This month I wanted to share something with you and another author wrote it better than I could. The following is written by Reverend Jim Britt of Lambertville UMC.

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

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. Say that 10 times fast. Actually, believe it or not, research shows this is really the cultural religion most Americans live by, whether they call themselves Christians or not. It looks like Christianity in some ways, so let’s see if you or I fall in this pattern:

MORALISTIC refers to the concept most Americans believe in right and wrong. In MTD, it comes out in a relativistic way–people here decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. According to this way of thinking, as long as you live consistently within your own list of rights and wrongs, you are moral (it’s okay to punch someone on their third insult–no less?).

THERAPEUTIC refers to the concept that for most Americans God exists for our happiness, satisfaction, and fulfillment. God’s job, according to this thought, is to solve people’s problems and to help them get what they want out of life.

DEISM refers to the idea most Americans believe in a God who cannot really be known. God watches people play the game of life and doesn’t get involved until people need Him to fix a problem or help them get what they want.

If this looks like Christianity to you, HELP! While many of us might slip into some unhealthy spiritual practices, stretching morality, expecting God to be the “genie” in our hip pocket–God give me my three wishes if I rub you the right way, or just assuming God doesn’t care, the Scriptures remind us differently.

God designed us to enjoy Him and to live for His pleasure in all we do. Coming to earth as Jesus shows just how intimately involved He is in every aspect of our lives. Let us continue to hold each other accountable to God revealed in the Bible and not just what you or I think God should be.”

Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve gotten it confused and tried to make you into something less than who you really are.