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‘Customized’ Christianity isn’t biblical Christianity

There it was – the headline caught my attention – and begged for my audience: “More Americans customize religion to fit their personal needs.” This headline was on the second page of the USA Today newspaper, dated Sept. 13, 2011.
I read every line with great interest.

Pollster George Barna said, with a wry hint of exaggeration, “America is headed for 310 million people, with 310 million religions.
"We are a designer society,” he said. “We want everything customized to fit our personal needs – our clothing, our food, our education. Now it’s our religion.”
The Bible says that “God created man in his image, in the image he created them; male and female” (Genesis 1:27). Now it seems that American people want to create God in their own image. There is a term that theologians often use to describe this – syncretism. Syncretism simply means the combining or the fusion of different belief systems into one.
In the Old Testament, the Jewish people discovered that God was a jealous God. God wanted his people to worship him exclusively. Jesus said, “Thou shall worship the Lord thy God and him only shall thou serve” (Matthew 4:10).
Monotheism means the worship of one God. However, surrounding Israel were many pagan cultures that encouraged people to adhere to polytheism – or the worship of many different gods.
How like Israel we have become! Not only do many Americans customize their religion to fit their personal religious preference; in the process, they argue that spirituality can be divorced from the church.
That same article said “More people claim that they have accepted Jesus as their savior and expect to go to heaven. But more say they haven’t been to church in the past six months, except for special occasions, such as weddings or funerals.”
This rampant individualism has crept into the church, and even into the mindset of those who profess the Christian faith. Yet, the Bible does not speak of a relationship with Jesus Christ apart from the church.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “Let’s also think about how to motivate each other to show love and to do good works. Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near."
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, said:  “To turn Christianity into a solitary religion is to destroy it.”
What, then, is the answer? First, and foremost, those who profess Jesus Christ must be willing to come under the authority of the scripture and the church. We cannot pick and choose scripture that supports our worldview and lifestyle. Second, no church is perfect; but every church I have been a pastor of, or a member of, has had a burning desire to do God’s work in the world. I am a better person, and a more effective Christian, because of the church. Left to my own devices and selfish means, I would fall away.
Let me repeat. You need the church, and the church needs you. Get involved. Get rid of your excuses. Find a faithful, Bible-believing, active church, and marvel at how God will be glorified as you become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ!

Dr. Roger Grimmett • First United Methodist Church, Vandalia

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