There is this gospel that has been preached and offered up to some in the modern day church for quite some time. It is a beautiful prison, adorned with walls of half truths and sweet words of personal affirmations seeming to come from God Himself. There is no judgment or chastisement. There is no call to die to self or any biblical teaching to discipleship. The use of “offensive words” causing us to think that we are anything less than special is not tolerated. There is a heavy focus on the supernatural and experiences while spiritually distancing from preaching Christ and Him crucified for our sins. It is ignorant bliss while never acknowledging the bars hidden beneath the pseudo comfort of receiving another gospel and another Christ who cannot save, a Christ who we believe is jealous for us and exposing the gold within us. As we snuggle under the rags of our own righteousness, we drift off into spiritual slumber, believing the lies we have been told for so long, convinced that our reputation of being alive is true, and ignoring the small doses of poison we have ingested to keep us content. Welcome to blue pill Christianity.

Much like the analogy used above, it would sadly seem that “blue pill Christianity” is the preferred message for those who have itching ears and have accumulated up for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. Paul prepared Timothy that the time would come for such things, even saying that people will not put up with sound doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:3) He went on to say that they would turn their ears away from the truth and wander off into myths. The “red pill” has been slapped away so to speak by those who view doctrine as legalistic, rigid and void of the Spirit, regardless of the fact that the Word of God is God breathed and is useful for instruction, conviction, correction and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) People have been told to pursue relationship with God and to abandon religion while not recognizing that Christianity is a religion based upon right relationship (justification) with the Father by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Paul had wisdom for Timothy that he shared with him prior to the sobering warning of those who would wander. He told Timothy to preach the Word. He told him to reprove, rebuke and encourage with patient instruction. Oh, how you and I need to be reproved, rebuked and encouraged by the preaching of the Word!

The lies we believe, the truth sets us free

Though I do believe that God heals and still does miracles (because He is God and He does as He pleases), there is a heavy focus on such things along with mysticism and other things in the hyper charismatic that are unfounded in Scripture. People have been “blue pilled” so that they do not become “religious”. Take it and stay in a spiritual place where you are a little god, you are anointed and cannot be touched, and where you have dominion. This entire story from the beginning of time has always been about you. Extra biblical revelation is not a problem so do not question it, even if it contradicts Scripture. You are enough. God loves you. You’re a good person. You’re amazing. Just remain in this spiritual stupor, do not question anything. Do not wonder about that “red pill”.

But if we take that “red pill”, we quickly find out the truth. We find a narrow gate that is a hard way and is not heavily populated, but it leads to eternal life. (Matthew 7:13) We find out that we are rebellious and sinful by nature before God and that there is no good found in us apart from Christ. (Romans 3:11-18) We realize that before we came to saving faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior that we were enemies of God and children of wrath (Romans 5:10, Ephesians 2:3) and that God was under no obligation to make a way for redemption, but He did through the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who saved us from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9). We find out that true prosperity is eternal life and that trials and persecution are promised by Jesus Himself. (John 16:33) We find that suffering is part of the Christian life, but that our hope is in the coming glory of the King of kings and the resurrection from the dead (Romans 8:18). We long to see Him glorified and exalted.

We find out that there is no way for us to live a sinless life while in this fleshly tent, but praise God, when we are born again, we have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1,2, Romans 7:13-25). We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who helps us and leads us into all truth and what it means to put on Christ. We find out that God is both loving and just, merciful and wrathful. We understand that repentance before God is integral in the daily life of every true believer. We ultimately come to understand His glorious value and our utter need for Him and not the other way around.

Where are the messages of repentance of sin and the wrath of God today, not only outside the church but within? There are people sitting in corporate gatherings believing the side effects of the “blue pill” to be true; they are good and they have done so well by the mere working of signs and wonders or gracing God with their mere presence that the flames of hell are not foreseeable. Where are the messages of sound Biblical teaching rather than the detestable twisting of Scripture for shameful gain and the perpetuation of myths, superstition and occult practices creeping in unawares so as to remain relevant with the culture? Why is the reverential fear of the Lord forsaken? Do you know the reason for the hope that you have?

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to evaluate yourself and what you believe to be true. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to examine ourselves and to see whether we are in the faith. We are to test ourselves. Going back to the analogy, which pill have you taken? Test yourself against Scripture. Make sure that what you believe to be true has not put you in a beautiful prison. When we know the truth by abiding in His Word, the truth will set us free.