Decision the Magazine

[Salty]

Decision was founded by Billy Graham
The editor-in-chief is currently Franklin Graham.

This month Franklin wrote an article entitled The Danger of Progressive Christianity.

The cover also states " Progressive Christianity can lead you to Hell

Open for discussion

 

[AustinC]

Franklin needs to stick with God's word instead of trying to use the Bible as a prooftext against whatever political thing he is upset with this week.

Now, the term progressive, placed before the word Christian, is just as much an oxymoron as putting the word conservative before the word Christian. Christian is not a political spectrum.

Simply, if you do not believe you are a wretched law breaking sinner who will get the eternal death penalty, unless Jesus ransoms you, you are not a Christian. If you don't believe that it is only by the shed blood of Jesus as an atoning substitute for your sins, you are not a Christian. If you do not believe Jesus died, was buried and rose again to pay the price for your sin, you are not a Christian. If you do not live to please your adopting Father, God, and live in reverent fear of disappointing Him, you are not a Christian.

How can I say this? Because God says it in His word and that means it is true.

Both progressives and conservatives will go to hell, if the don't believe the gospel of Christ Jesus.

 

[Salty]

Franklin needs to stick with God's word instead of trying to use the Bible as a prooftext against whatever political thing he is upset with this week.

... Christian is not a political spectrum.... .

conservative is not only a political term - it is a "religious" term as well

 

[Reynolds]

Decision was founded by Billy Graham
The editor-in-chief is currently Franklin Graham.

This month Franklin wrote an article entitled The Danger of Progressive Christianity.

The cover also states " Progressive Christianity can lead you to Hell

Open for discussion

Liberal theology will send one straight to Hell.

 

[AustinC]

conservative is not only a political term - it is a "religious" term as well

Not found is scripture. It is a man-made divider of the body of Christ.

 

[Salty]

Not found is scripture. It is a man-made divider of the body of Christ.

I never said it was found in Scripture - It is NOT a man-man divider - - the divide came when Scripture was diluted from the fundamentals of the faith. The two terms are now used to explain the difference between sheep and the goats.

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

I agree 100%.

The best case with Liberal theology is that you arrive at Heaven and are judged to have wasted your time on foolish earthly things.

The worst case, as the cover mentions, is to be damned to Hell.

 

[Reformed1689]

Not found is scripture. It is a man-made divider of the body of Christ.

Trinity isn't found in Scripture either. What is your point?

Conservative and Liberal again, as has been mentioned, are not strictly political terms. And yes, there is a difference between conservative and liberal theology whether you want to admit that or not.

 

[AustinC]

Trinity isn't found in Scripture either. What is your point?

Conservative and Liberal again, as has been mentioned, are not strictly political terms. And yes, there is a difference between conservative and liberal theology whether you want to admit that or not.

There is my distinction. There is a difference in various theologies, but there is only one Christian who is redeemed by Christ. Anyone claiming to be a Christian apart from the atoning work of Christ and the gracious salvation of God is a goat or a wolf among the sheep. Don't say conservative or liberal Christian. There is only one in Christ. Yes, there is conservative and liberal theology, just as there is Pelagian, semi-Pelagian, and Augustinian theology.
The problem with using liberal or conservative is that it is tied to politics and there is no politics in the Kingdom of God. There is one Lord and one King and we are His servant children.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify my position.

 

[Salty]

... The problem with using liberal or conservative is that it is tied to politics and there is no politics in the Kingdom of God. There is one Lord and one King and we are His servant children. ....

BUT we are NOT talking about C vs L politics - we are talking about C vs L from a religious point of view!

 

[AustinC]

BUT we are NOT talking about C vs L politics - we are talking about C vs L from a religious point of view!

Take off the word Christian and talk liberal v conservative theology, but even then I would consider semi-pelagian theology both liberal and conservative because they are works oriented with a poor grasp of grace. So, it's not so simple. Moreso, whether you like it or not, conservative and liberal are political terms that have bled into our churches like a cancer. Just look at the Trumpites vs the Bidenites. Both, sadly, claim Christian as a title.
It is, for me, very sad that Christians seldom see themselves as aliens and exiles in the land where they reside and rarely think of themselves as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

 

[Salty]

HOW MANY TIMES DO I NEED TO SAY IT - C vs L ARE political terms - and C vs L are ALSO religious terms that may or MAY NOT be political!!!! and sometimes they over lap - ie Abortion is a C vs L political issue AND it is also a C vs L religious issue.

 

[Salty]

To give some examples:
A liberal Christian would believe that:
"A second view, and this is the predominant view in Christendom, that is, among ministers and church members: Most people who are church members will hold this second view, that the Bible is a purely human production; that it was written, edited, and compiled by men apart from any divine guidance; that the original writings were filled with errors, myths, and hallucinations; that the Bible therefore is not the final authority in spiritual matters—rather it is to be submitted to human reason to determine that which in it is truthful and useful. It therefore is not a series by this liberal view of statements of divine viewpoint. It is not God speaking to mankind today." link from: The Liberal View of the Bible

Yet, that same person may be the strongest political conservative you could find!

 

[Dr. Bob]

HOW MANY TIMES DO I NEED TO SAY IT - C vs L ARE political terms - and C vs L are ALSO religious terms that may or MAY NOT be political!!!! and sometimes they over lap - ie Abortion is a C vs L political issue AND it is also a C vs L religious issue.

Oddly I find that only those endorsing the "liberal" side of theological issues do NOT want to recognize this fact, Salty. Makes me wonder why.

 

[Salty]

Oddly I find that only those endorsing the "liberal" side of theological issues do NOT want to recognize this fact, Salty. Makes me wonder why.

Simple "Don't confuse me with the Facts - I have made up my mind!"

 

[AustinC]

Oddly I find that only those endorsing the "liberal" side of theological issues do NOT want to recognize this fact, Salty. Makes me wonder why.

Thanks Bob. You made me laugh.
The term liberal and conservative is extremely subjective in Christianity. For example,both "liberal" and "conservative" Christians can be legalists through and through so that both sides may not even be born again. Both may be completely dead in their sins and not even know it. I would define the sides not by liberal or conservative (those terms truly are defined political terms) but by grace or works, which is how the Apostles defined those sides in the early church.

 

[John of Japan]

HOW MANY TIMES DO I NEED TO SAY IT - C vs L ARE political terms - and C vs L are ALSO religious terms that may or MAY NOT be political!!!! and sometimes they over lap - ie Abortion is a C vs L political issue AND it is also a C vs L religious issue.

I have relatives who are conservative Christians (love the Bible, serve God in their church, witness for Christ), but voted for Biden and other political liberals.

Concerning the word "progressive" when applied to churches, the progressive churches are what used to be called "emergent," meaning emerging from traditional Christianity. There are some who are somewhat conservative, but I would call them liberal in general. For anyone interested in more study on this, D. A. Carson's book is good: Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church.