Christianity has become extremely complicated, says one pastor and author.
While some Christians like whole milk, others prefer 2 percent and some want soy or even condensed.
"We've found ourselves catering to everybody to please them when the Gospel is not really to please people, it's to save people," says Tommy Galloway, author of newly released Cure for Common Christianity.
The “milk” that Galloway is referring to is the Word of God. Furthermore, the milk is just the Gospel in its simplest form. Yet he finds that churches have complicated the message, trying to turn a not-so-pretty message of blood and sacrifice into a pretty sermon.
Today, many churches are giving out messages in a "Have it your way" Burger King-fashion.
"Because of our fast-food faith, never have we had so much food and so little fire," Galloway writes in his new book. "We have microwave messages, economy meal values, and burger believers who want it their way."
"We've made our pastors become chefs instead of shepherds," he says. "People want to come in and order what they want from the pulpit."
Galloway has decided to diagnose this as the "Mad Christian Disease." The author describes the progression of the disease, in three stages: people are affected, infected, and then become ineffective, essentially becoming common.
Christians have strayed from their purpose and allowed the worldly system to get into their mind, he says. A possible result is depression even among Christians.
"People have got to understand that depression is real," says Galloway, who was once diagnosed with depression during his years as a preacher. "There are Christians that are depressed."
Currently, antidepressants are the most prescribed drug in the United States.
"I felt like my religion had me locked in four walls and God was calling me to get out of those four walls," he recounts. "A lot of Christians get locked in where they are because they don't know how to go farther [in their faith]."
One person who commented on an article regarding Galloway's book said one would have to be an idiot to believe in Christianity. That person indicated he once was a Christian but found nothing that satisfied him. No wonder they're looking for a cure for common Christianity, he wrote, because there's nothing to it.
"That shows me that he (the commenter) found nothing in religion to satisfy the deep longings of his soul," says Galloway.
But there's a cure for "mad" Christians, Galloway says. "The cross!"
Not the candy-coated cross, however.
"I really think that we have sugar-coated the Gospel and somewhat the prosperity Gospel because we want it to look so prosperous and so easy and it is easy living for the Lord, but the bottom line is Jesus said 'Take up my cross and follow,'" Galloway says.
He believes the cross is left out many times in sermons because "people want to be more amused than amazed."
"We're competing with the worldly system," the pastor says. "We want to not make people turned off by the Gospel message and therefore we don't really preach about the blood.
"People [say] 'Tell me what I need to know but make it palatable to me and make it where it tastes good."
The reality of the cross, however, is blood and sacrifice and Galloway believes the world is hungry to hear that plain and simple. The cross cost Jesus everything, the author stresses.
Galloway, who is senior pastor of Word of Life Church in Tupelo, Miss., plans to release a second book titled "Posterity: The New Prosperity" within the next year.
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Comments
The problem is we do not focus on Abiding. people coin a stupid phrase like WWJD and it is unscriptural. jesus is the vine and we are branches. Its that simple. Instead we have man implemented positions when its all about gifting and not positions. Most people do not even understand the new coveant.The old covenant is dead.
Jer 31:31-34 Hebrews 8:13 1 Tim 1:9 Gal 5:18
Lovelife- you really need to find a place to pray and ask God to heal you. You are so very bitter it is oozing from your every word..Bitterness has deep roots...the only person you are hurting is yourself not Pastor Tommy or WOL. They will go on and be blessed as God has promised to do. You on the other hand will become desolate and alone if you are not already! You say "do not judge me, you do not know me" Well have you not been judging Pastor Tommy and WOL leadership.. Practice what you preach! Although your identity is anonymous, your spirit has been exposed for all to see...and judging from comments posted, I am not alone on that one!
I wish that the comments would refocus on the issue in the article. This is a book that will transform Christian thinking and bring restoration to the masses. As Marie stated, the I's have this one. All effective men of God have their detractors because of the errant nature of humanity. But I should remind you that non-believers scour this website searching for hypocrisy so that their non-belief is justified. When the supposed "body of Christ" is this vengeful and petty, we prove their thesis that Christianity is nothing but virulent hypocrisy. And remember their blood will be on our hands....
For by this will all men know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.
Churches will be open everywhere Sunday morning Go
But for today remember God is available to hear your cry 24 hours a day seven days a week
Fill your heart with love and there will be no room for all the bitterness.
I am praying your life and heart will soon be full of love for all men.
By this men will know you are His disciple.
And may I please repeat.
Alrightee Then!
Enough already.
The I's have this one. The naysayers have lost.
You guys who this person is lashing out at need to go to this downtrodden individual and lay hands on them (I mean to pray for them of course) Best wishes with the book and the future of your church. God bless ALL involved, mad and otherwise.
Please follow my advise and the world will be a happier place.
Thanks and God bless.
my point is proved. some of you think that tommy has never harmed anyone.
I agree with some of what you said. Those who are called by God we don't need to hurt. Well tommy hurt a lot of those that were called by God..
And I know some of the things going on there, because like I said, I know people who still do there. And no your are wrong about me changing churches for reasons like this in the past, I've never done that..
And for you to pass judment on me, when you don't know me, is wrong. I am sharing my experience with WOL, and Tommy. Just like others have done.
I guess all this was talked about tonight at church so some of you had to run here to take up for Tommy. Guess all the people who have left WOL is wrong in your eyes huh?
