“Progressive Christianity” is difficult to define, but easy to spot. There are a variety of different ideas in progressive churches, but the one thing they have in common is that they have abandoned the idea that the Bible is true and reliable.
Mainline churches have been ‘progressing’ for decades, causing them to shrink and lose spiritual authority. The primary reason is that, for 100 years or more, they have increasingly turned away from the traditional position that the Bible is inspired by God, and contains true and specific information about Jesus, about human nature, and about how we should live.
Alisa Childers lays out five key indicators of progressive Christianity. The primary idea behind them really is that we shouldn’t simply take the Bible as it was written, but that we can – and should – interpret the Bible at a personal level.
It’s up to you
Questions asked in this setting don’t relate to learning the facts of Scripture, but have to do with how one feels. As with traditional psychotherapy, the primary question is “how does that make you feel.” One’s ‘personal journey’ is emphasized. Difficult questions about suffering and obedience are minimized or explained away.
While progressives generally like the biblical idea that God is love, they don’t use Scripture to learn what true love looks like. Instead, they consider what THEY think about love, and apply those ideas to God. Where those ideas are contrary to Scripture, they prefer their own thoughts.
Clearly, this isn’t wise. While many suggest that these kind of progressives can’t be Christians, I think that goes too far. I would say – at the very least – that the ideas behind progressive Christianity are often unbiblical… and so they’re not Christian ideas.
The New Testament warns again and again about false teachers, and those who would lead others away from the one true gospel that was handed down once for all. Progressive Christianity, as it’s called, suggests that you look inside yourself to find meaning. Traditional, biblical Christianity clearly teaches that we look to Jesus instead.
Join me on Substack!
Comments