The waving flags out front claimed All are Welcome. Sarah pulled into the parking lot, hoping it was true. After her five-year relationship with Sid ended, she’d been binging on everything and isolating from everyone. Her mom suggested church. When was the last time she’d been inside a church? High school youth group?
Friendly, middle-aged ladies greeted her. She sat in the back corner and flipped through the welcome packet. Free Yoga. Thursday Bingo. Friday community garden. Saturday book club. Her mom’s suggestion seemed on par.
The pastor shared, “Visualize yourself in a happy place. Imagine it every time your brain is at rest. The more you think about it, eventually it will manifest.”
I can do that, Sarah thought. Just think happy thoughts. I have been pretty down in the dumps lately.
The music was nice. The teaching seemed helpful. Sarah would be back.
Inclusivity
Sarah joined the weekly book club and felt right at home. Steve and John, long-time partners, sat across from her. Jess and Joe, married fifty years, sat to her right. Lonnie, an unashamed furry, was next to her. And the pastor and her wife were on the other side of Lonnie. The book lightly touched on faith but focused more on inclusivity. Discussions were uplifting and centered around goals, dreams, good vibes, and self-care. Sarah had never been to a church like this. Truly, they welcomed everyone. Even on Sundays, several homeless and less fortunate folks joined the congregation and stayed for a meal. And the best part, after four months, there was still no mention of going to hell.
Whatever Makes Me Happy
“Mom, you won’t believe this church. They welcome everyone, and I feel so much better about myself since attending. I now realize that I was the problem all along. I wasn’t manifesting the right thoughts. If all I think about is negativity, then my life will be negative. But now I’m professing happiness and focusing on the things that fulfill me, and I’m in a much better place.”
The other end of the phone grew silent.
“Mom, are you there?”
Sarah’s mother treaded lightly. What kind of church did Sarah find? “Sweetheart, all those things sound lovely. And you do seem lighter and happier. But do they talk about the Bible? And Jesus?”
“Oh yes. Jesus is our model. We always strive to serve the world like he did. We talk about the Bible and there are lots of good guidelines in there. But most of it is allegorical, so we don’t focus on it that much.”
A chill ran down her mother’s spine. “Sarah, I don’t want to discourage you, but there’s more to church than being happy and helping other people. And the Bible isn’t allegorical; it is absolute truth.”
A faint memory of church camp flickered in her mind. Sarah remembered the speaker telling them about Jesus dying on the cross for their sins. She pushed the thought out of her mind. “I really like this place. It’s what church is supposed to be. None of that doom and gloom like I had growing up. You should come visit sometime.”
Absolute Truth
Sarah’s mom wrote:
My Dearest Sarah,
My heart is heavy after we spoke last week. While I’m happy you are making new friends and feeling uplifted, I’m also very concerned. I’m worried that this new church glosses over our deep need of a Savior. Do you remember Granny Pearl’s gravelly voice singing every Sunday? She’d pick you up onto her knee and sing, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now, I’m found, was blind but now I see.” Granny Pearl loved Jesus. And she sure loved you too. She never stopped praying for all her grandchildren to know Him either.
Baby girl, without Jesus, we have no hope. Without Jesus, we have no future. There is an emptiness inside each of us that can only be filled by Christ. It’s wonderful that so many different people are looking for faith; I agree that the church should reach out to everyone. But a church without truth isn’t church. The truth is that Jesus gave his life up for our sins so we can live with him for eternity once we turn our backs on the old way of life. There is nothing allegorical about that.
Please ask God to show you the truth. You are more than a feeling or a manifestation of happiness. You are made in God’s image, and he loves you more than you could ever imagine. Please think about these things. I love you always. Mom.
Tears welled as Sarah read the letter. For a moment, the tug deep in her heart happened again.
But I don’t like that version of Jesus. I like my version better. She balled up the letter and threw it away.
A casualty of war.
The Casualties of War
We are in a battle. A battle for souls. The lies of this world have infiltrated the evangelical world. Absolute truth isn’t absolute anymore. Jesus has become a good, moral teacher, and no longer the way, the truth, and the life. We are losing a generation to this new version of church. True believers cannot sit silently. Souls matter. Every person who is deceived is a casualty of war.
Pray dear ones.
Suit up, warriors, and speak truth.
If we don’t, who will?
© Copyright Christy Bass Adams March 2026, All images from Canva
Need more encouragement? Talk Yourself Out of Spiraling by Declaring the Word of God – Inspire A Fire
Thanks for this post. My Sunday School lesson this past weekend touched on syncretism while answering “Who is Jesus?” (Matthew 16). One example of syncretism is blending of Christianity with other worldviews – like you can be a Christian while still hating particular groups of people (Christian nationalism), or God wants you to be physically healthy & rich (prosperity gospel), or you can be a Christian by only focusing on your relationship with God (verticalism) and ignoring the relationship Jesus calls us to have with other people. Like in your story, these are not the Christianity of the Bible.
A timely reminder, Christy. Thank you.
I love this. Some churches recruit new members like a country club. What a wonderful and timely reminder of our Father’s desires for our lives.
Yes! Sometimes we are so into being popular that we forget that sin is a problem and that Jesus is the only solution.