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SUNDAY MORNING (November lrh) • Counterfeit GospelsThe Judgmentless GospelJohn Lennon's 1971 song "Imagine" encourages us to imagine there is no heaven or hell.Instead, we should embrace the need to live for today. The song was a big hit when it wasreleased and is now recognized as one of the greatest rock/pop songs of all time. The lyricssummed up the mood of the post-1960s era, a time in which people were questioning religiousclaims and traditional morality.Forty years later, many-even those who claim to be followers of Jesus-are fullyfollowing Lennon's advice. We are told that the gospel is not really about the afterlife. Thegospel answers much bigger questions than a person's eternal state. It's all about life todaynotso much about tomorrow. In fact, there may not even be a great Day of Judgment that iscoming.In reality, the "judgmentless gospel" championed by some segments of the religiousworld isn't big enough to include the full picture. of course we should see the gospel asspeaking to life today. And yes, the gospel is not only about going to heaven when we die. Butwe must take care that, as we are surrounded by so much religious confusion, we hold togetherall the components of the gospel story.The "judgmentless gospel" shows up in many forms. In your own words, why are these._l;"~-·-f-'· ua.l.rb~L v'u-·..':-> ,"vouu.n.tIe".r.Cf.cl.ii.t~sl•?.o.. ;~ "Everybody is going to heaven" -~ "The afterlife isn't nearly as important as making the most of life here on the earth" -~ "Godwouldn't ever send anyone to hell. People choose to go there" -~ "Godknows my heart" -Whyis the "judgmentless gospel" so attractive and, as a result, so popular?If the "judgmentless gospel" is a counterfeit, does it need to be countered? If so, in what ways?