The term “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” was coined by sociologists Christian Smith and Melina Lundquist Denton in their book Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. It is defined by the following beliefs: 1) A god created the world and isn’t involved in anyone’s life unless they need help, 2) Said god desires everyone to be nice to each other, 3) Everyone’s chief goal is to be happy, and 4) Good people go to heaven when they die. In essence, sky daddy (or mommy; let’s be inclusive here) wants you to be happy and nice to everyone else and if you are, you can go be happy with him forever.
This may sound overly demeaning, but sometimes certain beliefs need to be exposed for the ridiculous ideas they truly are. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) doesn’t even remotely fit with true Christianity, although many professing Christians adhere more to the doctrines of MTD than those of true Christianity. As much as most people would like us to just play nice and coexist with this set of doctrines, it would be unloving for us to ignore this harmful and heretical worldview.
“Unloving?” you ask, perhaps incredulously. “Isn’t it unloving to denounce someone’s belief like this?”
Not at all. Without going into thorough apologetics, it’s undeniable that the God of the Bible is the true and only God. This God created all men and, contrary to Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, is very much involved in His creation. Because God created everyone and everything, He has every right and prerogative to be recognized as the true and living God. If there is a doctrine that robs God of His glory and honor, it must be refuted.
How does Moralistic Therapeutic Deism rob God of His glory and honor? To find out, let’s understand where MTD finds its individual tenets. MTD takes the idea that there is a god, but no religion is absolutely true; throws in an undefinable moral standard; adds the feel-good idea of everybody should do what makes them happy; and mixes it with an optimistic view of the afterlife. The result is a hot mess that in no way is compatible with the Bible.
For starters, everyone has an inherent understanding that God exists, whether they acknowledge Him as the God of the Bible or not. Romans 1:18-21 tells us that God’s creation demonstrates His existence and that men suppress this truth because of their wickedness. Men will do anything possible in an attempt to excuse themselves from the requirement to obey God’s moral standard. This is why the hatred for the God of the Bible is so intense. Every other belief system will tell you that, yes, you make mistakes, but in the bigger picture, your “goodness” outweighs your “badness.”
However, God’s moral standard goes away if there is no God to enforce the standard. Everybody, deep down, knows that God exists. Yet if you change the deity you worship, you can harmonize your inherent knowledge of God with your desire for rebellion. You still have an object for your worship, except this object demands much less of you.
The ideas that no religion is absolutely true and that morality is objectively undefinable are two of the core beliefs of postmodernism. A brief review of modern thought will aid in understanding the ever-apparent depravity of man.
Generally, it is considered that there are three major eras of thought. They are as follows: Pre-modernism, prevalent from the 6th century to the 16th century, is the era of thought that believes truth is found in God. Modernism, prevalent from the late 19th to the early 20th century, is the era that believes truth is found in human reason. Postmodernism, prevalent from the early-mid 20th century to the current day, is the era that believes truth is relative to each person. Because postmodernism views truth as relative, no religion is objectively right (or wrong) and morality has no objective standards.
In practice, this idea gives rise to the phrase, “Your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth.” Whatever floats your boat and gives you a desirable afterlife is what’s true. No one is right and no one is wrong.
This idea is blatantly un-Biblical. Once again, the God of the Bible is the only true and living God (Isaiah 45:5-7, Jeremiah 10:10, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 John 5:20). Because He created everything, God should (and does) have the ability to determine how man can reach Him. If He doesn’t, God is no longer omnipotent and His power is severely diminished. The Bible clearly states that God is omnipotent (Job 42:2, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Daniel 2:20-21, John 19:11) and sovereign (Psalm 93:1, Jeremiah 23:20).
The idea that everyone should do what makes them happy is the hallmark of Hedonism. Hedonism traces its roots all the way back to Aristippus of Cyrene, a student of Socrates. Aristippus stipulated that man’s chief purpose is to enjoy what pleasures him; his fulfillment is found only in worldly enjoyment.
Once again, this is another un-Biblical doctrine. Man must find his fulfillment in God, not in worldly pleasures (Proverbs 21:17, 2 Timothy 2:22, Titus 3:3, 1 John 2:15-17). True pleasure is found in God and God alone (Psalm 16:11).
Finally, the idea that the afterlife turns out well for everyone in the end (namely, everyone goes to heaven), is characteristic of a heresy known as Universalism. Universalism teaches that everyone will go to heaven or whatever isn’t hell. No matter what religion you adhere to, you will end up in a happy place.
Universalism is yet another un-Biblical doctrine. Jesus Himself said that some people will go to hell (Matthew 25:41-46). Hell is eternal punishment in unquenchable fire (Matthew 25:41, Mark 9:44). There is only one religion which guarantees salvation from hell, Christianity (Acts 4:12). There is only one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). No other religion will prevent you from suffering the eternal wrath of God.
Every core tenet of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism is un-Biblical. No part of it is built on a Biblical foundation. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism is often found among those who profess faith in Christ, yet aren’t truly followers of Him. It is nothing more than a spiritual “cherry picking” of false doctrines that add up to a feel-good, amiable belief system that blasphemes the God of the Bible.
“Blasphemous? That’s a wee bit harsh, don’t you think?” you protest. “Shouldn’t we avoid spending our time ‘attacking other people’s spirituality’?”
You know what’s truly harsh? Eternity in hell. However, I by no means believe that hell is unjustly harsh. Sin against our Creator is grievous and its punishment must be very harsh indeed. When finite beings sin against infinite God, the punishment must be infinite. It sounds harsh because it is. Yet sometimes justice can only be satisfied through a harsh sentence.
Everyone deserves eternity in hell. The only reason that some don’t go to hell is because of the wrath Christ bore in their place. You may have heard of this event; some 1st century carpenter was executed by the Roman government on a cross. This carpenter’s name was Jesus, who just so happened to be the prophesied Christ and the eternal Son of God. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the elect, and by doing so, prevented some from experiencing the eternal wrath of God. This is the core of the gospel. It is only through repentance and faith in Christ that one doesn’t suffer in hell for eternity.
Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This precludes every other belief system in the world. Be it Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Agnosticism, Atheism or Moralistic Therapeutic Deism that masquerades as Christianity, if you don’t believe in salvation as revealed by scripture alone, through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, you are not saved. And if you are not saved, you will go to hell. Which is harsher: explaining why someone must place their faith in Christ, or allowing them to go about their merry way and eventually wind up in hell?
Great post