The Distortion of the True Gospel of Jesus Christ
By Dr. Carl S. Parnell
During the ministry of Jesus Christ on the earth, He gave His disciples some key commandments to follow. One main commandment is found in the Holy Bible in Matthew 28:19-20. These words of Jesus were spoken to His disciples prior to His return to Heaven. These words of Jesus admonished His disciples to carry on His ministry during His absence from the earth. These words of Jesus expressed the true manner in which His good news (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) should be presented throughout the earth after He ascended to Heaven. These words of Jesus also have been called the “Great Commission.” Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Also, another similar scripture can be found in Mark 16:15-16. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Therefore, from these two sets of scriptures, Jesus presented the true manner in which His gospel was to be presented to mankind. However, as centuries have passed, the true sinless Gospel of Jesus Christ has been distorted.
Historically, the distortion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ originated during the Middle Ages, A.D.500-A.D.1500. It was during this thousand year period that the Roman Catholic Church claimed that salvation was obtained by works. In other words, an individual would have to perform the rituals demanded of him/her by the Catholic Church in order to go to Heaven. In fact, an individual could actually buy certificates of indulgences from the Church that basically forgave him/her of the sins he/she had committed. However, this distorted view of Christianity was challenged on October 31, 1517. It was on this date that Martin Luther posted his infamous Ninety-five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Martin Luther who was a member of the Roman Catholic Church bravely declared that this distorted view of the Gospel of Jesus Christ should not be preached by the Catholic Church anymore. It was at this time that the Protestant Reformation began. Martin Luther proclaimed that salvation is obtained only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by some kind of work’s religion.
Eventually, the Protestant Reformation spread the true Gospel of Jesus Christ all over Europe. Fortunately, the new religious movement made its way to America with the first English colonists. But, as centuries have passed, religious leaders have tampered with the Biblical views of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, many ministers in America are using their pulpits to preach a gospel that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are preaching a post-modern world social and/or political gospel. This distorted gospel has no eternal value. This distorted gospel will not save any individual from his/her sins. This distorted gospel will not heal any individual, since faith in Jesus Christ is not necessarily the focal point of these new manmade gospels. However, this distorted gospel that is being preached in many churches in America today will destroy individuals and entire nations.
What is a social gospel? Basically, a social gospel brings the sins of society into the church. Of course, as Jesus stated in Luke 14:23, He wants social outcasts in His Church. He said, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” But, Jesus intended that those who come into His Church would accept His Plan of Salvation. However, those who preach a social gospel attempt to get their church to accept the sins of the society at large. A prime example in post-modern America would be homosexuality. Too many American churches are arguing over whether or not homosexuality is a sin. But, why should any born-again Christian see the need to discuss this topic in church. The Bible explicitly states that it is a sin in the eyes of God. As stated in Romans 1: 26-27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: or even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” This scripture should be enough proof for any Christian or Christian church in the United States that homosexuality is contrary to God’s Plan of Salvation.
Large numbers of people probably would not accept true salvation in a church that preaches an unscriptural social gospel. Also, even though these preachers and churches do many good things for people in society in the name of Jesus Christ, the works that they do might not be accepted by God. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” However, Jesus does expect Christians to do good works on the earth in His name. As recorded in Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” But, these works would have no saving value, unless the person performing the works first accepts Jesus and His Sinless Gospel by faith.
What is a political gospel? A political gospel brings the politics of the society at large into the church as a major topic of discussion. Therefore, those who preach a political gospel promote their views of America’s political affairs, instead of concentrating on God’s Plan of Salvation. A prime example would be the recent turmoil caused by the reported anti-American political messages that former pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preached at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. A church pulpit should never be used to preach anything contrary to God’s Love for sinners of all races, creeds, and colors. Also, the political views of a minister should never be given center stage in God’s Christian Church. God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ should always be the major topic of discussion in Christian churches. The gospel that is preached from a church pulpit must line up with the Word of God. The preaching of any other gospel would be blasphemy to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, since faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to Heaven. As stated in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” But, despite the fact that other religions denounce this scripture as a sign of the self-centeredness of Christianity, this scripture from God’s Holy Word speaks for itself.
The true Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached in all churches in the United States. If America’s distorted Christian viewpoints are not replaced once again with the truth, as recorded in the Holy Bible, American ministers and their churches will be held accountable for the spiritually dead nation that the United States is rapidly becoming, even though 80 to 90 percent of Americans claim to be born-again Christians. However, if all Christians return to their first love, the Lord Jesus Christ and His true Gospel, God might truly bless America as a nation once again. As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33, while giving His great Sermon on the Mount, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.” Therefore, God will never accept any distorted, manmade social and/or political gospel that would permit unrepentant sinners to go to Heaven. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is based on the fact that sinners must ask forgiveness for their sins and that sinners must acknowledge that true salvation comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any other route to Heaven would mean Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary in vain. But, of course, He didn’t.
Carl S. Parnell, Ed.D.
