Should We Ignore the Fact that the Vast Majority of “Seeker Churches” Operate Like Cults?
January 92010
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
Duration : 0:10:25
[youtube OJ5QRtk7nV4]
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
He is divine, or …
He is divine, or spirit creature , just not Almighty God, but his son just as the term is meant to say. Mark 10:18
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Mark 10:17-19 Luke 18:19
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Luke 22:69
But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
Acts 5:31,Acts 2:33,Acts 7:56,Luke 22:42,John 14:28 common sense.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
tosh,
You …
tosh,
You better get to work killing us off.
I see God raising up Christians right here in Afghanistan. So you will have to go all around the world to kill us all.
I Hope you have a passport.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Toshibatoshiba,
…
Toshibatoshiba,
You better get started killing us then. You will not have much problem because a true Christain will love you even as you murder us. When you are done all you will have left will be the false Christains.
can you tell the difference between true and false Christians? Start killing us and you soon will see the difference.
I will let you kill me first if you wish. But you will have to come to Afghanistan where I am.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
God will prove you …
God will prove you wrong soon enough.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I got one better, …
I got one better, prove yourself write.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I thinks its only …
I thinks its only logical that you prove urself right before we prove you wrong
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
gods a lie prove me …
gods a lie prove me wrong
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
yep
yep
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Romans chapter 9 Is …
Romans chapter 9 Is 2 part event before Jesus The Christ resurrection God would have Chosen a few to be Saved after The Resurrecting Now All are Allowed Grace If They Repent, What true Repentance Is An Oath to do The will of God that God Jesus alone Is Righteous. Also A true Church occasionally teaches September 11 2001 was demolition, You would Not let Christians believe lies of a false government.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I know.
I know.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
christianity should …
christianity should be put to an end
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
but remember …
but remember christians are stupid
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
This guy says that …
This guy says that the culprits are “selectively citing scriptures to present… an increasingly diluted, more broadly accepted Gospel.”
The IRONY is killing me!!!
This is the same guy who BENDS THE BIBLE to say that we are saved by “faith alone” and to deny Jesus’ presence “Eucharist”.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I’ll tell you why. …
I’ll tell you why. You can’t see god, you can’t hear god, you say you can feel god, but really, you can feel anything in your imagination, if god is not created of mass or energy he does not exist because existence = mass and energy. He is not almighty, he can not create a rock so big that he can’t lift it without not being able to lift it. If people knew a about physics and the real world, they wouldn’t cover up their ignorance with an invisible man in the sky. Sorry for typing mistakes.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
sdf
sdf
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Mr. Kielar, I see …
Mr. Kielar, I see you are still in possession of your right eye and right hand. Apparently you haven’t ever looked upon a woman to after her? or sinned with your right hand? Even when you were at WJMK, Inc. and were involved in the scandal and lawsuits involving Walter Cronkite, Aaron Brown, Morley Safer, and even accusations of sexual harassment?
Just asking.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
You should believe …
You should believe the Bible, the Quraan, the Tora, the Vedas are all garbage. There is violence in them, there is anger in them, there is vindictiveness in them, there is discrimination, hatred, subjugation, and every ill-ation you can think of.
Buddhism is one that doesn’t infringe in individual rights and sees all equally.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I can’t believe it, …
I can’t believe it, People actually questioning the Bible. Long live the truth.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Awesome video, To …
Awesome video, To God be the glory forever and ever!!
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Yes it has, and …
Yes it has, and then they look strangely at you when you speak out against it in favour for faithfulness. You are narrow minded they say, but I am only being faithful to my Lord. I am only trying to be loyal to the one that saved me, the concept of loyalty has been lost in these churches. It’s like there is a fog before their eyes preventing the to see the obvious? I don’t know, I only feel so disturbed, angry and frustrated.
This show though is surley a comfort.
God bless you all
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Yup, since the …
Yup, since the Renaissance.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Religion has been …
Religion has been infiltrated by “humanism”…
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I need to get out …
I need to get out of using my daughter’s username here. (majic) She had signed in on my computer and failed to sign out. I will come back as Passiflora101 if needed.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Fairly certain Lyk …
Fairly certain Lyk defined “pellegra,” a micronutrient deficiency.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Lyk – You’re all …
Lyk – You’re all mixed up. Discerning from the way you write, I suspect I am old enough to be your mother. (age 56) You have taken the scripture out of context, as so many people do. Ironic to read an unbeliever telling a believer to repent. Further, if you want an accurate definition of Pelagianism, go here –
watchman(dot)org/reltop/pelagian(dot)htm