"PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY"

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT “PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY?”

Progressive Christianity defined -

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.”

Progressive Christianity puts huge emphasis on the following passages James 1:27 and Genesis 1:28 -

James 1:27 NASB95

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Genesis 1:28 NASB95

28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

The Bible is replete with instructions to “visit orphans and widows in their distress” and to protect the environment that God has entrusted to us.

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.

Collective salvation, 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.

LET’S THINK - WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THESE THINGS THUS FAR?

2022 Version of the Core Values of Progressive Christianity -

Welcome to our latest updated version of our Core Values – previously called the 8 Points of Progressive Christianity. Progressive Christianity is inherently always evolving and progressing.

Please take these lightly but seriously. They are not dogma, they are simply a starting point to establish conversations and a foundation of values and beliefs that we have observed Progressive Christians generally share.

It’s ok if you don’t agree with all the words or all the parts. We support your authentic path. You can use these in your faith communities and with family and friends to talk about what it means to you to be a Progressive Christian in today’s world. Here is to always progressing!

The Core Values of Progressive Christianity -

By calling ourselves progressive Christians, we mean that we are Christians who -

Believe that following the way and teachings of Jesus can lead to experiencing sacredness, wholeness, and unity of all life, even as we recognize that the Spirit moves in beneficial ways in many faith traditions.

Seek community that is inclusive of all people, honoring differences in theological perspective, age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, class, or ability.

Strive for peace and justice among all people, knowing that behaving with compassion and selfless love towards one another is the fullest expression of what we believe.

Embrace the insights of contemporary science and strive to protect the Earth and ensure its integrity and sustainability.

Commit to a path of life-long learning, believing there is more value in questioning than in absolutes.

Progressive Christianity and Sin -

There are some who say that liberal/progressive churches don’t believe in sin.  That we never talk about it—or call people to confess.  I would agree that we seldom talk about it.  When I first came here I soon learned that was the “s” word that was never mentioned. 

But I don’t believe for a minute it’s because we feel no guilt or shame or remorse.  In fact I observe that many people here at Southminster, take on guilt way beyond their need.  But I think we are confused about how to describe, define, talk about sin. 

We know it is not as narrow as sexual behavior (as some Christians try to make it); we know it is not as simple as breaking 10 commandments, as we probably learned in Sunday School…if we went to Sunday School; because we know it has something to do with context. 

We many of us, don’t believe that Jesus had to come and die for our particular sins to atone a vengeful God. We don’t really know what to teach children because we don’t want them bogged down in shame and guilt—yet we also want them to grow into adults are moral and ethical and compassionate.

We realize there is evil in the world, and we intuitively feel that we sometimes add to that…but we don’t always know how to stop it.  If we don’t know what sin is; it becomes more difficult to figure out what authentic forgiveness and reconciliation means …and how to reach it.

Obviously how we think about sin changes how we think about repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.  If we understand sin to be primarily personal… the burden is on us individually to change our behavior.

Change in personal behavior is always good when we identify behaviors and thoughts that we know we need to change.  But personal change does not adequately deal with destruction and hurt and evil that can come from the corporate, communal sin.

Our personal changes will have ripple effects…and yet we intuitively know there are bigger forces at work…and that we are a part of the systems that oppress.

If we are white and middle class, we may not personally prevent someone who is Black from getting a job.  Yet we benefit to an extent from the systems that subconsciously favor white, middle-class, educated people. 

That does not mean that we should be personally guilty or responsible for all the racism in our country…but we are part of the whole system…whether we like it or not.  And we need to be aware that our comfort sometimes comes at the peril of someone else.

When we acknowledge “corporate sin” it is about confession that we are part a whole system of destructive attitudes and behaviors.   We ignore those at our own peril.

If our sin is primarily pride or misuse of power—we need to look at how that infects all our relationships.  If our sin is primarily that of not taking responsibility, of allowing ourselves to be a victim; or being without boundaries or expectations of excellence: there will be different ways to “turn around” or begin again.

What do we mean by forgiveness?  Forgiveness is not allowing someone to tramp all over us or manipulate us.  That is not healthy for ourselves or for the whole community.  Sometimes forgiveness is simply realizing that we have to “let go” of all the anger and frustration we carry inside; it does not mean we forget what was done to us.  Sometimes reconciliation demands that whoever has been a perpetrator apologizes and makes restitution.

There are no easy answers to these questions of sin and reconciliation and forgiveness.  We are human beings, tied into complex situations. (As Jesus said the one who is without sin can throw the first stone)  Even what is loving in one context may not be so loving in another.

As we look around us and inside us…and see how profound and inclusive are evil and destructiveness…we also see how even more inclusive are the possibilities for good and hope and joy. 

Personally I believe “confession of sin” IS good for the soul—the individual soul and the communal soul.  By looking at reality and admitting our participation is what can be destructive and life denying…we also open the way for the spirit of truth and reconciliation and compassion to enter

As much as need to confess our sin —however we define that—we also need to constantly hear and experience affirmation and reconciliation.  We are all human; we are all beloved children of God…called to rejoice and be glad…because we are holy and we live always in the blessing of the love of the Spirit. 

SO WHAT?