I have been a member at Word of Life Church for 10 years. Tommy Galloway is my friend, he has been a mentor & more than just a "pastor", he has been there everytime I've needed him. Word of Life Church & Pastor Galloway have seen their fair share of "ups & downs". He has never said that anyone that has left has "followed satan" anything he has ever spoken of anyone that left was that THEY WERE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK & HE WAS PRAYING FOR THEM. That is what true CHRISTIANS do, not try to put down the MAN OF GOD. You need to BE CAREFUL because the BIBLE says NOT TO TOUCH HIS ANNOINTED. I don't understand how you claim you know so much about MY CHURCH & MY PASTOR but yet you haven't been in over 2 years. I imagine Word of Life isn't the only church that you've left because someone was bold enough to point out the problems in the church where we've all gotten so comfortable. Apparently you aren't ready for change, but Word of Life Church is!! Pastor Galloway will be the first to tell you that HE IS NOT PERFECT & HE HAS MADE MISTAKES, but Word of Life, along with Pastor Galloway have taken off the rear-view mirror & are MOVING FORWARD!! I pray that you can someday swallow your pride & let God move you forward also.
I have been at this church since the beginning and I have seen people come and go. Most of the people who have left have caused a lot of heart ache for christians who RESPECT the MAN OF GOD!! I know that he is not the pastor for everyone but you need to be careful of how you attack this man. He is who GOD called to write this book. Be careful. Read your Bible and find what happens to people who attack God's people. True Christians know how to forgive people. I hope that you find a way to forgive and let God take control, because you seem to be a very bitter person. My prayers are for you and all the people who have not found forgivness.
Please Read, this is from Matt 13
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The book is open for comments, Pastor Galloway and WOL are not the issue here. I am not a member there anymore. I left because we moved out of state. If I moved back to the area, WOL would be my church. In all the yrs that Pastor Galloway was my pastor, and WOL was my family, I NEVER felt that the Pastor or the leadership was anything but compasionate and God fearing. There are not many churches you can go to and be feed the Word and grow in a personal relationship with the Lord like you can at WOL. The Pastors job is to feed the flock, some need millk, some meat. It is not his job to babysit those who whine and need to have all the attention like a toddler. There are people that are lost, troubled and need help, so for those who need a babysitter go to a daycare.
All churches have wheat and tares.........the Pastor sows the seeds, the Word and the Body nourish and water.........God takes care of the harvest.
I know all who have left the church for what ever reason are in the prayers of Pastor Galloway.
Alrightee Then! Enough already. The I's have this one. The naysayers have lost. You guys who this person is lashing out at need to go to this downtrodden individual and lay hands on them (I mean to pray for them of course) Best wishes with the book and the future of your church. God bless ALL involved, mad and otherwise.
Our family has been attending WOL for 7 years. I would like to comment on a few of the posts that have been made regarding the leadership at WOL. Pastor Galloway has never said that he is the perfect pastor nor that he pastors a perfect church. Infact, he has admitted many times from the pulpit that he has made mistakes. That's the point! This is a pastor who is very transparent with his congregation and has a sincere heart to see his congregation get closer and deeper with God. Our family, in the past, has served in several leadership positions there at the church and, while no church is perfect, WOL has a heart to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Pastor Galloway has had the messege of this book in his heart for years. For me, it's about time someone was bold enough to say let's get our act together in the church; after all, the world is watching!
I admit it, I've had the mad Christian disease! In fact, I still have to deal with it from time to time. I'm doing my best to put God first in my life.
Quote me...Thank you for bringing the focus back to what needs to be! We as the body of Christ must get back to what the Word says..How are we different from the world when we are full of bitterness and hate! I have read the posts and am sickened by the hypocrisy! Please dont call yourself a christian when you are not christ like! Christ said "forgive them Father for they know not what they do" did He not say "bless those who curse you"? Lovelife...you keep saying "I am not bashing" but then you do it! Find a prayer room and let God heal the unforgiveness and bitterness inside you..If what you say is true then it is your responsibility to forgive and bless...Thats what God says to do to be called a disiple. When He was beaten and ridiculed...He didnt lash out with mean words and a hateful spirit..or find an anonymous way to deposit his venom...You do need alot of prayer and healing!!!!
Hey John Knight, never apologize for scripture. It is good to quote men if what they say is true. You notice my name is "quote me." I believe is speaking truth and when you are quoted down the road about something you say there are no regrets. IIt is evem better when men quote God, because every one of His Words are THE TRUTH.
Christians are supposed to come under the headship of those who have been God called to be their shepherds. The shepherds are under the headship of God the Father. We must be submissive, not rebellious and mad if we want today's church to be whole and cured.
Jos 22:22 -
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
1Sa 15:23 -
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Hey I am sorry about all the scripture that I pasted to this comment.
I am trying again.
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All Christians are not obedient children. Put your HEAD on Christian.
1 John 1:
1 That;which was from the beginning, which we have heard with our ears, which we have seen with our eyes; which we have handled with our hands, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father is manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
If we say that we have fellowship with the Creator who wants to be our Father, but are not obedient children we lie and do not practice the truth.
If we obey our Father we walk in the light as He is in the light.
I write these things to you, so that you may not sin.
You may ask what is sin?
Sin is not obeying the law, sin is lawlessness.
All Christians are not obedient children. Put your HEAD on Christian.
1 John 1:
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard with our ears, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have handled with our hands, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father is manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
If we say that we have fellowship with the Creator who wants to be our Father, but are not obedient children we lie and do not practice the truth.
If we obey our Father we walk in the light as He is in the light.
I write these things to you, so that you may not sin.
You may ask what is sin?
Sin is not obeying the law, sin is lawlessness.
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What else can make a Christian truly happy?
If you are so selfish that all you want is to be happy then so be it.
John wrote his epistle so we could know real JOY.
As HIS children is not John telling us that we can even today can hear, see, and feel HIM?
OH of course to really believe that one must be MAD.