Why Watered-Down Evangelism Fails
What if you shared the gospel but left out the most important parts? In Chapter 6, Larry Stirlen raises a sobering warning: many Christians are doing just that. The gospel has become “Jesus loves you” without explaining sin, judgment, or the need for repentance. As Stirlen puts it, we’ve made the message comfortable, but in doing so, we’ve made it powerless.
The gospel must include who Jesus is—fully God and fully man. It must explain the problem of sin, the necessity of the cross, the power of the resurrection, and the call to respond in repentance and faith. Without these elements, we aren’t sharing Christ—we’re offering a counterfeit.
If it’s precious to God, it must be complete. Stirlen urges believers to treat the gospel with reverence, urgency, and clarity.