“You are just right for Jesus!”

That was included in a Facebook post by a church known for its aggressive, seeker-friendly marketing. Some of its outreach messages are along the lines of “this isn’t your grandma’s church!” or “You belong here!” or “Come join the party!” Its ads are accompanied by images of bright, colorful stage sets and lots of creative lighting.

(The photo that accompanies this blog is a similar stock image, not from this church.)

What makes us “just right for Jesus”? There is only one right answer, according to the word of God: our sin.

Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost, and to be a ransom for many. We’re lost and we need to be ransomed because we’re sinners. Because we’ve lived our lives in rebellion against God, and therefore justly deserve His wrath, and the only way to be saved is through the mercy of the cross, where Jesus bears God’s wrath in our place.

We know we’re just right for Jesus when we confess this, as the publican did in Jesus’ parable: “God have mercy on me, a sinner!”

Maybe this church agrees with all that, and that may even be what they meant. But they didn’t say so in their post, which was an outreach, intended to be read by the general public. This isn’t a criticism of this church overall, but just an examination of this line of communication.

How do people read ‘just right for Jesus’?

Without that context, how would readers hear “you are just right for Jesus”?

You’re good enough for Jesus?

Jesus accepts you because of you?

It’s all about you?

That’s the man-centered, people-pleasing message sent by churches like this when they go out of their way to frequently say affirming things about lost sinners, and avoid talking about sin or wrath until later, if at all.

Even if they believe in the depravity of humanity and our need for a merciful Savior, by hiding those truths, they’re pulling a deceptive bait-and-switch on people, and they’re attracting people to a dangerous distortion of the gospel.

As others have said, what you win people with is what you win them to. If you attract them with flattery and affirmation, you’re going to have to keep them with that.

Churches that say things like this often have good intentions; of course we should want people to come to our church. But should we do that by making enemies of God feel comfortable and affirmed?

Jesus certainly didn’t.

What Jesus said

He was up front about sin and repentance with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:18), with the woman caught in adultery (John 11:18), with the tax collectors in Matthew’s house (Luke 5:32), and with the general public: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

Repentance was the first thing Jesus preached (Mark 1:15), the final thing He told His disciples to preach (Luke 24:47), and the first thing they preached (Acts 2:38).

Repentance means change; therefore it means we’re not good enough, and we’re not right with Jesus. We’re not acceptable.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus changes us and makes us right with Him because He alone is “just right.” He gives us His perfect acceptability.

But it’s not good news if people think they’re already that. Self-righteousness damns us. Affirmation is un-Christlike, and it is the opposite of the gospel.

The gospel affirms God and points to Him alone. It ascribes all goodness to Him and gives all glory to Him. It’s all about Christ alone.

When we draw the lost with the full gospel of the Scriptures, including the parts that aren’t so easy to hear, that’s what will keep us.