“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV).

The American church is increasingly plagued by a damning trend: “Christianity à la carte,” where believers pick and choose which of Jesus’ commandments to follow while ignoring the rest. This buffet-style faith allows people to embrace comforting teachings—love, grace, forgiveness—while discarding inconvenient ones—repentance, holiness, obedience. Jesus’ piercing question in Luke 6:46 exposes the flaw: if He is Lord, why do we selectively obey? This practice has fueled a lack of obedience that threatens the spiritual vitality of today’s church.

Scripture demands total allegiance. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV), not just the ones that suit our preferences. Yet, many American Christians treat faith like a menu, rejecting calls to deny themselves (Matthew 16:24, ESV), forgive enemies (Matthew 5:44, ESV), or live set-apart lives (1 Peter 1:15-16, ESV). This selective obedience mirrors the “workers of lawlessness” in Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV), who professed faith but faced Jesus’ rejection for failing to do the Father’s will. The church’s silence on this issue has normalized a faith that prioritizes personal comfort over Christ’s lordship.

The “à la carte” Mentality

This “à la carte” mentality stems from a culture of individualism and a watered-down gospel. Sermons often avoid challenging commands, fearing they’ll drive people away. The result is congregations filled with nominal Christians whose lives reflect little transformation. James warns, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV). Partial obedience is self-deception, leading to spiritual stagnation and a powerless witness. The world sees a church that mirrors its values rather than challenges them, undermining the gospel’s transformative power.

The solution lies in a return to wholehearted obedience. Pastors must preach the full counsel of Christ’s commands, and believers must submit to His authority in all areas. This requires humility, repentance, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to empower obedience. Only then can the church reflect the radical discipleship Jesus modeled, drawing a lost world to His truth.

Examine your faith. Are you practicing “Christianity à la carte,” picking and choosing what to obey? Repent, commit to following all of Jesus’ commands, and pray for your church to embrace full obedience as the mark of true discipleship.

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