...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…
Ephesians 4:14, NKJV
American Christianity is uniquely susceptible to the watering down of doctrine as cunning teachers exploit the basic human desire for things like popularity, excitement, prosperity, and success. One can draw a crowd by offering a seat at the cool kids’ table, stirring up an emotional experience, or promising the worldly success Jesus neither gained nor sought.
This is not the way. The ministry of Jesus was void of light shows, fog machines, and other crowd manipulation devices. The closest Jesus ever came to presenting a Pep Rally was His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Within a week, the crowd was gone and Jesus was crucified. Mature Christians affirming sound doctrine are not swayed by superficial schemes. Rather, they are motivated by the godly desire for things like truth, holiness, sacrifice, and service.