? Yes, I am.

Instead, Paul taught that we are united in Christ and that no one is more valuable than another. No Jew is more valuable than a Greek (or vice versa), and no male is more valuable than a female (or vice versa). Indeed, it’s our biblical duty to see our diversity the way God sees our diversity—as a stunning portrait of his creativity that exalts his glory as our Creator.

By this measure, every follower of Jesus I know would say that they are not racist. Yet immediately exempting ourselves from conversations about racism not only disrespects brothers and sisters who are hurting but also shuts down the very kind of introspection our diverse church family needs in order to heal and grow, particularly here in America.

Scripture teaches that none of us is immune to any sin in our hearts, including pride, prejudice, and partiality—the sins that are at the root of expressions of racism.

Christians have used the Bible to justify human trafficking, physical torture, and denigration of people made in God’s image, and we would be fools to think that we’re not susceptible to abusing Scripture in similar ways.

Many Christians today lament about how more and more people, especially in the next generation, are denying or at least twisting what God’s Word says about gender and sexuality to align with prevailing cultural trends. But should we be surprised by this, when these same people have for so long watched the church deny or twist what God’s Word says about issues of race and justice among the nations? The reality we all need to face is clear: All of us are prone to defy God’s Word even as we convince ourselves that we’re following it.

Do more liberal members of school boards in our country think, Christians are the most loving people in our community? What about abortion rights activists? Do they think, Christians have shown such kindness and compassion toward me? Do our self-professing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning, asexual, and ally neighbors know us personally as friends who listen closely to them and care deeply for them? What about the members of the opposing political party? Do they think, That person may disagree strongly with me, but I always feel honored and cared for by them? What about our neighbors of other ethnicities? Do they see us intentionally tearing down walls of division and creating spaces where we learn about and appreciate our cultural differences? What about our Muslim neighbors? Would women wearing hijabs feel welcome in our churches? Do Muslims in our communities think, That church believes differently than we do, but they are the most loving people to us, never afraid of us, and always hospitable to us? Could the same be said about us by Muslims around the world?

If we show kindness, compassion, friendship, honor, love, and hospitality only to those who are like us, then what does that say about us? Isn’t that basically just love for ourselves disguised as love for others?

You know what’s interesting, though? Rarely (if ever) has someone in the church pushed back against my teaching on abortion. I don’t hear, “Just keep your head down, teach the Bible, and stop talking about abortion.” Similarly, I never hear people in the church make this argument when I speak about gender, sexuality, marriage, or religious liberty for Christians. Yet when I speak about religious liberty for Muslims, the evil of racism, caring for refugees, stopping oppression, or defending the poor, I’m likely to hear, “Just keep your head down and preach the gospel.” But why? Why are we so conveniently selective about which issues of justice are okay to speak about from the Bible in the church and which are not?

Most Americans pay little attention to the refugee crisis, and what attention we give to it is usually through the lens of political punditry and partisan debates over what is best for us. It’s a sure sign of American self-centeredness when we take the suffering of millions of people and turn it into an issue about ourselves—our rights, our jobs, or our way of life. And the American church is no different. Research shows that specifically White evangelical Protestants are among the most resistant to the reception of refugees in our country.[6]

Have you ever wanted your way more than you have wanted God’s will? Are you inclined to settle for the comforts of people and places that are familiar to you instead of paying a cost to go to people and places that are foreign to you? Especially if those people are also threatening to you or perceived as your enemies? How often do you pray for and desire the good of other countries that might be considered enemies of the United States? Is it possible for you to know about the character of God yet not show the compassion of God to others? Are you prone to disconnect the mercy of God in your life from the mission of God in the world? Do you sometimes care more about your earthly desires than others’ eternal destinies? What do you truly want more: a comfortable life in your nation or the spread of the gospel in all nations?

So if we’re going to experience love for God that is greater than any other love, we don’t need to try harder; we need new hearts. We need a fundamental transformation at the core of who we are.

There is an intimacy with God that can be experienced only after seeking him for hour after hour after hour, and we’re missing out if we’re not willing to spend that kind of time with him. So set aside time alone and with others just to seek God. Early, late, and long. Not as a means to any other end, but as the end.