Taken from Question of the Week | GotQuestions.org What is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism? Edited by Nancy Virden
Many people are willing to admit there is a god who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on Earth. Many also assume the Creator wants people to be nice and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
However, this god often takes on human characteristics and either responds to our every wish, or we grow disappointed in him.
While today’s personal goals seem to be happiness and feeling good about oneself, few want to go the way of truth to find joy and peace. A genie-type of god is preferred whose job is to resolve problems when we ask.
Another assumption is that good people go to heaven when they die. Good is really defined by popular culture rather than the moral imperatives of the Bible. So tolerating behaviors the Bible calls sin might be seen as “good,” while calling those behaviors “sin” might be seen as intolerant or hateful, which is bad.
Nonetheless, this is the real God:
1. Not just “a god” exists, but the God of the Bible, who has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whoever does not honor Jesus Christ as God does not honor God (“…so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him” John 5:23).
2. God does not just want people to be “nice” but commands that they obey Him. He defines what is good and nice. He calls sin “sin” and promises to judge it (see Romans 1:18–32).
3. The central goal of life is to give glory to God. A by-product may be feeling good about ourselves, but that is not the goal (“For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen” Romans 11:36).
4. Our primary goal as believers is to be constantly in tune with God, following His leading and in daily fellowship with Him. (“Never stop praying” 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
5. No one is good enough to go to heaven. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23); no one is good enough, and that is why we need Jesus, God in the flesh. He lived the perfect life that we could not, and He died to pay for our sin so that we might be made acceptable to God. (“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed” 1 Peter 2:24).
Morality in and of itself is not Christianity. Biblical Christians live as the Bible teaches.
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Today’s Helpful Word
Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.
If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!
Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair.
NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.
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