Rivals to Jesus

If we lived in a totalitarian state, we would be well aware of it. And even totalitarian, authoritative leadership in a church probably makes us feel uncomfortable, like a coat that is too tight. More difficult to detect, however, is making a phase of Christian work central instead of Christ central. When Christian work becomes the integration point, it too is wrong…
It is curious that we can do things in Christ’s name while pushing Him off the stage. Fighting for evangelism should not become primary either; yet how often this happens! Other people, quite rightly, see the church of our generation threatened by apostasy, but then have made [this fight] the center of their lives. In all of these Jesus may remain as a topic of conversation, but His real centrality has been forgotten. In the name of Christ, Christ is dethroned. When this happens, even what is right becomes wrong. (Francis Schaeffer, “Jesus Only,” in No Little People)