The Dangers Of The Therapeutic Gospel

Greg begins the episode by defining what he and RD call "therapeutic Gospel." Greg is quick to point out that while the Gospel can and should meet you where you are, it is not there to make you feel better; the Gospel exists to show you that you are sinful and broken without Jesus.

 

Greg references Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton's book about moralistic therapeutic deism to help explain what he and RD are talking about when they say "therapeutic Gospel." 

 

RD brings up that nowhere in the Bible are we told we won't suffer as Believers (in fact just the opposite), regardless of how we pray, because God is in control, not us. RD also adds that if God wanted to do things the easy and quick way, basically the entire Bible and its stories that teach us so many lessons would not exist. The point of our faith, Greg emphasizes, is to bring about God's glory, not our own; it was never about us, but always all about God and His majesty.

 

Greg reminds listeners of a clip from John Piper where he denounces the "Prosperity Gospel." RD also references a question and John Piper's subsequent answer from a message Piper preached at Angola Prison. He also mentions an illustration of Jesus and a teddy bear, and what's wrong with this illustration. Greg repeats that Christ Himself is always the reward. In closing, RD asserts that Jesus doesn't need us, He just wants us.

 

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org 

 

To contact Greg or RD, email offstage@fellowshipknox.org