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SUNDAY MORNING (October 28th) • Counterfeit GospelsThe Therapeutic GospelA woman comes into an emergency room, coughing uncontrollably. As one of the doctorseventually talks with her, he finds out that she's been a smoker for decades. He prescribessome medicine that will temporarily relieve the worst of her coughing, but he tells her that thecough will not completely go away as long as she continues smoking. A few weeks later, thelady comes back, complaining that the medicine is no longer working. What will the doctorsay? "I'm only addressing your symptom. The real problem is that you continue to damageyour lungs."Every doctor knows that getting the diagnosis right is vitally important for giving theright prescription. It isn't enough to treat symptoms; doctors must identify the root cause of apatient's problem. As christians, we should be no less vigilant in searching the Scriptures forthe true diagnosis of our spiritual state.The "therapeutic gospel" answers a key question like, What are we here for? by pointingto our desire for personal happiness. Another important question, What has gone wrong? isanswered by pointing to our feelings of emptiness. Sin is recast as an obstacle to findinghappiness. It's whatever gets in the way of our becoming all that we ought to be. Godwants topatch up the hole in our hearts, and he does this by sending Jesus to fill our hearts with love tobless our pursuit of happiness. The church is then transformed into a place to help people findpersonal fulfillment.~ Is the "therapeutic gospel" a counterfeit gospel? If so, in what ways?~ Why is the "therapeutic gospel" so attractive and, as a result, so popular?consider how, whenever the "therapeutic gospel" takes hold, certain results are bound tofollow. These results leave us spiritually anemic at just the time we need to be spirituallyempowered.~ Disillusionment when suffering comes. Why?~ Ashrunken view of sin. Why?~ People who desire what Godcan give us rather than Godhimself. Why?If the "therapeutic gospel" is a counterfeit, does it need to be countered? If so, in what ways?