Progressive Christianity

[missmuffet]

What is Progressive Christianity, and is it biblical?

https://www.gotquestions.org

ANSWER

Progressive Christianity is a recent movement in Protestantism that focuses strongly on social justice and environmentalism and often includes a revisionist (or non-traditional) view of the Scriptures. Since the movement entails a number of different beliefs and views on various topics, it is difficult to label the whole movement decisively as “biblical” or “unbiblical.” Each claim and belief of any movement should be filtered through the Word of God, and whatever does not line up with Scripture should be rejected.

The Bible is replete with instructions to “visit orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27, NASB) and to protect the environment that God has entrusted to us (Genesis 1:28). Insofar as Progressive Christianity is a movement that seeks to emphasize and honor these principles, it certainly lines up with Scripture. However, there are some aspects of Progressive Christianity that contradict a biblical worldview. In general, members of this movement do not ascribe to the biblical doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture, and, again, in general, do not believe that the Bible is the literal Word of God. Progressive Christianity also tends to emphasize what is known as “collective salvation” over the biblical concept of personal salvation. The Bible is clear that God redeems those individuals who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and rescues them from an eternity of being separated from Him in torment. Collective salvation, by contrast, emphasizes the restoration of whole cultures and societies to what progressive Christians believe is the correct socioeconomic structure, namely, Marxism. Marxism, in turn, is a theory of economics and politics developed by an atheist (Karl Marx) from unbiblical assumptions.

In this sense, then, the views of many progressive Christians do not fit with biblical principles. In the end, however, discretion is needed in evaluating a particular claim or belief in terms of Scripture; the whole spectrum of beliefs identified by the term “Progressive Christianity” is too broad to permit an unequivocal conclusion as to whether or not it can be labeled unbiblical. As with all uncertain issues, the Christian would do well to compare each claim of those in the Progressive Christianity movement with Scripture, asking God for the wisdom to discern truth from error. He has promised wisdom to all who seek it (James 1:5).

Edited September 25, 2022 by missmuffet

[Starise]

So called progressive Christianity is replacing the bread and butter principles of Christianity.

I am surprised this Christian article treats the subject with kid gloves at the end in saying some of it might be ok in some cases.

Yes believers are to do the works associated with salvation, however substituting these works FOR salvation is way different.

....and some of the things being touted as the work of God are really just politics.

[AnOrangeCat]

3 hours ago, Starise said:

So called progressive Christianity is replacing the bread and butter principles of Christianity.

I am surprised this Christian article treats the subject with kid gloves at the end in saying some of it might be ok in some cases.

I've had that impression as well. I spent some time amongst people identifying as progressive Christians. It felt a lot like people taking liberties with scripture and emphasizing God's love to say their favorite sins are okay. I also found that the talk of love and tolerance went out the window pretty fast when it came to talking about traditional Christians.

[Starise]

2 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I've had that impression as well. I spent some time amongst people identifying as progressive Christians. It felt a lot like people taking liberties with scripture and emphasizing God's love to say their favorite sins are okay. I also found that the talk of love and tolerance went out the window pretty fast when it came to talking about traditional Christians.

I've been around a few as well. My perceptions are the same as well. Those I've been around never even bring up sin. We want feel good talk and sin ain't no part of that lol.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Starise

[missmuffet]

7 hours ago, Starise said:

So called progressive Christianity is replacing the bread and butter principles of Christianity.

I am surprised this Christian article treats the subject with kid gloves at the end in saying some of it might be ok in some cases.

Yes believers are to do the works associated with salvation, however substituting these works FOR salvation is way different.

....and some of the things being touted as the work of God are really just politics.

I wondered that too Starise why they treated it so mildly.

[teddyv]

I'mm not sure how such a brief article on a very broad subject could have been written any other way. As it rightly points out, various aspects have to evaluated on their own merit.

[DPMartin]

16 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I've had that impression as well. I spent some time amongst people identifying as progressive Christians. It felt a lot like people taking liberties with scripture and emphasizing God's love to say their favorite sins are okay. I also found that the talk of love and tolerance went out the window pretty fast when it came to talking about traditional Christians.

that is correct, these try to make the chruch follow the world, and are making their own god in their own image and likeness, and calling it the god of christainity

Edited September 26, 2022 by DPMartin

[one.opinion]

There are many who label themselves as "progressive Christians" who are in clear error. There are also many who label themselves as "conservative Christians" who are in clear error. As the article suggests, individual elements need to be carefully weighed and considered. The entirety of a movement cannot be categorically rejected or accepted.

[missmuffet]

47 minutes ago, one.opinion said:

There are many who label themselves as "progressive Christians" who are in clear error. There are also many who label themselves as "conservative Christians" who are in clear error. As the article suggests, individual elements need to be carefully weighed and considered. The entirety of a movement cannot be categorically rejected or accepted.

A person becomes a Christian by faith Ephesians 2:8-9. It is the gift of God. If anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ he doesn't belong to Christ Romans 8:9. The evidence of a true Christian is displayed in faith and action 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

Revelation 3:15-16

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

 

[one.opinion]

7 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

A person becomes a Christian by faith Ephesians 2:8-9. It is the gift of God. If anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ he doesn't belong to Christ Romans 8:9. The evidence of a true Christian is displayed in faith and action 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

Revelation 3:15-16

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

I obviously don't know everyone that identifies as a progressive Christian, but I suspect that most would agree with you here. That's why I am reiterating the point that theological belief systems should not be either rejected or accepted in their entirety. Look into the details to see what matches the Bible and what doesn't.