False Advertising?

A sign caught my attention the other day, it was displaying the slogan/image above. I believe it is part of a campaign for a few revival services to be held in the town where I live.

"Life is better with Jesus." I couldn't agree more.

My life has so much fulfillment and purpose simply because my life is found in Christ. I tasted and saw that the Lord is good many years ago as the Psalmist says. However, I couldn't help but feel like some how this sign is a deception to those who do not know the Lord, and is somehow "jipping" people regarding the real substance of the gospel.

The specific church in our area that is holding these revival services doesn't really matter here because I believe this is a bigger issue in the Church abroad so to speak. Life is better with Jesus, no doubt, yet, someone who sees this sign could view Jesus, based on what the sign says, as an enhancement to my already "pretty decent" life.

Yea, maybe I'll give this Jesus thing a try.

And so they're roped in, told that Jesus can better their life, pray a prayer and maybe get baptized (which is little more than getting wet if there is no true conversion) and can go on with their life as normal, only now with the enhancements.

Problem is, they were sold a bill of goods.

If the world is brought in on a slogan or gospel like what is represented on that sign, those hearing that message are only hearing part of the story. In fact, it's just a half-gospel, which is no gospel really at all.

When do those in attendance hear about the cost of following Christ? Do they hear that it will cost them their life? Do they know that Jesus requires you renounce all that you have to follow Him? Do they know that He is now the Lord and Master of their life, and the Holy Judge to whom they will have to give an account for their life one day? Not to mention do they ever have a revelation of their sinful state before the Lord and their offense toward a righteous God?

Life is better with Jesus. I thought about that slogan being used in a nation where persecution of Christians is prevalent. Life is better with Jesus. Maybe it's in the fine print: By the way, following Him will cost your life. You may get beaten, stoned, threatened, lose all your possessions, be thrown in jail, or even killed by the government or your own family members, but remember, life is better with Jesus.

And, like I said, it is.

And those who are willingly laying down their life for Him in persecuted nations I believe would say the same thing.

The problem here isn't so much with a sign for a church revival service, the problem is that sign points to a lost Gospel, or a maybe an Americanized gospel, where folks can enjoy the benefits of God and still life their life the way they want. Unfortunately, or fortunately, as God saves us from ourselves in many ways, that's not the true Gospel.

I hope and pray that the church using this slogan for their revival services preach the true Gospel as people walk through their door. They may be planning to do just that. If that is the case then I believe they are using a sleight of hand to get people in the door, which is another issue. Either way, my point is with a bigger issue - the compromise of the Gospel of Christ. Shame on us if we do not tell people the weight and penalty of their sins or the cost of following Jesus. We must die before we find life.

And when we do, we find that indeed, life is better with Jesus.