Eight Harmful Mistakes That Weaken Christian Witness

Photo (c) Sam L. Street

In these times of spiritual and moral crisis, I write this not as a critic but as someone who deeply loves the church and desires to see it reflect the heart of Christ. With humility and compassion, I want to address eight deadly “sins” or errors that we as Christians may fall into—mistakes that can distort our witness and weaken our impact on the world.

1. Christianity Without Jesus

It is possible to practice Christianity yet miss Christ. Many of us fall into the trap of playing religion—following traditions, doctrines, and church activities—while ignoring the very essence of Jesus’ message.

Jesus calls us to a life of love, humility, and sacrifice. Yet, when Christianity becomes more about institutions, power, or rigid doctrines than about embodying Christ, we drift into a hollow faith. Our conduct must reflect Jesus—not just in words, but in our daily lives. Without Jesus at the center, Christianity becomes an empty shell, a religion that speaks but does not transform.

2. Leadership Without Character

Character is more important than charisma or head knowledge. Yet, in many Evangelical and Pentecostal churches, it is often a pastor’s charisma that draws people, rather than the integrity of their life. In other traditions, leadership is determined primarily by theological knowledge—an essential quality, but not enough on its own. When leadership lacks character, the message of Christ becomes hollow. Scandals involving clergy and pastors, regardless of denomination, remind us that giftedness without integrity is a dangerous combination. At the end of the day, it is not our energetic sermons or deep theological exegesis that will define our leadership, but the virtue of our character and the way we embody Christ in our lives.

3. Evangelism Without Love

Evangelism should never be reduced to strategies, programs, or numbers. While street preaching, music ministries, and public outreach events can be meaningful, true evangelism is a way of life. For me, evangelism is about genuinely sharing my life with others in the love and light of Christ. It’s not about counting the number of souls “saved” but about every individual we have touched through Christ’s love. If our evangelism lacks love, it becomes mere rhetoric, a performance rather than a true witness to the Gospel.

4. Church Without Significance

Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). But what are these “gates of hell”? They are the systems of injustice that perpetuate suffering—poverty, war, corruption, racism, and exploitation. The church is called to be a light in the darkness, an agent of justice and reconciliation. This includes advocating for those who are often overlooked or marginalized in society. Refugees, undocumented migrants, racial minorities, and gender minorities frequently face injustice, discrimination, and suffering. Their struggles are real, and as followers of Christ, we are invited to stand alongside them, offering love, support, and dignity.

Jesus consistently sided with the outcast—the Samaritan woman, the lepers, the tax collectors, and those religious leaders excluded as sinners. In the same way, the church has a sacred responsibility to care for the vulnerable. It is not merely about charity but about justice. A church that engages in healing brokenness and restoring dignity plays a vital role in God’s kingdom.

Empire Christianity—is a Christianity that flirts with economic and political power, that seeks influence over the systems of the world, and in doing so, ends up legitimizing their injustices rather than challenging them.

5. Prayer Without Purpose & Action

Prayer is more than words. It is not a formula, nor is it about body positioning or religious rituals. Prayer is a relationship with God—one that should move us to action. If we pray for the hungry but do not feed them, what is the purpose of our prayer? If we pray for peace but do nothing to reconcile conflicts, what does our prayer achieve? True prayer transforms us; it compels us to engage with the world, to bring healing, justice, and compassion. Let us not merely talk our prayers—let us walk them.

6. Bible Without Compassion

The Bible is meant to be read through the eyes of Christ, yet too often, Christians use Scripture as a tool for judgment rather than as a source of healing and grace. Religious leaders in Jesus’ time knew the Scriptures well, yet many used them to burden people rather than to set them free. The same danger exists today when the Bible is quoted in ways that wound rather than restore.

If my preaching, my quoting of Scripture, or my sermons lead to creating deep emotional wounds—if they push people into despair, guilt, or even cause some to take their own lives because they feel unworthy or beyond redemption—then something has gone terribly wrong. The Bible was never meant to be a weapon that drives people to hopelessness. Consider how some divorced people are treated in certain Christian circles, carrying a lifelong stigma as though their failure is beyond God’s grace. Think of those who struggle with their gender and sexual identities, who may already be facing deep inner turmoil, yet are often met with rejection and condemnation instead of love and guidance. If our use of Scripture leads to rejection rather than redemption, if it crushes the human spirit rather than lifting it up, then we are not using it in the way Christ intended.

Jesus came not to condemn but to save, to heal, and to restore. The Bible should be a source of life, pointing people to the love and mercy of God. Let us, as followers of Christ, ensure that when we speak of Scripture, we do so with compassion, understanding, and a heart that seeks to bring healing, not harm.

7. Love Without Neighbors

A love that excludes others is not love at all—it is selfishness disguised as faith. Jesus summarized the entire law in two commands: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). But who is our neighbor? It is not just the person next door—it is the lonely, the outcast, the refugee, the one who looks, believes, or lives differently than we do. To truly love as Christ loves, we must engage with the other—whether they be a Jew, a Muslim, an atheist, or someone with a different gender orientation. Love without neighbors is love without Christ.

8. Faith Without Transformation

At the heart of Christianity is transformation. The Gospel is not just about believing in Jesus—it is about becoming like Him. Yet, too often, faith becomes routine, a set of beliefs we subscribe to rather than a life we live. If our faith does not lead to inner change, if it does not reshape our actions, priorities, and relationships, then it remains stagnant—merely an idea rather than a living reality.

A Call to Renewal

In these challenging times, as individuals and as the church, we must confront these eight deadly errors. Any form of Christianity that practices these errors conforms to what I call Empire Christianity—a Christianity that flirts with economic and political power, that seeks influence over the systems of the world, and in doing so, ends up legitimizing their injustices rather than challenging them. But when Christianity refuses to align with such power—when it stands against oppression, exploitation, and corruption—it becomes the Christianity of the marginalized, the meek, and the powerless. This is the Christianity of Christ Himself, whose kingdom was not of this world, who sided with the least, who challenged the powerful not with armies but with truth and love. It is in this powerlessness that true power lies. It is in standing with the suffering, the oppressed, and the outcast that we find the true essence of Christian faith.

This is my hope: that we, as followers of Jesus, will rise again with a refreshed, restored, and revived message of Christ—one that does not seek the approval of empires but reflects the heart of the Kingdom of God.

-- Samuel Lee