Our culture often pins Christianity to a set of rules and principles—what we stand for and what we oppose. But if we look at God’s chosen people Israel, they were known for something else entirely: His presence.

I believe the reason so many are put off by Christianity is that we have made it about behavior modification, rather than encountering the God of the universe.

There is a massive difference between the two.

It is important that we live moral and upright lives, but we must be careful not to make this the central focus of our faith. Only one thing belongs at the center of it all, and that is God himself. Perhaps A.W. Tozer said it best:

I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion.

The great need in the church isn’t a trendier or more relevant presentation of Christianity. It’s not to be more involved in social justice and solving the world’s problems. It’s not even better-behaved Christians. The greatest need in the church is God Himself. We cannot be defined by mere principles. We need His presence. Everything else in the Christian life—our transformation, and the transformation of the world around us—rests on that one thing.