What does it even mean to be a Progressive Christian (PC)? Is it a good thing?
Progress or regress?
Maybe it’s just me but over the years I’ve seen more Christians identify as “Progressive.” Given that I’ve written about this before and I don’t really want to re-invent the wheel. I’ll just cut to the chase – practically all of the PC examples I’ve come across signal red flags. The reason is they think they’re smarter than Scripture.
Not all “Progressives” would label themselves as such. I doubt Bill Johnson does. Yet this is what he wrote in “When Heaven Invades Earth,”
Those who feel safe because of their intellectual grasp of Scriptures enjoy a false sense of security. None of us has a full grasp of Scripture, but we all have the Holy Spirit. He is our common denominator who will always lead us into truth. But to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map – to go beyond what we know. (See Bob DeWaay’s review)
Years ago, one of Johnson’s readers told me he was (humbly) going beyond “literal interpretation.” At the time he applied it to prophecy. But his blogs in other areas became problematic. He began to identify as a Progressive. I noticed he cited materials from another Progressive Christian Blogger. Like Bill Johnson, he took a Silly Putty view of the Bible.
Precept upon precept
The PC blogger (RM) wrote about the “error of precept upon precept literalism,”
Aren’t we supposed to read the Bible literally, “precept upon precept, line upon line?”No…because those who read the Bible “by the letter” choose to view God’s word as mind-formulated precepts rather than spirit-quickened illumination, they will not be able to hear the teachings of the Holy Spirit, and so will fall backward and be snared.
His argument partly involves claiming that Isaiah 28 gets taken out of context; that it’s saying the opposite of what’s generally thought. He claims reading the Bible “by the letter” is a snare (relying on Isaiah 28:13). But who is taking Isaiah out of context and why? See HERE.
Christians must ask themselves what Jesus and His disciples thought about the perspicuity of the Bible. Christ chastised the Emmaus disciples for not believing what Scripture wrote of Him. For more on this vital issue read the book “The Inerrant Word.”
Revelation Oxymorons
One of RM’s contentions is that the book of Revelation contains oxymorons (contradictions in terms). For example: the wrath of the Lamb and the wine of God’s wrath. Lambs are peaceful and wine is good…therefore these contradictory images exist to deconstruct our presuppositions. So “God is destroying notions, not wicked nations” and “evil purposes, not evil people.”
There is no biblical oxymoron (or paradox for that matter) in the Lamb that was slain returning in wrath. And wine is a perfect symbol of what will take place – if you’ve ever pressed grapes to make wine you’ll understand.
One can claim Jesus didn’t come to judge (at the time) by citing John 12:47. But you might want to pay attention to other passages: Matt 5:22, 7:13-14, 8:12, 10:28, 34 and Jude 10:34; Rev 21:8 etc. Just saying!
Don’t believe what you read…
So where is Progressive Christianity progressing? They say it’s the Holy Spirit at work. But all these people are doing is making themselves arbiters of what Scripture means because they don’t want to believe it. In other words, everyone gets saved – you can have your cake today and eat it later as well.
They twist Scripture for their own purposes. The “progress” is in the opposite direction it should be.
What Paul wrote,
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2Tim 4:1-4
Maranatha!
Other stuff to read:
How to be a Modern Progressive
The Power of De-Conversion Stories
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