10 Commandments of Progressive Christianity: Chapter 3

The Work of Reconciliation Should be Valued over Making Judgments

Should relating to man be valued over relating to God? Why or why not?

Is the church too busy condemning people’s behavior or is it restoring and repairing relationships?

God values reconciliation between individuals:

We are to forgive one another - Luke 17:4 “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

We are to be reconciled to one another - Mt 5:24 “leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Acts 7:26

Husbands and wives are to reconcile - 1 Cor 7:11 “But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to leave his wife.”

Removal of hostility between groups - Eph 2:16 “He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.”

Should the church call individuals out for sinful or wrong behavior? Should there be accountability?

To say we can never declare a behavior to be wrong is profoundly unbiblical. True or false? Why?

Matthew 18:15 ““If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.”

Does the Bible require a person to be sinless before they speak out against sin? What are the requirements?

To say we can never declare a behavior to be wrong is ultimately self-defeating. True or false? Why?

Is there any irony in someone declaring we should not judge? Is moral outrage justified in a culture that professes we should not judge?

How does Romans 14:13 apply? How do you interpret it? How does God apply it?

Romans 14:1 “Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way.”

To say we can never declare a behavior to be wrong is inevitably selective. True or false? Why?

Should everyone be allowed to express themselves as they desire? Why or why not?

How does one deal with racism, environmentalism, abuse, and/or other similar issues?

Should the benefit of the common good determine one’s behavior? Why or why not?

To say we can never declare a behavior to be wrong undercuts the process of reconciliation. True or false? Why?

What is the key component in reconciliation?

“…reconciliation can only happen when wrongs are acknowledged, owned, and repented of. And in order for that to happen, judgments must be made about people’s behavior.”

-Micheal J. Krueger, p.20

Is ‘wrong’ a matter of opinion? What matters about ‘wrong’?

We should always operate out of a spirit of grace, patience, and love, but does that negate declaring things right and other things wrong?

The prophet Isaiah says,

Isaiah 5:20 (ESV)

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

What are the implications of this verse?