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Moralistic Therapeutic Deism has replaced Christianity in America
Posted on 7/26/21 at 10:58 am
Posted on 7/26/21 at 10:58 am
Washington Times
quote:
Writing for the Journal, Rachel Bratton said this: “American Christianity has fallen. Thanks to cultural corrosion and a lack of biblical literacy, a new ‘fake Christianity’ is now being preached within the American church.” “This counterfeit religion is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism,” stated Ms. Bratton, “a worldview that has quickly gained prominence and given many Americans a theology that looks nothing like historical Christianity, despite what they may claim.” She then goes on to cite the recent work of George Barna, whose February survey showed that Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD), or - watered-down, feel-good, fake Christianity – is the most popular worldview in the United States today. “Christianity in this nation is rotting from the inside out,” states Ms. Barna. “MTD is essentially what I would call fake Christianity. Because it has some Christian elements in it, but it’s not really biblical, it’s not really Christian.” And what is MTD exactly? Ms. Barna answers: “The moralistic perspective is we’re here to be good people and to try to do good…The therapeutic aspect is everything is supposed to be geared to making me feel good about myself, ultimately to make me happy. Deism is the idea that God created the world but has no direct involvement in it. Basically, according to MTD, there is a distant God who just wants everyone to be nice, and the purpose of life is to be happy. American ‘Christians’ who have adopted this philosophy have… elevate[d] personal definitions of right and wrong above any objective standard of Truth — like the Bible.” The contemporary church’s faith isn’t even anchored in the bold exclusivity of Jesus himself, who said, “I am The Way, The Truth and The Life and no one comes to the Father but through me!” America’s new religion isn’t anything this stable, this historical, this enduring, this deep, or this true. It is rather a syncretistic amalgamation of Bobby McFerrin and Black Lives Matter, sad solipsism of “don’t worry, be happy!” as we celebrate the “queering” of all that ails us. Ms. Bratton concludes: “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism distorts the God of the Bible in an attempt to make him bless all the dissipations and vanities of the modern world.” Ms. Barna adds: “MTD is one of those models that says you gotta live in the moment. This is all you’ve got, and you’ve gotta make the most of it.” It makes sense,” says Ms. Bratton, “that ‘Christians’ who embrace MTD are hesitant to [salt] the culture. How can anyone pass judgment if everyone’s just trying to be happy? The only sin is getting in the way of someone’s personal ‘truth.’ That’s why so many are siding with [neo-Marxist atheistic] groups like Black Lives Matter and the LBGT movement. They’ll listen to the loudest voice on either side. Enter the screaming woke mob; [those who] promote sin under the guise of ‘loving everyone.’”
Posted on 7/26/21 at 10:59 am to Revelator
MTD replaced Christianity 20 years ago. Now Progressivism is replacing MTD.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:02 am to Revelator
I appreciate the article.
makes sense.
real Christians have to love everyone.
even neighbors.
feel good church is the sales point.
how you feel when you are walking out.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:11 am to Revelator
I mean, it's replaced most religions, even if it isn't as overt.
Humans are just concerned with power, pleasure fulfillment, and "self actualization." One of the major points of religion is to release us from our selfish tendencies, but it can be a losing battle.
MTD is the perfect compliment to selfish pleasure seeking. Non-threatening, easy to do, makes yourself feel good, etc.
Humans are just concerned with power, pleasure fulfillment, and "self actualization." One of the major points of religion is to release us from our selfish tendencies, but it can be a losing battle.
MTD is the perfect compliment to selfish pleasure seeking. Non-threatening, easy to do, makes yourself feel good, etc.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:12 am to anc
quote:
MTD replaced Christianity 20 years ago. Now Progressivism is replacing MTD.
Yep. Always seemed like people had the things they wanted to do biblical or not and then threw a Christian-esque reason to why they're doing what they want to do.
It's been watered down to feel good isms which is just happy nihilism. Nothing really means anything, we're all just masses of cells with brain chemicals, so live and let live.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:12 am to Revelator
I love the term MTD. The White Horse Inn guys (Michael Horton, Shane Rosenthal et al.) have been on this for years.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:16 am to Freauxzen
quote:
MTD is the perfect compliment to selfish pleasure seeking. Non-threatening, easy to do, makes yourself feel good, etc.
