By Dr. Vic Reasoner, Executive Assistant for the Francis Asbury Institute
In the July 25, 2021 issue of The Washington Times Everett Piper reported on the recent George Barna survey, which showed that the most popular religion in America today is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD).[1] Piper explained that MTD is “watered-down, feel-good, fake Christianity.” Barna elaborated:
Christianity in this nation is rotting from the inside out. MTD is essentially what I would call fake Christianity. Because it has some Christian elements in it, but it’s not really biblical, it’s not really Christian.
Barna continued:
The moralistic perspective is we’re here to be good people and to try to do good. . . . The therapeutic aspect is everything is supposed to be geared to making me feel good about myself, ultimately to make me happy. Deism is the idea that God created the world but has no direct involvement in it. Basically, according to MTD, there is a distant God who just wants everyone to be nice, and the purpose of life is to be happy. American “Christians” who have adopted this philosophy have… elevate[d] personal definitions of right and wrong above any objective standard of Truth—like the Bible.
Essentially, Barna has coined a new name for an old problem. My first thought was Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s famous phrase—cheap grace—in his 1937 classic, The Cost of Discipleship. He wrote:
Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace. . . . The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! … Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the Cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
I was intrigued that Everett Piper, in his report, cited these words from John Wesley: “In whatever profession you are engaged, you must be singular or be damned” [Sermon #31, 3.4]. But what exactly was Wesley warning against? Wesley was pushed against the concept that the way to heaven is a broad road. In his day it was often termed latitudinarianism. Essentially, the only sin was to be against anything. Wesley also employed an archaic use of the word singular. By it he meant that followers of Jesus Christ needed to have a single focus. This concept is implied in the words of Paul, “This one thing I do” (Phil 3:13). Leonard Ravenhill added, “Not these forty things I dabble in.”
The Francis Asbury Society is focused on discipleship and holy living. I came to the FAS the first of August to become the executive assistant for the new Francis Asbury Institute which:
promotes theological dialogue centered on the “dynamic orthodoxy” of Francis Asbury and John Wesley. Healthy, orthodox, informed and relevant theological dialogue is encouraged through seminars, classes, academic symposiums and graduate guidance.
For too long the academy and the church have functioned in two separate spheres. We need to see study as an act of worship and include teaching in the life of the church. Charles Wesley wrote, “Unite the pair so long disjoined, Knowledge and vital piety: Learning and holiness combined.” The Francis Asbury Institute was created to advance that vision.
I was a pastor for forty-four years, but I have always been engaged in education and ministry beyond my local congregation. We cannot expect the world to come to the church; we must take our message beyond our church doors. I am excited about the possibilities of equipping this generation and influencing the next generation of church leadership. I affirm preliminary grace, justifying grace, and perfecting grace—but not cheap grace! The grace of God teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live holy in this present age (Titus 2:11-12).
[1]https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/25/americas-new-
religion-fake-christianity/