Worm Theology

While on a field trip to the seminary bookstore at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary last week a title caught my eye. Christless Christianity posed enough of an anomaly for me to pick up a copy, scroll through the chapter titles, read the opening paragraph, then cough up the cash to purchase it.  Written by Michael Horton, professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, the title wasn't the only enigma that riveted my attention. The forward was written by William Willimon, United Methodist Bishop in Birmingham, Alabama, and the endorsements included other individuals that I would not usually include in a list of theological conservatives.

Horton's thesis is bold: he suggests that faith and Christian practice in the United States is more American than Christian, that is, a product of the unique American culture rather than deriving from traditional Biblical faith. With more candor than I expected, Horton critiques many of the more popular so-called evangelical churches and preachers, giving them a new descriptive label that seems to be spot on. Referencing the extensive research of Christian Smith and Martha Witten at the University of North Carolina, he indicates that the prevailing theological position of many ministries is what he calls moralistic, therapeutic deism. It goes something like this:

1. God created the world.

2. God wants people to be good, nice and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and most other 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 one's life except when needed to resolve a problem.

5. Good people go to heaven when they die.

Sounds good, right? Wrong. This stuff is the seedbed of Christless Christianity, an oxymoron if there ever was one! This is faith without sin and therefore the need of redeemer or Savior, a "smooth talk and flattery" kind of religion that triggers the divine spark in all of us, compelling us to do our best, and gives us the ultimate spiritual hall pass by reminding us that God loves us anyway. It is truly a  moralistic, therapeutic deism that sells books and draws crowds because it feels so good.

Maybe it is the geezer in me, the years poking through, but more and more my personal faith takes me to Jesus, the author and perfector, the one who died to redeem a miserable worm like me! Yes, its the worm theology thing again, and the longer I live and serve him, the more I realize how true it is. This admission is not a slam against my fragile male ego or a mortal injury to my precious self esteem. Really, it is just the opposite. Yes, I know he loves me, and I don't mean anyway. He loves me period, exclamation point. He didn't send me flowers though, or provide mere words to lift my fallen spirit. No sir, he died for me, a bona fide worm.

OK, sorry about that! I got to preaching. You know what makes me really feel good? Knowing him, and what he did for me. Worm theology, you know, not some therapeutic tonic or moral salve to cover up my flaws, but a Savior who covered my sin.