KSBJ's 30 Day Gospel

Adding to the 40-days-to-do-this and 30-days-to-do-that hype, KSBJ is promoting a new
"30 Day Challenge" which promises to fill the listener’s heart and mind with “nothing but good things” in hopes that it will “change your life for Good”.You can read it for yourself:

We’re so excited that you’re starting 2009 with us, and the 30-Day Challenge. All last month, we were encouraging you to take "The Challenge" to change your listening habits, and spend the first 30-days of 2009 listening to KSBJ.

People who’ve done this before tell us (like any new habit) it’s difficult at first, but that they see results.

They’re less stressed, more peaceful; able to look beyond the little frustrations that used to bug them, and see God, where they’d never seen Him before.KSBJ is a voice of hope, on what sometimes seem like some very hopeless days. The music about God and His love for you, reminds us of the things in life that really matter, and according to others who’ve taken the 30-day challenge, begins to change them, for good.So, if you’re new to KSBJ – Welcome, and keep listening.

If we can answer any questions for you, don’t hesitate to ask. We want to be your voice of hope, connecting you to God.

Giving KSBJ the benefit of the doubt and seeing through the seeker sensitive jargon, it seems as if the Christian radio station is taking advantage of the new year by sharing a gospel. Here’s the problem though…after listening to KSBJ for 4 years (let alone 30 days), I cannot say that I have ever heard any gospel preached…let alone the biblical gospel.

And even when KSBJ superficially talks about God, they make no mention of sin, righteousness, and judgment and by leaving these attributes out of their conception of God, they consequently dismiss the Holy Spirit from having anything to do with their ministry (John 16:8). And without the Holy Spirit, men cannot come to Christ (John 3:3).

Furthermore, KSBJ preaches a moralistic and life-enhancement gospel in hopes that new listeners will change their bad habits but the bible does not teach a gospel that merely changes someone’s habits. Christ came to this earth for the chief purpose to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The problem is not that we need to outwardly change our life (moralism) but we need God to inwardly change our hearts, because by nature, we are corrupt human beings (Psalm 53:1, Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-23). And because we have all become corrupt from the core, God does not call us to change our bad habits but to repent of our sins (Acts 17:30).

And despite the bible's testimony, here’s their explanation as to why so many people fail in their efforts to achieve their New Year resolution.

• Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their New Year's resolutions, only 12% actually achieved their goals.
• Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used, while women succeeded 10% more when they made their New Year's Resolution public and got support from their friends

Rather than looking to recent research, if KSBJ would open their bible they would recognize that even if we wanted to change, we are in bondage to our sinful desires and, therefore, will not and cannot change (Jeremiah 13:23). Without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, men will desire nothing good or “Good” for that matter (Romans 3:10-18).

If KSBJ wants to give people hope, they must first proclaim that all men are hopeless apart from Christ.

They must highly esteem God, who alone can change a man’s heart (Matthew 19:26).

They must see men as the bible sees men; guilty and hopeless criminals with deceitful hearts that are dead in their trespasses (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:19, Ephesians 2:1), and convince men of their sinful condition by the preaching of God’s moral Law.

And after all hope is crushed, they must proclaim that God's children are made alive through Christ and forgiven of our sins (Ephesians 2:4-6, Colossians 2:13). And only by being made alive through Christ will men have the power to change.

Rather than a quick 30 day fix, KSBJ should devote their time, energy, and efforts to preaching the gospel, and not just any gopel, but the biblical gospel that is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). And only the power of God through Jesus Christ, rather than spending 30 days listening to KSBJ, will ultimately make a wretched sinner a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Prodigal Cat

If you are from Houston then you are familiar with the local contemporary Christian station KSBJ. They center their music and message under a “family-friendly” banner. As a result, they try their hardest to be as sensitive and non-offensive as possible…even when it comes to presenting the “gospel”. This morning, as I was driving to work, I decided to turn my dial to 89.3 (KSBJ) and listen in on their morning show. Well apparently, one of the hosts was in much despair over her lost cat. Yes, they dedicated almost 30 minutes of the show talking about her beloved cat and how much it reminds them of the story of the Prodigal Cat...errrr...Son in Luke 15:11-32. Hey! Why not? Cats are more than just our feline friends...their our furry angels.

The host went on to explain that if the cat would come home to his rightful owner, then he would receive all the cat food he wants…why would a feline settle for the scraps of food in trash cans or furry mice running around in the dangers of a dark alley? As if the lame analogy was not enough, the host went on to say that, like the prodigal son, we all have a "God-hole" in our hearts that we try to fill with things other than God...all we have to do is come home to God to receive His blessings but God is powerless in this situation...we have to make the decision to come home.
There are a few crucial points that get overlooked by seeker-sensitive presentations of this parable:

1. Through divine providence, it was the dire circumstances and afflictions thereof that humbled the son and opened up his eyes to realize that his rebellion would consequently lead to death (Luke 15:17-18).
   
2. The son recognized that his sins were against God (Luke 15:21).
   
3. His desire to go back to the Father as a hired servant. He wasn’t going back home hoping to get material blessings or a better lifestyle. He headed back to the Father’s house in hopes of serving him (Luke 15:19-20).
4. The prodigal son’s demeanor shifts from greed and selfishness (Luke 15:12-13) to humility, brokenness, and repentance (Luke: 15-19).


5. The older son's contrasting representation of the Pharisee; a hypocritical, self-centered, and self- righteous person who does not recognize their own sinful heart and therefore sees no need to repent (Luke 15:29).

It is in these circumstances that that the lovingkindness and riches of God’s grace are set before us. His mercy extends to the worst of all religious and pious people to the lowest and rebellious of all sinners...we are all of one nature and in need of God's forgiveness. (Ephesians 2:3) We see how much it pleases the Father to convert and receive such a great sinner and his eagerness to forgive anyone who comes to him in true repentance (Luke 15:21-22).

So now I ask you...when you came to Christ did you have a genuine Godly sorrow that led you to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10)? Did you come broken and humble, realizing you sinned against a holy and righteous God (Psalm 51:4)? Or were proud and self-righteous...completely ignorant of your sinful condition? And because He is worthy, was your desire to serve Him? Or did you come to the Father with selfish motives, thinking that God was obligated to serve you?

Hopefully, when you look back to that day when God saved you, you can relate to the prodigal son when he said:

"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

To which the Father replies:

"...let us eat and celebrate. 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."