5 Things Jesus Did That the Modern Church Is Terrible At (And How We Can Fix Each)

Fully divine and fully human.

That combination makes Jesus Christ the most significant Person in history (John 1:14).

Jesus’ work on the cross and subsequent resurrection proved He was much more than a moral teacher. He not only gave the perfect example of how God wants us to live, but He also accomplished what we could never hope to do for ourselves.

This story of Jesus’ life and sacrifice has changed countless people over the past 2,000 years…but it’s no secret that modern Christianity is on the decline.

Generations of people are leaving the faith these days, and if you ask me, it’s because the Church isn’t doing its job.

There are some glaring differences between Jesus’ life and the Church today, and I know we can improve—that’s why I wrote this article.

This post isn’t meant to be a preachy, I’m-smarter-than-you rant though. It’s meant to highlight our shortcomings so we can do better. So I’ve also included a “How to Fix It” section with each point.

But now with all that said, let’s get right to it.

Here are five things Jesus did that the modern Church is terrible at (and how we as believers can fix each).

#1: He Taught the Diagnosis

And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23)

The biggest difference between Jesus and the Church today is our willingness, or lack thereof, to teach the diagnosis.

So much church teaching today is about God’s love for you and Jesus saving you. But why is God’s love important? And what is Jesus supposedly saving you from?

Those are the questions the world has.

Things Jesus Did Diagnosis — *“What’s the point of the cross?”*

When we hear those questions, most of us respond with (legitimate) answers about heaven, hell, and eternal life. But these answers do nothing for people who already don’t believe us.

Reason and logic are everything today. So even though the previous answers are again, still legitimate, they reflect truths that are all unseen.

The great thing about Christianity, however, is that it covers much more than the unseen.

Jesus made it clear that humanity’s biggest problem is internal—it’s a heart issue. And while we can’t physically see within ourselves, Jesus taught that everything we do stems from the condition of our hearts (Luke 6:45).

Yet the Bible also tells us that the human heart, in its natural condition, is messed up (Jer. 17:9 NASB). And all the violence, selfishness, and sexual immorality today is a product of this heart condition (Gal. 5:19-21).

When we as believers don’t explain this, we downplay the significance of what Jesus did on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21).

People don’t think they’re sick anymore. So why should they care about a cure?

The billions we’ve spent on cancer research would be a waste for example if we didn’t know how awful the disease is. And since we don’t express how awful and very real our sin nature is, we’ve effectively turned our message into what I just described—a waste.

How to Fix It: Teach the Diagnosis

In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis described this modern issue and the simple way the Church can fix it:

When the apostles preached, they could assume even in their Pagan hearers a real consciousness of deserving the divine anger. The Pagan mysteries existed to allay this consciousness, and the Epicurean philosophy claimed to deliver men from the fear of eternal punishment. It was against this background that the Gospel appeared as good news. It brought news of possible healing to men who knew that they were mortally ill. But all this has changed. Christianity now has to preach the diagnosis — in itself very bad news — before it can win a hearing for the cure. — C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

If people don’t know they’re sick, we have to teach the diagnosis.

It is only after we teach the realities of sin and its consequences that Jesus’ work becomes appealing. We have to cover the bad news before we explain the gospel—which literally means “good news”. Then we can challenge others to “taste and see” the goodness themselves (Psalm 34:8).

We have to stop treating Christianity as a religion, and describe it as what it really is—the solution:

It’s the solution to fix our troubled hearts (Titus 3:5, Gal. 5:22-23).
It’s the solution to bring us close to God (John 14:6).
It’s the solution to transform us into what we were always supposed to be (Rom. 8:29).

Biblical Christianity is the answer to what our world cries about daily. People yearn for what the Church has and they don’t even know it. But we’re too busy teaching gospels of prosperity and social justice to explain what Jesus really did for them (Gal. 1:6-7).

This is why the diagnosis must come first.

If the illness is properly explained, the real cure becomes that much clearer.

#2: He Held Leaders Accountable

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matt. 23:27-28)

One interesting fact about Jesus’ ministry is that His strongest rebukes weren’t directed towards unbelievers…

Most of His anger was reserved for the religious leaders of His day.

Matthew 23 describes a series of Jesus’ woes toward the scribes and Pharisees who had turned the Old Testament law into a works-based religion. These leaders even added their own rules to the Law that had nothing to do with pleasing God.

All the extra rules and rituals made it hard for common people to live the faith. But these leaders were too concerned with good appearances to care.

This hypocrisy is what Jesus addressed as He quoted the prophet Isaiah:

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Matt. 15:7-9)

These leaders had a form of godliness but denied it’s power (2 Tim. 3:5). They were supposed to show how a love for God led to external changes, but Jesus showed how their external actions, without God-loving hearts, left them dead inside.

