Imagine someone stepped unto your stage, stood before a crowded sanctuary, and simply said to the members of your church, "Go to hell."

How much do you have to hate someone to stand before them and utter those words? How much do you have to hate them to want that, to seek to damage them in such a way, to desire such an extreme and irreversible ruin to their soul?

And yet far worse, far more hard-hearted, I believe, is the careless lack of love that allows you to stand before your congregation of thousands and quietly lead them all to hell with a few comforting verses.

How do you have to feel towards them to do that?

There is no such thing as a "standard gospel" by which a man can be saved if he merely says a few words out loud and believes as much as the demons do (James 2:14-26). Does the faith of devils save them? Neither will it save you or those you teach it to. 

There is no Gospel at all without the cost of also obeying, worshipping, surrendering all to, proclaiming with one's life Jesus as Lord. 

There is no resurrection without the cross. I'm not referring to the shiny emblem you wear around your neck or pin to your blouse. I'm talking about the kind of cross to which men are pinned, the big rugged 200 lb kind that wears a man upon itself and brings about a shameful and excruciating death. And I'm not just speaking of the Cross He hung on for you. I'm talking about the cross He demanded that you take up, that He promised to all who would be saved by Him — yes, your very own cross.

No matter what this famous theologian or that famous theologian says, there are not two gospels. There is only one Gospel.

The Gospel Jesus proclaimed, offered, and lived.

If the "ticket" to heaven your pastor sells you is cheap, he's a liar and it's a one-way ticket to hell.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -- yes, even his own life -- he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

"But I don't want the 'platinum gospel,'" responded the American. "I don't want to love You more than my father and mother, my wife and children, my brothers and sisters — even my own life! I don't want to carry a cross and follow Your pattern of life. I just want to go to heaven when I die."

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' . . . In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

"But I don't even want the 'gold' version of the gospel. Everything I have? The cost is too high. I told You, I just want eternal life."

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" . . . Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

At this my face fell, and I turned to walk away sorrowful, because I have great wealth. But then I remembered what my pastor had said, and smiled, and replied confidently, "I don't want to be a disciple. I don't want the 'silver.' I just want to be a Christian. I want You as my Savior, but I want to remain lord of my life. I'll take the 'standard gospel,' please sir!"

Luke 14:25-35, Mark 10:17-22


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