Should We Ignore the Fact that the Vast Majority of "Seeker Churches" Operate Like Cults?

First, I highly recommend reading this article by Christian Smith:
http://www.ptsem.edu/iym/lectures/2005/Smith-Moralistic.pdf

If you go to a "Christian Church" where they actually are against preaching the Scriptures, it's a good chance that you're not going to a Christian church at all. Christian Smith has coined the phrase to describe this new religion that is permeating many of these "seeker" churches as "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism".

Here is how Smith breaks down the religion:
1. A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth.
2. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
3. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
4. God does not need to be particularly involved in ones life except when he is needed to resolve a problem.
5. Good people go to heaven when they die.

Here are the words "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" broken down:

Moralistic: Characteristic of or relating to a narrow-minded concern of the morals of others; self-righteous

Therapeutic: Having or exhibiting healing powers: a therapeutic agent; therapeutic exercises.

Deism: Strictly, the term denotes a certain movement of rationalistic thought which was manifested chiefly in England from the mid-seventeenth to the mid-eighteenth century.

Affirmatively, deists hold to (1) the existence of a personal God, Creator and Rule of the universe; (2) the obligation of divine worship; (3) the obligation of ethical conduct; (4) the necessity of repentance from sins; (5) divine rewards and punishments, here, and in the life of the soul after death. These five points were stated by Lord Herbert Cherbury (1583-1648), called the father of deism.

Negatively, the deists generally denied any direct intervention in the natural order on the part of God. Though they professed faith in personal Providence, they denied the Trinity, the incarnation, the divine authority of the Bible, the atonement, miracles, any particular elect people such as Israel or the church, or any supernatural redemptive act in history."

(Adapted from Baker's Dictionary of Theology, s.v. "Deism")

It's another religion, folks, and it completely explains why passages in the Bible are selectively cited while others are overlooked. For those of you who are familiar with the "seeker" movement: think about the verses they selectively cite. Do the verses, out of context, not support the religion of moralistic therapeutic deism? Do not the verses that are omitted speak against the religion of moralistic therapeutic deism?

Thanks to Mark Kielar and CrossTV for allowing this video to be posted. To get this program, go to http://www.crosstv.com or call 1-877-CROSSTV

Category:

Education

Tags:

• seeker
• sensitive
• moralistic
• therapudic
• deism
• christian
• smith
• rick
• warren
• purpose
• driven
• mark
• kielar
• crosstv

[rofyle]

polopowers:

Oh man, I am so glad you said this. I surrendered my heart and will to the Lord Jesus Christ some ten years ago. In that time, I have been so hungry to learn more about this new life and this Lord who gave Himself to me. But what I find instead, in church after church after church is, Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. I want to scream, But Ive already come to Jesus! Teach me how to live this new life, please!

The Christian = the most neglected person in the Church.

[NecroDefain]

Hey look, more religious propaganda!!

[Strefanasha]

should we ignore . . . . . . . . .

what did Jesus say "let the blind follow the blind" "what is he to you, you follow me" "do not separate the wheat from the tares"

are you qualified to actually face them, do you have the love? the wisdom? then leave them alone.

we need to get back to BELIEVING the gospel, something we the orthodox NEVER DID, if we look at our lives rather than our ,mere expressions of doctrine.

logs and splinters : let us repent FIRST before troubling others

[polopowers2]

@droptozro Actually, fuck you faggot, I don't need this shit from anyone. My wife left me, my son's in the hospital, I might be going back to jail and your anti-God bs isn't helping.

[polopowers1]

@droptozro Ephesian Gentiles are included read Eph 3 ;1,2,3,4 etc.Partially?. Paul's whole message was I fought with men like beasts not Jews but Gentiles to convert. Peter does not reiterate chosen to be holy and blameless but definitive election. Whom did Paul consider the elect to endure for.? The subjective possibles? But all chosen elect.There is no subjective Gospel. God's Nature cannot be suspended for possibility.The death of Christ cannot be marred, ever. God's glory is never marred.

[droptozro]

@polopowers1

You're still imposing the same unbiblical definition on the word "elect" from the Scriptures.

Ephesians 1 is partially to Jewish Christians, the "adoption/first trusted in Christ" in that passage pertains to the Jews(see Romans 9:4 and Romans 2:10). But either way, you're still imposing the "foundation of the world" to the wrong portion, God chose from the foundation that they would be holy and blameless, not that individuals were chosen--just as 1 Peter reiterates.

[polopowers1]

@droptozro Read Eph 1 there is no such thing as a false convert. Election is sure perfect never in suspense.According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.Isa 42 is the elect Christ. Matt Isa In both cases it is Christ chosen, as the Servant. Read Eph and 1 Peter there is no other application but definite election.There is no one bought with blood who has possibility of not being saved.I endure all things for the elect sake.There is no gray "believer" with election

[droptozro]

@polopowers1

Election doesn't mean what you're imposing on it... look at the Scripture Jesus quotes from the OT, see Matthew 12:18-21.... then go look at Isaiah 42:1-4... "beloved" in Greek was "elect" in Hebrew... it's not the type of election our modern day english imposes on it.

[MrKamchan]

excellent ministry. We must not be pragmatic. We must speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, in love. If they repent, they repent. If they don't repent, they don't repent. They will suffer the wrath of GOD, the born again, will escape



[98sjci]

Division in the Church of Christ leads to more division. At one point, the Church was One. When the Protestant Reformation occurred, it opened the door to anyone preaching whatever they want. Once you remove the Magisterium of the Church, it's a free-for-all.  The Catholic Church has always and everywhere preached the truth and the whole truth. Take another look at Catholicism for yourself and you decide... but give it a FAIR look. Come Home: We've missed you!

[Strefanasha]

false converts among the true is in fact the nature of the thing since the very beginning: as Jesus Himself said that they would be .

Many evangelicals who have no part of the emergent cults themselves have only doctrine and not true experience of the living God and no relationship with Him.

the right words is not the true gospel. without the Spirit the right words make us pharisees.

that is all this preaching here is likely to make us: Pharisees