"Just the Way You Are"

In 1977, musician/singer Billy Joel released an album titled The Stranger. The signature song on that album was "Just the Way You Are," which won two Grammy awards in 1979. The song was about his first wife, Elizabeth Weber, and as the title of the song implies, he loved her just the way she was and, in fact, the first line of the song is: "Don't go changing to try and please me."

However, as is often the case in marriages involving celebrities, whether she changed or not, the marriage did not last; they divorced in 1982. In 2010, another singer, Peter Gene Hernandez (who performs under the name, Bruno Mars), recorded a more modern song with the same title. In fact, it is Mars' song that appears even before Joel's when you Google it.

We often find this "just the way you are" attitude in religion. While it is found in some of the "mainstream" denominations, it is far more prevalent in the mega-churches and community churches. Members in these churches are encouraged, in some cases, even expected to dress as if they were going to a ball game rather than church. We have heard an increasingly vocal majority reject and even denounce the idea of getting "dressed up" to go to church. Claims such as "God doesn't care what you look like on the outside but how you are on the inside," have been made to excuse casual and even lazy attire. We are often amused at how these people know what God cares or does not care about since the only communication we have from God is through His Word regardless of the plethora of false and even silly claims that God has spoken to anyone directly in modern times.

Like so many other subjects, they assume that God doesn't care what they wear because it is their own preference to dress casually. Let us be clear. We are not mandating that men must wear suits or even a tie or that women must wear dresses or skirts. Styles of dress have evolved over the centuries and therefore one would not expect to see specific instructions about dress other than the general instruction concerning modesty (1 Tim. 2:9-10).

However, we do know that the priests were required to wear linen trousers (NKJV) under their robes that were to cover their thighs so as not to expose themselves as they worked (Exo. 28:42). We also know that women were not to dress like men nor were men to dress like women. Note this unambiguous warning about this: "…for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God" (Deut. 22:5).

An age-old rule of thumb may be applied as to how to dress for worship. If you would not wear what you have on to meet the President of the United States…or even...if you would not wear what you have on to meet your future spouse's parents, it is probably not appropriate for worship. But again, we are not the fashion police, and while we hold opinions on the subject, they are obviously only opinions and not binding.

The Sinner's Prayer?

However, we want to also address the second part of the above claim—that God only cares what we are like on the inside, but when push comes to shove, the mega-churches and the community churches do not really believe that, either. These "churches" seemingly believe in universal salvation or salvation by default. They almost universally ascribe to "the sinner's prayer" a concept totally foreign to the Scriptures—and one seemingly crafted out of thin air. Supposedly, one can pray a prayer such as this: "Father, I know I am a sinner. I want you to come into my life. Forgive me of my sin. In Jesus' name—Amen." Then they are "saved." But no such prayer can be found anywhere in the Scriptures!

Speaking of the Scriptures, there is no mention of the scriptural plan of salvation from these megachurches or community churches. The reason is that they prefer to begin from this default position of salvation. We wonder if they even mention salvation at all. The Greek term most often translated "salvation" is soteria, referring to safety or being rescued or saved. We are curious as to what these folks are rescued or saved from? To be rescued or saved automatically implies the possibility of being "lost."

Yet these megachurches and community churches rarely, if ever, talk about anyone being lost. How do we know this? Because they seldom, if ever, mention the word "repentance." Why is that? Repentance involves change. It is a changing of the will to live in a way that is in harmony with the principles and precepts found in the Scriptures rather than living as one pleases.

To indicate that someone may have to change their thoughts and actions to comport with the teaching of Jesus is somewhat distasteful for the heads of the megachurches or community churches. Encouraging someone to change their attitudes and actions implies that they were not living right in the first place, or, in other words, they have been wrong! Seemingly, telling someone that they have been or are still wrong in the 21st century is about the worst thing you can tell them.

Yet the New Testament has much to say about repentance. Note what the Lord Jesus said. Apparently, there were those that believed certain tragedies that befell some people indicated that they were worse sinners than others (Luke 13:2). Jesus dispelled that notion, saying, "I tell you, no: but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (v.3). He would also say, "…there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10). Then, Jesus taught this principle through what we call the Prodigal Son (15:11-32).

The Role of Repentance in Salvation

On the Day of Pentecost, after the Lord's ascension back to Heaven, Peter preached about Jesus—that He was the long-awaited Messiah that the Jews had taken and by wicked hands crucified and slain (Acts 2:23). However, God had raised Him up to rule at His right hand. Those who were pricked in their heart said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (v. 37).

Note the first word Peter spoke in response to this question was, "Repent!" His full response was, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (v. 38). Repentance was/is so important that in the very next chapter, Peter spoke of it again, saying, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…" (Acts 3:19).

What are the chances that anyone in the megachurches or community churches are hearing anything like that today? They will scarcely even acknowledge the concept of sin, let alone talk about what to do to have them blotted out!

Paul also weighed in on repentance, informing the Greeks in Athens who were worshipping in ignorance: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). What was that, Paul? ALL MEN EVERYWHERE! He went on to declare the reason repentance was so crucial is that one day Jesus is going to "judge the world in righteousness" (v. 31). Therefore, they needed to repent.

Yet the megachurches or community churches would have people believe that God is in Heaven saying, "Don't go changing to try and please me," when, in fact, He is saying the opposite, which is: The only way to please Him is to change. "Just the way you are" is not going to cut it. It may make people feel good to believe that they do not need to change their lifestyle or their priorities, but that is a spiritually fatal message. The Biblical examples testify otherwise.

From the March 9, 2025 Richwood Reaper