Bait-and-switch schemes, we have all heard of them and no one wants to be a victim of one. But could following Jesus ever come across as one more bait-and-switch scheme?

Recently, I heard of someone who said he was willing to come to church to “see what God has to offer him.” While that sounds self-serving, it’s understandable for an unbeliever, especially in this day of consumerism. But are there preachers whose messages feed that very idea? Could they be replacing the true gospel with a false one that keeps people from seeing their genuine need for Christ?

Today’s Readings:

2 Samuel 9 & 10
Psalm 65.1-8
Proverbs 16.20-21
John 6.1-21

Is Following Jesus a Christian Bait-and-Switch Scheme?

John 6.1-21:

Looking for More Miracles

Jesus had just fed 5,000 people with a young boy’s lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish. But look what happened the next day:

²² On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— ²³ however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— ²⁴ when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. ²⁵ And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

They weren’t following Him because they saw their sinful condition and recognized Him as the Savior they so desperately needed. They followed because of what He could do for them. But instead of simply allowing them to believe that was acceptable, Jesus corrected them.

Count the Cost

There were other times when He almost seemed to discourage would-be followers. Later in this chapter, He told the people that He is the Living Bread and those who follow Him must eat His flesh and drink His blood:

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it (Jn. 6.60)?”

And in Luke 14 He cautioned them about the need to count the cost of discipleship (Lk. 14.25-33) and ended with this:

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple (v. 33).

Christian Bait-and-Switch Scheme?

Today, instead of correcting false assumptions, the airwaves are full of preachers telling people that God will solve all their problems and they can have their best life now. They tell listeners they just need to give and God will give them back 100-fold.

There is no discussion of our sin and spiritual poverty (Rom. 3.23). There are no explanations about how we are to lay down our lives (Lk. 9.23-24). There are no warnings about suffering or persecution and no teaching about how God uses these things in our lives (1 Pet.3.13-17; Jn. 15.20; Rom. 8.28-29).

Thousands pack their churches believing God wants them to be healthy, wealthy, and successful in every earthly endeavor. There is no call to stand up against the evils in our culture or willingness to speak out about lifestyles that are sending people to hell (1 Cor. 6.9-10). In the place of gospel preaching and calls to repentance is a more palatable menu about how to be happy in this life. The invitation is “Come see what God can do for you.”

Motivation & Encouragement

The problem is that it’s a false gospel, one where unredeemed men and women can be comfortable. They can feel good about cleaning up parts of their lives while excusing sinful lifestyles that just don’t seem that bad. They can come each week for a dose of motivation and encouragement without any real conviction over sin.

I know it well because it’s the kind of church I attended when I first became a believer. And yes, by God’s grace, He saves some in those churches. But often over time the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of those who are truly His, teaches them the truth, and leads them where they can receive sound teaching. 

While these churches are full, their music rocks, and their light shows rival any secular event, many people who come in the front door sooner or later go out the back. They walk away because their promised wealth never materializes, their lives are still full of problems, they are still sick, or they have experienced some tragedy and have no biblical lens through which to process it.

When someone fails to get healed or have some prayer answered, they may be told they didn’t have enough faith or they must have some sin in their lives or it is just never addressed. The false doctrine of health and prosperity has no real answer for the suffering that comes from living in a sin-cursed world. And often, the only ones getting rich are the ones preaching and selling books.

People can end up feeling like they have been victims of a Christian bait-and-switch scheme.

Nothing New

But this false doctrine is really nothing new. The little book of Jude in the New Testament addresses many of these things. Jude begins:

³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴ For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The rest of his epistle addresses the importance of contending for right doctrine and reproving false ones and the false teachers whose motive is financial gain.

Contending for the faith is a command, not a suggestion. The word translated contend means to struggle. Contending for the faith requires the hard work of understanding good doctrine and the boldness to stand up for the truth.

Titus 1.9 says much the same thing. We are told to hold fast to the faithful word so that by sound doctrine we can “exhort and convict those who contradict.”

Today’s Other Readings:

2 Samuel 9 & 10:

David’s Heart

Chapters 9 & 10 give us a glimpse of David’s heart—first as he showed kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, as a way of honoring his covenant with his father and in chapter 10 as he sent representatives to comfort Hanun at the time of his father’s death. Sadly, David’s gesture toward Hanun was not only rejected but met with ridicule when he shamed and humiliated David’s ambassadors.

Neither should we be surprised when our gestures of peace and kindness are met with rejection. Those in the world often find it hard to believe we don’t have ulterior motives, because of what’s in their own hearts.

Psalm 65.1-8:

Hallowed be His Name

This song of praise honors God both for spiritual and natural blessings. It’s a great reminder that our prayers should not just be those of supplication but of praise and worship for His goodness. When the Lord was asked by the disciples, “Teach us to pray …,” He began by saying, “When you pray, say. ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name …'” (Lk. 11), reminding them to start with worship.

Proverbs 16.20-21:

The Source of True Happiness

He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he (v. 20).

True happiness comes from applying God’s wisdom to the affairs of life and trusting in Him.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll discuss the cost of losing God’s restraining grace. We’ll, also, talk about true friendship, the various reactions to the claims of Christ, and discuss the question: Are you living in the power of the Holy Spirit?

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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.