“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.”– Richard Niebuhr

What Is Theological Liberalism?

What we are NOT talking about …
Liberal views on the size of government, tax policies, or other similar

issues.
Every Christian who disagrees with you about

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in the Bible.
People who

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Christianity altogether.

What we ARE talking about …

People who call themselves Christians yet

Scripture and orthodox Christian teaching on the primary doctrines of Christianity.

Oftentimes in an attempt to …

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to a changing culture. to an increasingly non-Christian culture.

Oftentimes with language that …
Appears to be

.
Though it undercuts Scripture.
Claims to be

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and contemporary.
Though it rehashes old heresies.

What Beliefs Characterize Theological Liberalism?
Theological liberalism rejects the

authority of God’s Word.
Interprets Scripture according to popular

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.
Interprets Scripture according to modern

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.
Interprets Scripture according to contemporary

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.

Theological liberalism rejects God’s

and miraculous work in history.
The crossing of the Red Sea is a

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for gaining freedom from oppressive political systems.
The resurrection of Christ is

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a symbol of hope in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Theological liberalism rejects the seriousness of individual

before a holy God.
Decries injustice while downplaying

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.
Emphasizes general “spirituality” over ongoing

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.

Theological liberalism rejects the Bible’s teaching on the person and work of

.
Jesus is a good moral teacher, but not the divine Son of God. The cross is an

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of God’s love, but not a propitiation for God’s wrath.

Theological liberalism rejects the Bible’s teaching on

and eternity. Downplays or totally denies Hell. De-emphasizes the holiness and

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of God.

Theological liberalism rejects certain teachings in Scripture when they become

or ridiculed.
Particularly prone to discount or redefine biblical ethics.
Especially prevalent in views on contemporary

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.

Theological liberalism rejects

teachings from the church throughout history.

Claims to have progressed in knowledge and understanding.
Implies at

ignorance (if not foolishness) in Christians who have come before us.

How Should We Respond to Theological Liberalism?
Recognize theological liberalism for what it is: a

-Christian religion

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6–10)

T he root of theological liberalism is

.
“Liberal Christianity can only supply an ineffectual echo to the massive chorus of agreed and admitted unbelief. Don’t be deceived by the fact that this echo so often ‘hits the headlines.’ That is because attacks on Christian doctrine which would pass unnoticed if they were launched (as they are daily launched) by anyone else, become News when the attacker is a clergyman; just as a very commonplace protest against make-up would be News if it came from a film star. By the way, did you ever meet, or hear of, anyone who was converted from scepticism to a ‘liberal’ or ‘demythologised’ Christianity? I think that when unbelievers come in at all, they come in a good deal further.” – C.S. Lewis

The answer to theological liberalism is

.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3–8)

Reject theological liberalism when you

it in a book or

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it in the church.
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18–20)

“I’m delighted that liberal theologians do their best to do what Pio Nono said shouldn’t be done––try to accommodate Christianity to modern science, modern culture, and democratic society. If I were a fundamentalist Christian, I’d be appalled by the wishy-washiness of [the liberal] version of the Christian faith. But since I am a non-believer who is frightened of the barbarity of many fundamentalist Christians (e.g. their homophobia), I welcome theological liberalism. Maybe liberal theologians will eventually produce a version of Christianity so wishywashy that nobody will be interested in being a Christian anymore. If so, something will have been lost, but probably more will have been gained.” – Richard Rorty, American Philosopher

Trust the Word of God over

wisdom,experience, and reason.
Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. (Psalm 119:6)

We are prone to suppress

.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)

We are limited in our understanding.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (Ephesians 4:17–19)

God is infinitely wise, absolutely

faithful. , and perfectly
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)

For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. (Psalm 33:4)

Teach the Word of God with honest

and

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boldness . And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24–26)

Believe God’s supernatural and miraculous works in

.
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered … (Psalm 105:4–5)

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Revere God’s

.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28–29)
But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. (Isaiah 5:16)

Recognize our

… .
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … (Romans 3:23)

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Refuse to

the person and work of Christ.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15–20)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) …

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25–26)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit … (1 Peter 3:18)

Realize that Heaven and Hell are at

in what we believe and teach.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) …

who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:21)

Respect the beliefs of Christians who have gone

us.

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly us. believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14–15)

Risk opposition, ridicule, and

around you for the sake of Christ in you.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11–12)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)