Yep. It’s easier to substitute the hard truth that often makes people uncomfortable and can offend , with something that tries to please everyone and self at the same time.
The Bible says we are supposed to deny self.
This post was edited on 7/26/21 at 11:17 am
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:21 am to Revelator
Moral Relativism as manifested in a sort of day-to-day situational ethics.
An absolute mess.
An absolute mess.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:25 am to Revelator
So prosperity gospel and feel good gospel. In essence televangelist the last 10 to 20 years.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:25 am to Revelator
quote:
How can anyone pass judgment if everyone’s just trying to be happy? The only sin is getting in the way of someone’s personal ‘truth.’ That’s why so many are siding with [neo-Marxist atheistic] groups like Black Lives Matter and the LBGT movement. They’ll listen to the loudest voice on either side. Enter the screaming woke mob; [those who] promote sin under the guise of ‘loving everyone.’”
I would also add that many churches care more about numbers in the pews than preaching truth. They are terrified of losing members for rejecting what is popular in today's culture. I believe culling of members who are not really believers is needed if they reject the teaching of scripture because they would rather follow the latest cultural fads.
The plural of anecdote is not data, but the strongest churches in my area are the ones who preach strictly biblical truth and dont try to wrap the latest cultural fads around the bible.
This post was edited on 7/26/21 at 11:26 am
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:29 am to cssamerican
quote:
So prosperity gospel and feel good gospel. In essence televangelist the last 10 to 20 years.
I think it’s a little more than that. Sure 20 years ago, the preachers still wanted your money, but their sermons and methodologies were still largely based on scripture.
Now it has morphed into more philosophy and cultural behaviors than scripture.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:32 am to RebelExpress38
quote:
I believe culling of members who are not really believers is needed if they reject the teaching of scripture because they would rather follow the latest cultural fads.
This is true and biblically speaking, it would make for a stronger church. But sadly, financial considerations, like paying salaries and electric bills, also factor in to the equation.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:36 am to CelticDog
quote:
love everyone.
even neighbors.
Even pagans do this.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:39 am to Bestbank Tiger
quote:
Even pagans do this.
Not the ones I've known.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:43 am to CelticDog
quote:
real Christians have to love everyone.
even neighbors.
This just isn't true. Even Jesus didn't want to help someone until that person begged him. It is literally in the Bible.
That doesn't even get into that Judaism isn't monotheistic. It is very clear there are multiple gods. I mean the six pointed star is the star of Rephaim for starter. As some would call it the star representing the worship of Saturn or Satan.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:59 am to zatetic
quote:
Even Jesus didn't want to help someone until that person begged him
Come on man!
Posted on 7/26/21 at 12:13 pm to Revelator
it is literally in the bible. You know why he didn't want to help, because the person asking for help wasn't the right type of people
Matthew 15:22-28 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "LORD, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly." 23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25The woman came and knelt before him. "LORD, help me!" she said. 26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." 27"Yes it is, LORD," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." 28Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:22-28 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "LORD, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly." 23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25The woman came and knelt before him. "LORD, help me!" she said. 26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." 27"Yes it is, LORD," she said. "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." 28Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
This post was edited on 7/26/21 at 12:15 pm
Posted on 7/26/21 at 12:14 pm to anc
quote:
MTD replaced Christianity 20 years ago. Now Progressivism is replacing MTD.
Fact
Posted on 7/26/21 at 12:18 pm to Revelator
quote:
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism has replaced Christianity in America
Satanism has replaced Christianity in America. It's just hidden under other labels.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 12:23 pm to zatetic
quote:
This just isn't true. Even Jesus didn't want to help someone until that person begged him. It is literally in the Bible
The begging had nothing to do with it. He didn't want to help her because she wasn't a Jew. And Jesus made it clear early on that he was only here to work for the Jews at first:
Matthew 15:24 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
Matthew 10:5-6 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."
Only after he made his attempt to save the Jews did he move the focus to everyone else.
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