Many see postmodernism and sexual immorality as the greatest threats to Christianity today. Lane and Tripp have a reservation about such an interpretation. They see the replacements identified in the previous post as more dangerous.
The replacements are more attractive because each of them emphasizes one important aspect of the gospel. Such a reduction of the gospel is dangerous for they become ends in themselves. Having an accurate knowledge of the Bible and theology is a means to have a deeper relationship with God. Making it the goal, it becomes an idol.
Another reason why those replacements are attractive is that "Each in some way appeals to spiritual problems we need to address" (Lane and Tripp, How People Change, 2006, p.11). They appeal to our self-righteousness. We don't look bad as the gospel says we are.
Moreover, they also appeal to our selfishness. We remain at the center and we still control the agenda. The message of the gospel is the exact opposite of such a self-centered life. We are called to die to ourselves for us to live.
Perhaps another reason is ideological. We love to blame the environment for our problems. People prefer to find scapegoats for their shortcomings in life. Shifting the blame to somebody else, our parents, our loved ones, the government, or whatever it is that is most convenient to us seems to be the norm today.
Appealing to our independence could be one of the reasons why we find those replacements attractive. We see other people as weak and foolish but not us; "we are the exception to the rule." We want to think that we are self-sufficient. Acknowledging that we are weak though painful is the biblical prerequisite for us to see our need for Christ.
The reasons identified above are just a few examples of why we find those replacements to the gospel very attractive. Understanding our need for the benefit of the person and the works of Christ in our current situation isn't easy. However, we need to see the holes in our lives and only the gospel of Christ can fill them. His grace can help us deal with "tough conversations" with our spouses, with our struggle with depression and fear, "with the pressures of parenting or the workplace," and with our struggles with lust and materialism. These are the kinds of practical issues that Lane and Tripp's book aimed to address. In short, the book intends to fill the gap.