When Churches Replace the Gospel with Behaviour Modification


In many modern churches, there’s a quiet shift happening—so quiet, in fact, that many don’t notice until the effects become visible. It’s the subtle replacement of the gospel with something that sounds spiritual but isn’t: behavior modification.

Discipleship is being redefined in many places, not as deepening one’s dependence on Christ, but as participation in tools, workshops, retreats, and seminars that teach us how to be better Christians and have freedom in Christ. These strategies are often rooted in psychological principles and self-help techniques, dressed up in Christian language. But if we are not careful, these tools can become a functional replacement for the gospel itself.

The Problem: A Gospel-Empty “Discipleship”

Ephesians 4:17–24 (ESV) offers a clear warning:

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

This passage doesn’t describe a self-improvement program. It’s not about learning a few communication skills or managing our anxiety with breathing techniques. It’s about dying to the old self and rising to new life in Christ. The power that changes us is not found in personality assessments or leadership models—it’s in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When churches focus on strategies that rely on human effort, even if they are well-meaning, they risk exchanging the supernatural work of the Spirit for a human-powered system. We start with the gospel to be saved, but then we’re handed a manual of rules and exercises to grow. This is not the biblical picture of sanctification.

Sanctification: Powered by the Gospel

We are not only saved by the gospel—we are sanctified by it. Titus 2:11-12 reminds us:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness…”

The gospel doesn’t just rescue us from sin; it transforms us into the image of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 reminds us that it is God himself who sanctifies us, not self-help strategies. 

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely… He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

Sadly, many churches promote a form of discipleship that is exactly this—starting in the Spirit but trying to finish in the flesh. We are told to rely on checklists, disciplines, or behavior systems to become more holy. But without the Spirit, this is just behavior modification—a cleaned-up exterior with no real heart change.

Real Change: Christ at the Center

The gospel calls us to something deeper than behavior tweaks. It calls us to die. Luke 9:23 says:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

True discipleship is not about self-improvement—it’s about self-denial and Christ-exaltation. And it is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Ephesians 4 continues, Paul lists specific behavioral changes—putting away falsehood, anger, theft, corrupting talk, and bitterness. But these are not achieved by willpower. They are fruits of a life submitted to Christ and empowered by the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 warns:

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

If we try to walk in holiness apart from the Spirit, we grieve Him. If we teach people that they can change by following steps rather than surrendering to Christ, we lead them away from the cross and toward self-reliance.

The Danger of a Substitute Gospel

Any time we rely on human effort instead of divine grace, we’re not just making a mistake—we are proclaiming a different gospel. Paul doesn’t mince words in Galatians 1:6–7:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one…”

When behavior modification becomes the main focus of discipleship, we lose sight of the cross. We teach people how to appear holy without actually being made holy. We may create well-behaved people, but we are not making true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Returning to a Gospel-Centered Discipleship

The gospel is not just the entry point to Christianity—it is the foundation, the fuel, and the finish line. As Colossians 2:6 says:

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.”

We were saved by grace through faith, and we grow by that same grace. Discipleship is about abiding in Christ (John 15), being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2), and walking in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Workshops and tools can be helpful, but they must always be secondary to the Word of God and the work of the Spirit.

Let us return to a vision of discipleship where Christ is central, the cross is essential, and the Spirit is active. Let us resist the temptation to rely on man-made strategies that leave hearts unchanged. And let us remember that only the gospel has the power to save—and to sanctify.


Rooted in Jesus Grace,

Mara Wellspring 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Charisma Trap: The Hidden Costs of Visionary Leadership

Image
In today’s church culture, charisma and vision often take center stage. Leaders with magnetic personalities, eloquent communication, and a bold sense of mission can generate impressive momentum. Churches grow. Excitement builds. People feel part of something significant. But what happens when that vision, however compelling, becomes the foundation of the church’s identity? What if the very qualities that spark growth also plant the seeds of dysfunction? The Allure of a Good Vision In many churches, especially larger or non-denominational ones, there’s a sense that  this  church has discovered a more effective, more world-changing expression of Christianity. Vision nights are filled with language like,  “We’re here to transform our city”  or  “This church is the hope of the world.” And the vision often includes genuinely good things: attend prayer meetings, join a small group, serve faithfully, build healthy spiritual rhythms. Who could argue with that? These are...
Read more

About This Blog

Image
When the church breaks your trust, but not your faith.  I never expected to be the kind of person who would write about church hurt. I believed in accountability. In asking hard questions. In searching the Scriptures. I wasn’t reckless with my trust. But sometimes even caution doesn’t protect you from spiritual abuse—especially when it’s wrapped in charisma, Scripture, and good intentions. This blog is my quiet place to process. To name things I can’t say out loud. To speak gently and truthfully about what happens when church becomes unsafe—and how to imagine something better. I’m writing not as an expert, but as someone who has lived through the slow unraveling of trust in a place that once felt like home. Someone who still loves Jesus but can no longer unsee what I’ve seen. Someone learning that safety, honesty, and healthy community are not too much to ask from the Body of Christ. If you’re wrestling with your own questions… If you’ve felt the ache of betrayal in a place that wa...
Read more

About Me

Image
  A Journey of Healing and Truth: My Story of Leaving an Unhealthy Church I have been a Christian my entire life. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a part of the church — volunteering in countless capacities, raising my kids in its embrace, going on mission trips, serving in camp ministry, and being a small group leader. I thought I had it all figured out. My life in church was good — I was popular, surrounded by church friends, and doing what I thought was the right thing. Then, COVID hit. Everything changed. The church shut down, and with it, so did everything I thought I knew about church life. For a while, everything was taken away. The activities, the meetings, the fellowship — it all disappeared. But through it all, I still had Jesus. I still sought Him. And in my seeking, my eyes began to open. For the first time, I started seeing the church differently. I began to see the church as an institution. I began to notice how polarized people had become. There was a disturb...
Read more