This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. —Jude 3
Have you ever heard of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism? I’m guessing most of us have not. Yet, according to research most American adults and teenagers live by this new cultural religion. It is a religion that piggybacks upon existing Christian beliefs and then tweaks them just enough to rob the power from a thriving Christian life. So, what exactly does MTD look like?
Moralistic refers to the concept that most Americans believe in right and wrong. In MTD, people decide for themselves what those things are. As long as people live consistently according to their own list of rights and wrongs, they can call themselves moral people.
Therapeutic refers to the concept that most Americans believe God exists for our happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment. God’s job, according to MTD, is to solve people’s problems and to help them get what they want out of life.
Deism refers to the idea that most Americans believe in a God who cannot really be known. In MTD, God watches people play the game of life and doesn’t get involved much, unless of course, when people need Him to fix a problem or help them get what they want.
There’s probably a bit of the MTD “infection” at work in all of our lives. Sometimes, we play fast and loose with moral definitions, creating wiggle room to hold to “morals” even when we know the Scriptures draw a different line in the sand. Sometimes, we expect God to be the “genie” in our hip pocket; when we want or need something, we rub the lamp (pray) and expect God to give us our three wishes. And sometimes, we too tend to view God as distant, unknowable, detached and unreachable.
Yet, the Scriptures paint an entirely different picture. The Scriptures are a real, living source for authority in our lives. We were designed by God to enjoy Him and to live for His pleasure in all we do. And, we know that God entered into human history in the ultimate way, through His Son, Jesus, to reveal Himself to us—not from afar, but right here with us.
We contend for our faith by maintaining our commitment to the Scriptures and by holding one another accountable to sound belief. In doing these things, we will keep the faith.
* Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Dr. Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton; Oxford University Press.
FURTHER READING: 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 Corinthians 10:31
3 comments:
Never knew it had a name, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. It is very real and I know many who subscribe to this to some degree or another. Many will put other causes in front of their faith and will block it out of their mind in the process by justifying to themselves they are doing what "THEY" think is right, not Christ. It is supposed to be all or none. Either you are for Christ or against Him and we all need to strive to live it out daily, even second by second. Father God, give us all the strength to bring You honor and Glory in everything we say and do and what we stand for.
Blessings
cas
My first in clination is to point the finger at 'others' and put them in box titled 'MTD'. But truthfully I can see this is some areas of my life now. I've got to continue to depend on scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
CAS, well put.
this is a good one. and as you pointed out, i feel as if i see this all over the place. But i too must be careful as there certainly have been times when i have fallen into this trap.
i actually think this is a huge epidemic in our society. it is very much a fairy tale type of relationship that is one way.
Father, i pray that i do not fall into this trap and that i am worshipiing You and honoring you and that i do not focus on me.
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