The very insinuation that modern, hip, “progressive” churches (those who pander to popular culture) are evolving into bastions of tolerance and love is enough to cause peals of laughter, snorts of derision, and plenty of eye-rolls throughout the hallowed halls of Christendom. After all, aren’t these trendy, so-called “enlightened” churches just sanctimonious social clubs responsible for the rise of moral relativism, the dilution of doctrine, and the general decline of Western civilization?

Aren’t these so-called “churches” the ones trading Bible-based values for social media likes and retweets? Didn’t they throw out the rulebook, so to speak, in favor of political correctness and feel-good platitudes? Don’t their parishioners live in blissful ignorance, skimming the surface of Christianity, never diving into the depths of truth? Some may see these charges are a tad hyperbolic, but surely these modish compromised hellholes are hosing down the historic, biblical teachings on sin with a reservoir full of nuance—all for the sake of superficial unity.

Genuine, Bible-believing Christians are not swayed by the winds of societal change; they hold fast to the unchanging Word of God, which boldly confronts sin and calls for repentance. Like the early church, these stalwart believers do not shy away from addressing controversial issues, whether it be homosexuality, abortion, or any other hot take on the modern zeitgeist, even in the face of ridicule and ostracism. No, true Christians remain steadfast in their convictions and refuse to sacrifice truth for the sake of hollow harmony.

It’s a wonder that these ultra-modern churches, with their fair-trade coffee bars, laser light shows, and Instagram-worthy worship services, can even keep a straight face while purporting to represent the faith of martyrs, saints, and apostles. The truth is, these new-age congregations have swapped the sacred for the secular, the divine for the diluted, and the prophetic for the politically correct.

But let’s take a moment to wipe the tears of laughter from our eyes and consider the more sinister side of this shift in church culture. These “seeker-friendly” assemblies are so busy trying to attract the masses with their feel-good messages and non-threatening, uncontroversial atmospheres that they simply neglect to call out sin for what it is: a dangerous, destructive force that separates humanity from a holy God.

In their attempts to be “inclusive” and “welcoming,” they’ve completely abandoned the importance of their sacred call to teach the Scriptures and be truthful about these issues—morality is not a “third-bucket issue,” despite what David Platt says. Instead, these clowns entertaining goats, as Spurgeon puts it, opt for a nuanced, watered-down approach to the biblical teaching on sin and repentance that prioritizes unity over truth. This distortion of Christianity is not only a travesty but also a dangerous deception that leads many astray.

Indeed, these so-called “progressive” churches have forgotten the very essence of Christianity: a faith that calls its people to radical transformation, to holiness, and to self-sacrifice. They’ve exchanged the power of the Gospel for a shallow, feel-good theology that appeases the masses but offers no hope for true redemption.

What these confused assemblies need is a healthy dose of biblical reality, a return to the tried-and-true teachings of Scripture that have stood the test of time. They must stop pandering to popular opinion, trading eternal truths for fleeting trends. Only then can they begin to reclaim the richness and depth of the Christian faith, a faith that calls believers to confront sin head-on, to repent, and to be transformed by the power of Christ who gave his life on the cross for many.

So, let us beseech these wandering, wayward churches to return to their first love, to embrace the whole counsel of God, and to reject the superficial unity built on the shaky, ever-changing foundations of our modern culture. Let us implore them to stand firm on the bedrock of biblical truth, proclaiming the Gospel in its fullness, without fear or compromise. If they cannot do that, they should at least spare us and stop calling themselves Christians. For it is only in the unadulterated truth of Scripture that we find genuine unity, a unity that transcends cultural trends and unites believers across the ages.

For those who have ears to hear, let them heed the clarion call to forsake the broad path of compromise, the slippery slope of theological dilution, and the murky waters of moral ambiguity. Instead, let them embrace the narrow way, the straight and unswerving path of biblical fidelity, and the crystal-clear fountain of divine truth.

The time has come for Christians to rise above the clamor of popular opinion and to anchor their faith in the timeless teachings of Scripture. It’s high time we reject the siren song of superficial unity, which lures so many unsuspecting souls onto the rocky shores of spiritual ruin. Instead, let us strive for true unity – a unity forged in the fires of conviction, tempered by the hammer of truth, and built upon the unshakable foundation of God’s Word.

We must remember that the church is not called to conform to the world but to transform it. We are to be salt and light, preserving what is good and dispelling darkness with the illuminating truth of the Gospel. We cannot fulfill this God-breathed mandate if we continue to water down the truth. Instead, we must stand strong, unwavering in our commitment to the Word of God, even when the world around us mocks, scorns, and persecutes us for it.