We will definitely return to the parachurch questions that have been raised. They are important and i think we have only begun looking at them!
But for now, i'm being bothered by some things that i would like input on. I've heard a few quotes at seminary the past few days several times each. The first comes from a book "Almost Christian" which states that most young Christians in America have basically traded true Christianity for a new religion/worldview called "moralistic, therapeutic deism." Another quote i have heard a lot the past few days is that most Christians in America hold to some form of "Christocentric universalism." We just may not realize this to be the case because the fundamentalist minority voice is so loud.
Do you think this is true? If it is, what does it mean for the future?
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Yeah, I think that it's true, even here in Central Wisconsin. I've spoken to many people who say stuff like, "I have my faith, but some Christians are crazy!" and many college students who believe in a hodge-podge of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. For them, Jesus is cool, but... there's other stuff that's cool, too.
ReplyDelete"Therapeutic" is the word that strikes me. "The music is just... so AWESOME, and I really feel close to God when this song plays..." is something that churchgoers hear a lot, and something that I myself have said. I think this could be evidence of "therapy." Also, I've read lots of articles that talk about how "religion" is good for you...
So in short, yes. I think these quotes are accurate. However, I think that there is nothing to worry about if followers of Christ are not "taken captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition... and not according to Christ."
To what extent do we adhere to religious activities/thought because it soothes our consciences?
ReplyDeleteAndy, without seeing the data behind the quotes, it is impossible to state whether or not such statements characterize "most Christians" or "most young Christians" in America.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, within the limited sphere I do operate in, I sense a vein of "moralistic, therapeutic deism" running through the Church. We see it, certainly, in the music, as Jimmy pointed out. We also see it in the sermons. Instead of Christ-centered, God-exalting, man-abasing teaching, we are fed tidbits about living fruitfully, growing spiritually, and being the best Christians possible (all with God's help, of course). This is often a subtle, but real, distinction. For those interested, Michael Horton discusses such things in his book CHRISTLESS CHRISTIANITY (see christlesschristianity.org for the gist, as well as a critical review at http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/2009Horton.htm).
As far as where this is taking us (I'm only dealing with the "moralistic, therapeutic deism" issue), I think the trajectory for some (many?) Christians is toward a more confessional stance in the Reformed vein. There is simply a great weariness felt by many with the lack in churches of doctrinal clarity and specificity, a lack that allows for the "therapeutic" approach to hold sway.
I think this is very true. One of the biggest factors in this is that we live in a culture of strong pluralism.The role of religious tolerance has been usurped by the quagmire of postmodernism.Truth is subjective, and nobody is wrong. Except, of course, those Christians. Because we do believe in one Truth, and we are bound by conscience and duty to share that Truth. But in doing so, we oppose society's laws. We are supposed to believe what we want and leave everyone else alone.
ReplyDeleteAs a consequence, several Christians water down their beliefs. Sometimes, it is so others will accept what we believe. Other times, it is because we think that we have a better idea of justice than God. After all, a loving God would never damn someone to hell. So, we take out the part about Christ being THE way. As long as He is A way, everyone seems okay with it.
Much of the church acts like a pre-teen girl. We just start "fixing" things about ourselves until we are liked. Eventually, we forget who we are, and we wonder why people call us fake.
Dear Concerned Christian,
ReplyDeleteJames Macdonald leads a denomination of 69 churches. It is called the Harvest Bible Fellowship. Each church in this denomination operates with the same template. They are all called "churches of life groups." (If you aren't in a life group, then they don't want you in one of their churches.) What is a "life group"? The life groups are all facilitator-led groups. They exist for the purpose of group mind control. Harvest Bible Fellowship is a highly sophisticated mind control operation under a Christian covering.
Who is the director of operations of Harvest Bible Fellowship? Bill Molinari, who also sits on the board of John Macarthur's GTY and Macarthur's international ministry, TMAI. Who else supports this abomination? John Macarthur's TMS advertizes this "church" to their grads and promotes their Harvest Training School to their grads. Several TMS grads are now leading these "churches of life groups" as other TMS grads are enrolled in the Harvest School obligated to plant more of these churches in the future. (When I contacted R Mayhue, the director of TMS, to ask why he advertizes this "church" and its training school to his seminary grads I received no reply.)
John Macarthur considers James Macdonald to be a "close friend" and he fully supports Macdonald's Harvest Fellowship as he annually attends Macdonald's "Straight Up" conferences. "Christians" leading these "Churches of Life Groups" aren't following God's Word; they are actually following the Jewish Kabbalah.
Chief Dregs of Society
Fun Fact: John Macarthur's mentor at Talbot Theological Seminary was an orthodox Jewish Rabbi who often quoted from the Jewish Talmud in his writings. Macarthur has stated that the sole reason he attended this seminary was to be mentored by this rabbi.