I’ve just got to say that you are way off-base with your critique. You have apparently overlooked other portions of the scripture in your haste to make your case. Of course the gospel of Jesus Christ is about Christ and His atoning work; but it is ALSO about US. You cannot divorce the two.

Consider:

The phrase, “FOR YOU,” appears often in scripture. For instance, when Jesus met people, his first words to them often were in the form of a question, “What do you want me to do FOR YOU?” (Matthew 20:32; Mark 10:36, 51). When Jesus first instituted communion He said, “This is my body which is given FOR YOU” (I Corinthians 11:24). Paul wrote, “If God be FOR US, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). Even the OT carries the same idea. “For I know the plans I have FOR YOU,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I would submit that the above verses prove that gospel is also about life change – even if you don’t think so.

BTW, your comment about navel gazing was off-base too. It was a broad stroke of the brush.

BTW, what’s with the focus on “life change”? Is that Biblical? We MUST point people to Christ and his atoning work, not on how “my life has changed”. We need to point people to something objective, “Jesus died for your sins” instead of something purely subjective “my life has changed”. How do I know my life has changed enough? How do I know I’ve truly given all? Its all way too subjective.

Does life change indicate true conversion? I know some people who’s life has changed because they have become Mormon. There are others who have changed through AA. Neither of them needed Jesus for that.

Focusing on life change causes way too much “navel gazing”.

This hurts is in several ways:
- the reality of Christ is defamed quite a bit, b/c we basically look nothing like him.
- people don’t get saved as much b/c they have to overcome the reality of unChristlike Christians, to receive the gospel.
- It’s hard for Christians to get fired-up, live by faith & follow Jesus when they’re sitting in a pot of lukewarm Christians.
- Lukewarm Christians don’t give, don’t love others, don’t serve, don’t use their gifts. They don’t help the body.

I LOVE that you guys are focusing on growth! AWESOME!