I expect that the tests offered by the authors for 1) giving 20% of one's income to the needy and 2) putting oneself at personal risk in faith practices are passed by few adults.
On the other hand, the "feel good" practices probably are much more acceptable than the radical practice of suicide bombings by the Muslim fanatics against the infidels in their countries..
Big question #1 got me thinking… If ‘moralistic therapeutic deism’ -- feel-good, do-good religion -- isn't true Christianity, what is it? Assuming the question is asking what ‘true Christianity’ is, and not what ‘moralistic therapeutic deism’ is… I don’t think many would deny that ‘do-good’ is a necessary element of authentic Christian faith for “faith without works is dead”. I would suppose also most would include ‘moralistic’ in their definition of Christianity; though perhaps we would use words like righteous, holy, good or other such religious terminology as in “be holy for I am holy.” It seems then the questionable part is the ‘therapeutic’ or ‘feel-good’ aspect of MTD. I have been thinking about this very thing, especially since Sunday’s Case for Faith discussion on suffering. At one point during the study, Alice commented that nobody would probably ‘choose’ suffering despite the unique value it can have in both building our character and deepening our faith. A couple of the teens then shared their experiences of how it was precisely in those times of hardship and pain that they drew closest to the Lord. I have heard many other like testimonies, and my own experience too agrees. In fact, I have been so amazed at the deep spiritual work God does through suffering in those who are exercised by it, that I even asked a sister at the birthday luncheon afterward: Could suffering be a necessary, perhaps even required part of Christian life?
ReplyDeleteHere’s my thinking… This world is fallen and so suffers. We believe there is a world hereafter and that Christ is King and Judge and will determine our eternal place in that hereafter. We love, worship and serve God who has asked us to enter, like Jesus did, into the suffering of this world to serve one another, bear one another’s burdens and perform good works for His glory. As we do this, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are somehow sanctified; changed, taught humility, increased in grace, filled with the fruits of the Spirit, and so on which is pleasing to God, brings eternal reward, and is actually, spiritually speaking, ‘the good life’. I don’t mean to suggest that we try to create unnecessary suffering as much as that we willfully seek to enter into the suffering and needs which already exist.
I agree with Henry that our children learn the faith they see taught, lived and condoned by their parents and the other adults/culture that influence and model things for them. We can speak of the value of suffering, humility, modesty, self-sacrifice, service, etc., but the challenge is to truly believe it in our hearts and live it in our lives. Do we really see the life that carries God’s love and goodness into suffering places and to people with needs as the blessed one, or do we exalt and pursue the life that is materially abundant, problem-free and happy? Do we box up our good works and limit them to organized religious outreach that is fairly comfortable and safe or do we strive to make service a constant, whole-hearted attitude toward all those we meet and dare to place ourselves at personal risk to minister where/whenever need presents? Are we humble enough to admit our own weaknesses and receive help and comfort from others when we need it? Have we entered into that strange mystery of the cross where in losing our lives and giving up those desires for wealth, luxury, pleasure, man’s approval, stability, comfort and so forth that we find our lives and receive the love of Christ that meets every need, the joy of the Spirit that doesn’t depend on circumstances, and the peace of God that passes understanding and is not like that which the world gives?