REINTERPRETATION
OF EVERYTHING
We
have been exploring the effects of left-leaning progressivism on Christian
churches, particularly in the West. Though progressivism is normally and
fiercely ‘secular,’ it has made big inroads into some churches. While the
change is incremental, the results are large. It starts with a desire to reach
the world, often by worldly methods and mindsets. Relevance is a chief goal.
After
that, the move towards progressive Christianity has a fresh look at Scripture,
often resulting in a ‘low-view.’ One progressive Christian leader said that the
Bible condones war, slavery in both testaments and relegates women to a second
class status. When Scripture is despised and demoted, the ‘little boy’s finger
in the Dutch dike’ is removed, and the sea water begins to pour in.
In
this article, we will explore how progressivism seeks to redefine and interpret
everything. In lock-step with postmodernism and progressivism, key phrases and
key doctrines of the Christian faith come under the scalpel. ‘The virgin birth,’
the resurrection of Jesus,’ ‘heaven and hell,’ the ‘inspiration of Scripture,’ even
‘love,’ as well as hot-button issues like ‘abortion and homosexuality’ are
looked at and, where necessary, reconfigured to fit the progressivist mindset.
Doctrine will be spiritualised or explained away. Hell is dismissed because ‘God
is love’ and the ‘resurrection’ is seen as a concept rather than a reality. Sin
is almost never mentioned because we want people to ‘feel good about
themselves.’
For
example, for the first 1,800 years of church history, the inerrancy and
infallibility of Scripture was upheld by Christendom as a whole, including the
Catholic Church. Yet, thanks to The Enlightenment and the elevation of human
reason to a place higher than Scripture itself, doubts began to creep up about
Biblical inerrancy. Now, historic churches and a few evangelicals no longer
believe in inerrancy. As Harold Lindsell in his seminal book The Battle for
the Bible, described as ‘The book that rocked the evangelical world,’ says:
I will contend that embracing a doctrine
of an errant Scripture will lead to disaster down the road. It will result in
the loss of missionary outreach; it will quench missionary passion; it will
lull congregations to sleep and undermine their belief in the full-orbed truth
of the Bible; it will produce spiritual sloth and decay; and it will finally
lead to apostasy (Page 28 The Battle for the Bible: Defending the Inerrancy
of Scripture by Harold Lindsell; Santa Ana: Calvary Chapel, 2008).
Lindsell
predicts that if the church would fully, consciously, and proactively return to
inerrancy of the Scripture and orthodox doctrine, revival will break out.
Evangelism and mission would spread, and there would be manifestations of holy
power before the world (Ibid., page 157).
Social
Justice
This
has been the war-cry of progressivism and has particularly taken hold of the
younger generation. From their mind, ‘social justice’ means ‘income equality’ or
even ‘income redistribution.’ It becomes a Robin Hood mindset - take from the
rich and give to the poor.
Justice
is very much a Biblical concept but not in this regard. True justice decries
covetousness and stealing; instead, it is seen as rewarding the righteous and
punishing the (impenitent) wicked. It is also laced with humility, faith, mercy
and peace. These things are what matter to God. It is more important to please
Him and be ‘spiritually correct’ than to be politically correct.
Micah 6:8: He has shown
you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Sound
advice.
What
Next?
If
you think your church is going down the ‘progressivist road,’ and this is of
concern to you, what should you do? First, talk with someone who has authority
to deal with the situation - often the pastor, elder, or board member. Explain
what is the problem and why. Make sure you have a good attitude and humble
spirit - you are not a rebel.
If
you don’t get anywhere, then go to another higher authority. If that doesn’t
work, then you will need to pray and fast about whether to stay in the church.
This is a drastic step, one that this author rarely recommends, but at the end
of the day, we need to be faithful to God above all. Above all, pray without ceasing
(I Thessalonians 5:17).
(Culture
War series will be continued)
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