How to Fix It: Study and Compare

Similarly to Jesus, Christians should also hold church leaders accountable. And the book of Acts presents the Berean Jews as a great model for how to do this today:

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11 NIV)

The only way to hold church leaders accountable is to study Scripture and compare it’s words to people’s teachings.

That’s what the Bereans did, and the Bible called them “noble” for doing so. But what’s also interesting is that they didn’t compare Scripture to the teachings of a nobody—they checked the words of the apostle Paul.

Paul was one of the most influential apostles, and his work to spread the gospel to Gentiles, or non-Jews, is one of the reasons I’m writing this today.

This was the man the Bereans held accountable. So how much more should we examine our leaders now?

Things Jesus Did Study — Know the truth to spot the errors.

Sure, we should still respect others and do everything out of love (2 Tim. 2:24-25), but the truth of the Bible’s message is more important than people’s feelings, titles, or dignity.

No, I’m not here to call out names, but some of the most popular “Christian” teachers are spreading messages that aren’t biblical at all. And as believers, it’s our job to keep those words in check (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).

Jesus said that “if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matt. 15:14). So we can’t blindly trust anyone who hops on a stage.

We have to be active and take responsibility for our spiritual education. But in order to that, we have to actually read the Bible.

#3: He Went Beyond the Letter

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:34-40 NIV)

I’ve always loved this passage because it shows the simple nature of Scripture’s commandments.

Many Christians catch the “Bible-thumper” label because we strive to make others follow what we know is good. But we, like the Pharisees, have become blind to what those commandments are all about:

Love.

Every teaching and moral position in the Bible is based on love for God and the people He created. That’s it.

Things Jesus Did Letter — We do it all out of love.

This summary of the Old Testament Law showed that the “rules” of Christianity aren’t supposed to restrict us. Rather, we should view them as a guide for how people in a relationship with God act (Psalm 119:105).

If you love God, you’ll follow his commandments (1 John 2:3). And if you love God, you’ll love the people made in His image (Rom. 5:5).

Jesus’ summary of God’s commands made it easy for us to see their purpose. He knew that if others were going to live the way He did, He had to go beyond the letter of the Law, and focus on the spirit of following it.

How to Fix It: Get Back to Basics

It’s easy for us to fall into the same trap as the Pharisees.

The Bible contains 66 books after all, many of which contain numerous commands for believers to follow.

If we don’t see the bigger picture behind those commandments, we’ll turn Christianity into another works-based religion. We’ll stressfully try to earn our way to God, but Scripture is clear that this isn’t possible (Rom. 3:20).

That’s why we have to get back to the basics. Our faith isn’t in our ability to fulfill God’s requirements. It’s in the Representative who did what we couldn’t do for ourselves (Gal. 2:16).

A lot of modern church teaching overlooks this fact. It’s like we’re all trying to out-spiritualize each other instead of spreading the message that should unite us.

Yes, Scripture is full of lessons and we should study it from cover to cover, but we can’t ignore the message of “first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3-6 ESV).

Churches aren’t dying because that message is dead. They’re dying because we don’t know our audience.

This isn’t America from 50 years ago—people don’t know the basics. Sure, there’s a time for complex theology, but people today rarely crack open a Bible.

Modern America, and the world in general, is better described by Paul’s words in 2 Timothy:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Tim. 3:2-5)

This is why the gospel is so important. You can’t expect spiritual maturity from people who haven’t been born (John 3:5-6).

For some reason, the modern Church craves external conformance to its rules but neglects the message that creates an internal desire to follow them (Rom. 8:7, 1 John 5:3-4).

Things Jesus Did Basics — Fruits of a changed heart.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see national laws reflect Christian values, but Scripture tells us that the laws handed down by God Himself were powerless to change the hearts of a nation (Rom. 8:3 NLT).

That’s why we have to get back to the gospel. It’s a message with incredible power to transform, yet it’s so simple that you can present it in four steps:

All people are born spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1).
God provided the way to make us alive (Eph. 2:4-5).
Acceptance results in changes to our behavior (Eph. 2:10).
We make a conscious choice to live according to this new nature (Eph. 5:8).

The real gospel is not about social justice, it’s not about loving people, and it’s not about equality or helping the poor.

All of those are results of the gospel, but they are not the good news. The good news is that Jesus died and rose again so we can become alive through Him.

That is Christianity in a nutshell.

Without that basic message, we’re wasting our time on everything else (1 Cor. 15:14).

#4: He Embraced Necessary Division

Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:51-53)

Perhaps the biggest difference between the biblical Jesus and the one portrayed by popular culture is the former’s teaching on peace:

The biblical Jesus came to bring peace with God (Rom. 5:1), not peace with all people.

Yes, Jesus taught the golden rule (Matt. 7:12), He called the peacemakers blessed (Matt. 5:9), and one of His many titles is “Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6), but the idea that Jesus came to bring unity among all people regardless of belief isn’t true.

