Christless Christianity?
Most church goers will notice if a certain church member or family is absent on Sunday. If that person or family doesn't show up for several weeks in a row, then we begin to get worried, concerned, or possibly judgmental. Yet, most churches in America haven't seemed to notice that Christ is missing from their worship gathering most Sundays. In particular, the gospel of Christ isn't even the focus of most sermons, songs, or curriculum.
This is a problem that Michael Horton has brought into the light of day in his most recent book, Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church. If you have listened to his podcast (The Whitehorse Inn) over the course of 2008, then you have already heard his plea; however, this book, and many others like it, should serve as a warning which must be heeded by churches. I recommend this book for everyone who calls himself a Christian. Understanding and combating this trend is of first importance, because the American church is doing something far worse than forgetting the gospel all together: we have created our own gospel, with its own truth claims, to replace the gospel of Jesus Christ.
