Sometimes, it feels like the modern church has lost the plot.

There is a focus on Jesus solely based on his loving nature — which is true, to be sure. But it often forsakes how He loved us. For in John 15:13, Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” And then He proved exactly how deep that love was when He did exactly that by taking on all of our sins, atoning for the fall of mankind, by dying on the cross. (1 John 4:10) But death could not hold Him, and He rose again, proving He isn’t just God, but He is a loving God — sinless, cloaked in His own righteousness, and holy.

I often think that we focus too much on a toothless version of Jesus, one that’s personalized to sustain our own desires. That version ignores the whole and breadth of God — His holiness, His righteousness, His justice, and His love. His love is but one part of Him — and it is true — but through His sacrifice, He called us to put on His righteousness (Eph. 4:17-32), His holiness (1 Peter 1:13-19), to seek His justice and serve (Matt. 25:31-40), and to love God and our neighbor (Mark 12:30-31).

To focus solely on Christ’s lovingkindness is to dismiss the vast majority of the Bible. And to not speak of His love without mention of the cross (which is all too often these days) is a false gospel that we’ve been warned about. It’s one that looks more to the flesh, because the Gospel is this: mankind rebelled against God, God redeemed man through the cross, and if we accept Him and his sacrifice on our behalf, then we are sanctified, justified, and saved. Any version of Jesus that is preached without the Gospel is toothless, false, and does nothing to advance the Kingdom of Heaven.

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The Bible warns constantly of false teachers and false christs (Matt. 24:24), and many in the church fall prey to this, instead seeking comfort. A crossless Christ simply feeds itching ears:

“3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

The Word also, while it does often mention God’s love, only says ‘God is love’ twice — both in 1 John. But it mentions that ‘God is holy’ hundreds of times. The angels cry ‘holy, holy, holy’ in his presence, not ‘love, love, love.’ We should seek His will always, be obedient (which is how we love God), and the love will follow.

How we feel in this world matters, but honestly, it matters the least of things.

“2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Col. 3:2-4)

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness all of these things will be added to you. (Matt. 6:33)