Jesus mentioned many times that following Him wouldn’t be easy (Matt. 7:13-14, John 15:18). And one area that brings potential hardships are our relationships with others.

It’s easier every day to see how Christian values can lead to being hated. Even America isn’t the “Christian nation” it’s been labeled as anymore.

Embracing biblical truths while the whole world turns away won’t win popularity contests. And this is the point Jesus made in his teaching.

Things Jesus Did Take up Cross — Our cross will not be comfortable.

All the people in our environment, and sometimes those closest to us, won’t agree with our faith or our values. Many will even be hostile to them.

Jesus knew this would happen though. That’s why He warned us 2,000 years ago.

The apostle Paul wrote, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18 NASB). But sometimes, it’s just not possible.

The Bible never tells us to grow bitter or lash out though. All we can do is “take up our cross” and accept it (Matt. 16:24).

How to Fix It: Keep God First

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Gal. 1:10 ESV)

The modern Church hates division. That’s why we throw the Christian label on anything and tolerate all kinds of behavior. We think we’re proving how loving we are, but enabling sin isn’t love. And going out of your way to be accepted usually results in the opposite effect.

We love presenting an image that says, “I’m just like you…with a few different beliefs.” But Scripture says that we’re so much more:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)

That’s not how you describe ordinary people.

Of course this truth shouldn’t lead to pride or boasting (1 Cor. 4:7 NASB, Phil. 2:3), but Scripture is clear that there are differences between Christians and the rest of the world.

Our job is to make sure that difference stays intact (Matt. 5:13).

We have to value God’s opinion of us more than the thoughts of any person who walks this earth (Matt. 10:37). We know that if we were of this world, it would love us as its own (John 15:19), but we’re not, so we should prepare for when it doesn’t.

#5: He Befriended “Sinners”

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matt. 9:10-13)

Harlots, corrupt tax collectors, and everyone else labeled as “sinners”. These were the people Jesus was around.

He was with them so much that religious leaders called Him “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34). Yet this label, intended as an insult, perfectly described the work Jesus came to do.

No, Jesus didn’t condone the old lifestyles of those who came to Him (John 5:14, John 8:10-11). But in order for “sinners” to accept His message, He had to actually be around them.

So many believers today are afraid of Jesus’ label. We don’t want to be a friend of sinners. We only accept the faith as long as it gives a clean image or leads to the life we want. And oftentimes, this means we neglect those who need what we have the most:

We’re like the Prodigal Son’s brother who scoffed at his father’s mercy (Luke 15:29-30).
We’re the priest and the Levite who came around before the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:31-32).
And now we’re the bitter workers who complained of the late hires’ equal pay (Matt. 20:10-12).

No, I’m not just finger-pointing here either, because I used to be the same way.

Younger me would have never associated with some of the people I call friends now. I could recite the books of the Bible in order when I was nine, so who was I to talk to people who couldn’t control their base desires?

I was better than that. I was better than them. But those were the people I needed to talk to most.

How could I expect them to grow if I kept everything to myself? How would they know the gospel’s truth if they didn’t see a life that reflected it?

Things Jesus Did Sinners — Jesus humbly came to us. Why can’t we do the same for them?

No, I don’t walk around preaching to others—most of them would be shocked to learn that I even put this stuff online—but people’s pasts, social statuses, and outward appearances don’t hinder me like they used to. And some of that is because I remember being ostracized myself.

I know what it’s like for the Facebook Christians to turn on you, and it’s not pleasant.

If we befriend “sinners” like Jesus did though, others will see the good in what we believe.

How to Fix It: Humble Yourself

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Rom. 12:16 NIV)

The gospel isn’t a human message belonging to one demographic (Gal. 1:11-12). It’s a life-giving message meant for people of all nations, social standings, and skin colors.

We have to look past our human barriers and associate with those who aren’t like us. We’ve all been in the same spiritual condition anyway (Rom. 3:23). And all that the Church has is a gift we didn’t earn (Eph. 2:8).

Not many of us were “wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” before (1 Cor. 1:26 ESV). Sure, those words described members of the early Church, but they’re still relevant for plenty believers today.

Many of us were nothing before we came to Christ, and by the world’s standards, most of us still are. So there’s no room for pride.

When we neglect people because of what they are now, we deny the same power we claim to believe. But if Scripture has taught us anything, it’s that God can use whoever He wants to achieve His purpose (1 Cor. 1:28-29 NIV):

Paul was one of the biggest enemies of the early Church. Now he’s known as one of the most impactful apostles (Acts 9:21).
Peter denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:60-62). Yet his later preaching led thousands to be saved (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:41).
And let’s not forget that a few nobodies were only fisherman before. Now they’re some of the best role models in Church history (Acts 4:13 ESV).

All the power of our message lies in its ability to transform (2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Cor. 5:17). The inside has to change before the outside shows results. So instead of judging by outward appearances, we need to humble ourselves, trust God’s power, and look beyond where people are now.