Introduction – Popular Christianity Defined

The first question that we will seek to answer is, “What is Biblical Christianity?”  There are many people who define a Christian as being many different things.  There are different belief systems and cults who teach multiple ways to become a Christian, but when we say Biblical Christianity, we are speaking of what the infallible Word of God clearly teaches about what a Christian is.  In the Word of God, we have defined for us the only WAY to Heaven.  Anything that is EXTRA-biblical or CONTRA-biblical can simply be said to be NON-biblical.  There is no better way to define how to become a Christian than the very words of Christ Himself in John 3:3.  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Consider Romans 10:9 – 13.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Biblical Christianity is seeing your need as a sinner.  It is understanding that we are under the condemning hand of a just God.  It is seeing the only Hope given by the same loving God.  It is salvation by repentance and faith in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Now that we have briefly defined Biblical Christianity, let’s look at what the true cause of the dumbing down of our nation and our churches regarding the truth of Christ really is.  This is what I have termed Popular Christianity.  Some would call this carnal Christianity.  There is a specific reason for the name I have chosen.  The word “popular” as used here means the following: of the people; regarded with favor and approval by the people; prevailing among the people.  In other words, the word “popular” addresses something that is accepted by the people.  The majority of people approve.

Two years ago from the writing of this series, I took a course called American Popular Culture.  It was interesting to see how different fads and types of music come to be a part of American culture.  In today’s society popular culture items are introduced through young people.  Generally, they are teenagers although the age that is being targeted continues to be younger and younger.  Many marketing schemes are set up around what the teen industry wants.  A course video showed a particular company collecting teens from different walks of life.  They would bring them into a forum, and then they would present each teen with a piece of paper with clothing brand names.  The teens would pick the most popular clothing lines and mark the paper accordingly.  This was done with multiple subjects such as music, drinks, and many other things.  The company then collects the surveys, and they use that for their marketing.  The whole idea is not only to survey what is popular, but also to see new avenues for impacting popular culture.  For example, in one television commercial about fast food, you may see a combination of popular culture items such as mp3 players, music, and dancing; but the commercial is for promoting a certain fast food place.

Christendom as a whole has already taken this approach, and now this leaven is being mixed in and baked within our very own independent Bible-believing churches.  The results are disastrous, as you will see in chapter six.  The goal for many churches has become to appeal and become part of today’s popular culture.  Many individuals in the “fundamental” realm overlook and generalize this by calling this compromise, and it certainly is; but there is so much more to this that must be addressed.  The emphasis has become people instead of the Person of Jesus Christ.  The focal point has been shifted to man from the God-Man, Jesus.  The “entertainment god” has replaced the true and living God.  This is disturbing!  A church with a good program or a man with a great personality may bring in masses of people, but what are they bringing them to?

In our local area we have had at least two independent Baptist church drop their Sunday evening services and adapt their music and worship implement a worldly flavor under the guise of contemporary.  Where do we draw the line?  Is this alright for individuals to do? Is there anything Biblical that we may firmly stand upon?

It has been said many times that the most dangerous thing is not that which is in blatant opposition to the truth, but rather it is that which has hints of truth mixed in with error.  This is Popular Christianity.  It is not simply characterized by shallow Christianity, but it in fact produces this very type of shallow, external Christian.  It is true that, as a whole, our world and society is much less Biblically literate than it once was.  Our churches are following the same trend.  The goal of this book is NOT to expose the degeneration of this world.  This is well understood according to the Word of God, but we must see that there are those who have “crept in unawares.”  There are those who “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof^[1].”  “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him^[2].”  This is Popular Christianity!

Please pray that what you read will help to guard you against this type of non-Christian living.  Please take a moment and ask the Lord to guide you as you continue to read.  We will seek to study the root of this problem, the product of this problem, and how to avoid and remove yourself from this terrible error.

[2] Titus 1:16