As the name implies, Christless Christianity refers to a Christianity without the true knowledge of Christ. The term was coined by Michael Horton in his book Christ less Christianity: The Alternative Gospel Of The American Church , Horton argued that the American church has embraced a form of religiosity that whittles away the difficult terms of discipleship and emphasizes only those elements of the Bible that the flesh finds pleasant. I have had cause to attend most of the prominent Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and after close observation, I have concluded that Horton's book accurately captures the true state of a lot of Nigerian Pentecostal churches.

In many Nigerian churches today, a watered down version of Christianity has replaced doctrinal purity. Many Pastors are de-emphasizing the necessity of a Christian to conform to the image of Christ, they rather present Jesus as merely a ticket to God's blessings for our earthly lives. These pastors try to be 'customer friendly', they have become trendy and fashionable superstar celebrities who specialise in reducing " The whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) to a series of tweetable affirmations and quotable quotes to the applause of an adulating audience that are getting what their "itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:3). These pastors avoid passages of the scriptures that talk about taking up our cross daily to follow Christ (Luke 9:23), Taking His yoke and learning from Him (Matthew 11:29), The fellowship of His suffering (Philippians 3:10) e.t.c and focus on the ones that appeal to their audience's humanitarian ideals. Rather than building self denying disciples, they create adherents who are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the form of Godliness but denying it's power (2 Timothy 3: 1-5). The 'evangelism' of such churches are targeted at winning more members to the church rather than winning more souls to Christ. They view their targets as potential customers rather than potential converts hence the need to sugercoat the gospel and present a 'customer friendly version' . Apostle Paul cautioned against this in Galatians 1:6-10 (emphasis on verse 10)

Christless Christianity appears to offer people every thing their flesh desires on earth with a guarantee of heaven hereafter while requiring no sacrifice of them in this life. It tells them the God of the Bible only exists to make all their dreams come true ( often trusting that sowing a seed in cash is all that's needed to unlock God's blessings), It presents Christianity as an opium complete with a euphoric feeling that makes adherents feel that they know and belong to Christ without equally feeling the need to allow Him Lordship over every aspects of their lives. They therefore hope and indeed believe for God's blessings and favour while on the other hand fulfilling every lusts of their flesh.

The Bible warns that as history draws to a close, much of the opposition to the truth will come from within the church (2 Peter 2:1-2, Acts 20:29-30). External opposition Is usually easy to identify as an enemy but internal compromise is like rot that may not show externally for a long time; when the decay finally becomes noticeable, it has already destroyed what was once solid Christless Christianity is an internal rot, it has turned churches into a platform for self help seminars, self affirming messages, and feel good recreation/entertainment dressed up in Bible verse pieces to make it appear spiritual. Michael Horton stated in his book that we are getting dangerously close to a time when the Bible is only useful as a mine for 'relevant' quotes, God is used as a personal resource rather than known, worshipped and trusted. I've observed that this is the situation with a lot of our churches and 'christians' in Nigeria. For them, christianity has become a means to feel among the saints, feel good or holy and still continue to live their lives as they please.

Christless Christianity masquerades as the real gospel of Jesus Christ and the millions of 'converts' to this ideology may erroneously think that they have decided to follow Jesus when in fact, they are following a 'christ' they have created for their selves. A Christless Christianity is no Christianity at all

Mynd44, Lalasticlala