The Reformed Life

The “Toothless” Church?

In July 2024, Elon Musk made headlines when he posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying:

“Christianity has become toothless.”

While Musk’s statement is a broad critique, it reflects a growing sentiment that Christianity—especially in the Western world—has lost its strength, influence, and conviction. Many see the modern church as weak, compromised, and more concerned with appeasing culture than standing firm on biblical truth.

But is Musk right? Has Christianity lost its strength? And if so, how do we regain it?

Rather than dismissing this critique outright, we should reflect biblically. History shows that when God’s people drift from His Word, they lose their impact. Yet, Scripture also promises that Christ Himself is building His church and that nothing—not even the gates of hell—will prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

So where do we stand? And how do we move forward?

1. When God’s People Lose Their Strength

One of the recurring themes in Scripture is that when God’s people abandon faithfulness, they lose their influence. God told Israel:

“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:13)

But He also warned:

“They shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to them. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.”(Deuteronomy 28:44)

The principle is clear: when God’s people walk in obedience, they stand as a light to the nations. When they compromise, they become weak and ineffective.

In the same way, many churches today have prioritized cultural approval over biblical conviction. A desire for relevance has often led to the dilution of the gospel. The result? A Christianity that is hesitant to confront sin, fearful of speaking truth, and reluctant to stand against the tide of secularism.

As Charles Spurgeon warned:

“I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church.”

If Christianity today appears “toothless,” it is not because the gospel has lost its power but because many churches have stopped preaching it with conviction.

2. The Church’s Strength is Not of This World

However, there is a critical misunderstanding in Musk’s statement—one that reflects a common cultural assumption. Many equate strength with cultural dominance, political power, or numerical size. But Christ’s kingdom operates on a different principle.

Jesus told Pilate:

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting.”(John 18:36)

The early church had no societal privilege. The apostles were not cultural elites but fishermen, tax collectors, and tentmakers. Yet, through the bold proclamation of the gospel, they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

Voddie Baucham articulates this well:

“The problem is that we measure our success the way the world does. We measure success by numbers, by power, by influence. But the Bible measures success by faithfulness.”

The strength of Christianity has never been in its earthly power, but in its faithfulness to God’s Word. A “toothless” Christianity is not one that lacks political or social influence, but one that lacks the courage to proclaim Christ crucified.

3. Christ’s Promise: The Church Will Prevail

Despite the state of much of modern Christianity, one thing is certain: Christianity, in its true biblical form, is not going anywhere. Christ Himself made this promise:

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

This means that no matter how weak or compromised certain segments of the church may appear, the true, faithful church will never be extinguished.

Puritan pastor Richard Sibbes once wrote:

“Though Christ’s kingdom is opposed, it shall never be vanquished. Though it be assaulted, yet it shall be preserved.”

Every era of church history has witnessed attempts to stamp out Christianity—whether through persecution, heresy, or cultural opposition. And yet, the church continues to stand. Why? Because it is not built on human institutions, but on the unshakable foundation of Christ Himself.

That being said, this promise does not excuse the church from the responsibility of faithfulness. While the gates of hell cannot overcome the church, they often overcome individual churches and denominations that stray from biblical truth.

4. How Christianity Can Regain Its Teeth

If Christianity has lost its prophetic edge in the West, how do we recover it?

A. Bold Proclamation of the Gospel

The Apostle Paul declared:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation.” (Romans 1:16)

A church that avoids preaching about sin, repentance, and the exclusivity of Christ is a church that has lost its power. The world does not need a more palatable Christianity—it needs the full, unfiltered gospel.

J.C. Ryle put it this way:

“Unfaithful churches are the curse of Christianity. When they do not preach the gospel plainly and boldly, they aid the cause of the devil.”

B. Recommitment to Holiness

The church is called to be distinct, not a mirror of the world. Peter writes:

“As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)

A compromised church loses credibility. When Christians live no differently than the world, why should anyone take our faith seriously? Holiness is not legalism—it is the mark of a transformed life.

C. Revival Through Discipleship

Weak churches produce weak Christians. If we want to see renewal, we must prioritize discipleship. Jesus commanded:

“Make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The church’s mission is not just to fill pews but to equip believers for faithful living in every area of life. That means intentional teaching, mentoring, and calling people to deep commitment.

Jonathan Edwards once wrote:

“The task of every generation is to rediscover the gospel and apply it to their day.”

It’s time for the church to take that task seriously.

Conclusion: Strength in the Right Places

Elon Musk’s comment resonates because, in many ways, it reflects reality. Much of Western Christianity has indeed become weak, seeking cultural relevance rather than biblical faithfulness. But the answer is not a return to political power or social dominance—it is a return to Christ.

Christianity does not need to regain its strength by chasing influence. It regains its power when it stands firm on the truth, preaches the gospel with boldness, and lives in holiness.

As Charles Spurgeon reminds us:

“The gospel is like a caged lion. It does not need to be defended. It simply needs to be let out of its cage.”

The church is not toothless. The gospel is not weak. The question is: Will we be faithful?

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

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