Sermon Tone Analysis

Theopedia.

Theological liberalism, sometimes known as Protestant Liberalism, is a theological movement rooted in the early 19th century German Enlightenment, notably in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and the religious views of Friedrich Schleiermacher.

It is an attempt to incorporate modern thinking and developments, especially in the sciences, into the Christian faith.

Liberalism tends to emphasize ethics over doctrine and experience over Scriptural authority.

-Theopedia

Wickapedia

Liberal Christianity, broadly speaking, is a method of biblical interpretation,, an undogmatic (non authoritative) method of understanding God through the use of scripture by applying the same modern interpretation used to understand any ancient writings.

Liberal Christianity does not claim to be a belief structure, and as such is not dependent upon any Church doctrine or creedal statements.

Unlike conservative varieties of Christianity, it has no unified set of propositional beliefs.

The word liberal in liberal Christianity denotes a characteristic willingness to interpret scripture without any preconceived notion of inerrancy (infallibility, no Errors) of scripture or the correctness of Church docrtrine.[2]

A conservative Christian and a liberal Christian, however, may hold certain beliefs in common .

So I define Conservative Christianity as the opposite.

of Theological liberalism.

Conservative Christianity

Conservative Christianity is dogmatic, and uses a authoritative means by which to interpret the scriptures.

Conservative Christianity tends to emphasize Biblical doctrine as the means of defining ones personal experience.

And furthermore, doctrine (Biblical Truth) defines one ethics.

We believe in the Bibles account of a seven day creation, and will boldly say that if Modern Science doesn't believe in a 7th day creation.

Then modern science is wrong.

We believe the scriptures are infallible, and without errors.

If supposed Biblical contradictions are found.

We know that this is an interpretation problem.

Not a Biblical contradiction.

By defining these two very different cultures of Christianity.

In conversation we can see where a Christian is coming from very easily.

Now is there going to be areas of Theology where Conservative Christians disagree.

Sure they may not believe in a Rapture, they may have a different take on the Kingdom.

However where there is disagreement the conclusions should be drawn from the scriptrues.

This may not be an easy thing.

Theological liberalism has entrenched itself in many seminaries.

So much so.

That Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, study habits maybe viewed as less involved at best, and at worst just plain lazy.

The main wall that must be torn down in order to adhere to Theological liberalism is the Wall of Biblical Inspiration.

A. Plenary Inspiration

Definition= God the Holy Spirit so supernaturally directed the writers of scripture, that without waving their human intelligence, personal feelings, or any other human factor.

His complete and coherent message to mankind was recorded with perfect accuracy in the original languages os Scripture.

The very words bearing divine authorship.

Verbal meaning the bible in its orginal words first, to last is the exact record of the mind and will of God as He intended it to be.

B. Natural Inspiration = The men of the bible were great genius, but that their writings were no more inspiring than those of other geniuses of history

C. Mystical or Illumination.

Sees the writers as Sprit filled and guided Believers just as any believer may be even today.

Logically, one might conclude that any spirit-Filled Christian could write Scripture today.

Similar to this idea that the biblical writers were inspired to a greater degree that others.

D. Dictation.

That is writers were completely passive and God simply dictated to them what was to be recorded.

True some parts of the bible were dictated like the ten Commandments and the rest of the law.) but the defintion implies God allowed varying degree of self expression as they wrote.

D. Partial Inspiration.

Parts of the bible were inspired.

This seems to allow for a measure of authority without the necessity of the words being completely accurate.

E Neo othrodox= The bible is the word of God, but only in a secondary sense.

Christ being primarily the Word.

And his Bible is full of errors because it is merely the product of fallible men.

F. Inspired Purpose = While the Bible is full of errors and unsolvable discrepancies in its content, it does have “Doctrinal Integrity.”

and thus accomplishes Gods purpose for it.

“Notice in this definition they carefully limit the Bible’s infallibility to the main purpose or principal emphasis of the Bible and do not extend it to include the accuracy of all its historical facts and parallel accounts.”

- Charles Ryrie.

Other than the plenary inspiration view, or the Dictation inspiration view.

The other Theological liberal can pick from any other view of inspiration and that is the starting point that can change his~/her's whole outlook of the Bible.

The average Theological liberal probably hasn't categorized what each view, and then acknowledged themselves as being in any particular view.

However by categorizing these views it will be easy to recognize where the christian you maybe talking to is theologically.

There is exists a third category the Theological Moderate.

I use this term because they are the Christian you run into more than any other.

You will usually find them “Worshiping at a Theologically liberal Church.

However they more than likely have many Theologically Conservative beliefs.

For example

7 day creationism.

“Once saved always saved” (Although this view is fast fading and in its place Lordship is taking over”

They may still view the Husband as head of the household, while attending a Bible college that encourages Women to be Pastors.

They may study the scriptures as a family, while still viewing Tongues as a truly Spiritual way of getting closer to God.

There will be views of the Theological liberal that may make the Theological Moderate feel uncomfortable.

They maybe at a church that practices Tongues, and it makes them uncomfortable but they will not say anything for fear of being viewed as less Holy.

Or they may not be able to explain why they are uncomfortable with it.

I believe the Holy Spirit maybe convicting them of this activity being wrong.

However I have ran into Theological Moderates who may be confused with the Tongues thing but still believe in the infallibility of the scriptures, and are not confortable with the Church Growth movement.

Even though the Theological Moderate doesn't go to the extreme the Theological Liberal does.

They maybe a challenge to reach due to the fact they are moderate so they may adhere to experience defining truth on somethings, and doctrine defining other areas of there life.

For example.

When it comes to living together while not married.

The theological liberal most of the time doesn't have a problem with this.

The theological Moderate will most of the times have a problem with this.

(Even if they are doing this themselves they will acknowledge it as being wrong, because the bible defines it as wrong)

So in that situation the Bible defined an experience as being wrong.

However when it comes to Tongues they may strongly believe in that as being valid today based solely on experience, not the bible.

In contrast the Theological liberal will define all situations by experience.

They will adjust their ethics with the time they live in.

For instance Gay marriage.

Or even if they are against Gay marriage their view of homosexuality in general.

I have found that the Theological Moderate Christian is easier to reach because they still sometimes use the Bible as the final authority on issues.

This however can be difficult as Theologically liberal Pastors twist scriptures using half truths to justify action.

Rick Warren does this a lot in his book

“The Purpose Driven life.”

He encourages discipleship.

However his view of a disciple is one who goes out and finds more disciples.

And Spiritual gifts as people doing whatever they can to achieve Church Growth.

If their gift is music, that's fine

Biblical Covenants.

Conditional:  God will do his part as long as man does his part.

Example Covenant with Adam before the fall.

Unconditional:  A promise of God that will be fulfilled in Gods time and in Gods way.

On page 13 of the Purpose driven life there is a section that looks like this.