To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. Jeremiah 6:10 (KJV)It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Psalms 119:126-128 (KJV)
A deadly evolution has taken place since the beginning of the 20th Century. No, it is not the alleged “theory of evolution” which is usually associated with a fellow whose last name is Darwin. This is also a very deadly thing which is being forced on our children and youth in the public school systems as well as in colleges and universities. The one to which I refer is that which has infiltrated the ranks of what professes to be Christian in faith! In the latter part of the 19th Century there was an importation of raw theological garbage from Europe, with much coming from Germany. Claiming to be the results of concentrated “scholarship” this stuff literally butchered the Scriptures with brazen unbelief! Miracles as reported in the Scriptures were denied and treated as though they never took place. The first 11 chapters of Genesis were regarded as myth and fairy tale type of material! Pastors buying into this junk and preaching it were regarded as modernists. Over time they became known as liberals within the church. They refused to accept a number of things reported as having actually taken place. This included the literal virgin birth and later resurrection of Jesus Christ – that is, that Jesus actually came back from the dead after His crucifixion!
The evolution continued over decades of time in the 20th Century but eventually the identity of the liberals was changed to something more sophisticated and deceptive! They now want to be known as progressives. The word is also used in the political arena but is just as deceptive as in professing Christianity. With politics it is a disguise worn by those who want to turn our republic into a socialistic nightmare! The battle really boils down to one main issue – is the Bible to be believed and considered the authority in regard to matters of faith, relating in a personal way to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and accepting responsibility in serving Him as a representative of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ or not?
A couple of progressives authored a book where the following statement was made which effectively spells out the position of these people. They say, “Jesus did not die for your sins, let that be said a thousand times. Jesus did not come from God to rescue fallen, sinful, inadequate, incompetent people like you and me. That is an image of a God who comes to us from outside to rescue this terrible and fallen creation. This is an idea from which we need to escape.” [Source: Living the Questions The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity by David M. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy – page 114 – published by HarperCollins Publishers]
Hmmmm! Looks like we have come to a fork in the road regarding the issue of Jesus dying for the sins of the members of the human race! In contrast to the statement made by the “progressives” above, it was predicted about 800 years before Jesus’ birth by Isaiah the prophet: “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. [Isaiah 53:4-6 (KJV)]. Or how about this statement? "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." [2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)]. Or, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree...." [Galatians 3:13 (KJV)]. Or, "Who (Jesus) His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. [1 Peter 2:24-25 (KJV)]. Which will you believe? A statement that is heresy in the extreme by one more than qualified to be a theologian as defined in the next paragraph or those which describe God's love in graphic detail to remind us of the horror of human sin and rebellion and the high price paid to make total forgiveness and reconciliation with a holy God possible for each of us? The choice lies with each one of us as to which way we will go when coming to that fork!
Scattered throughout the book are numerous quotes from those considered scholars and theologians. This of course is an attempt to convince the reader that these people are authorities and if you disagree with them, then you are wrong and need to change your views and ways of thinking so that you also will join them and become an enlightened “progressive!” Upon being exposed to this stuff I am often reminded of a definition I heard while in seminary. Here it is: “A theologian is a blind man in a dark room at midnight looking for a black cat that isn’t there!” However, it needs to be noted also that God has used persons who respected the inspiration and authority of His recorded Word to write books that have been encouraging, challenging and helpful to those whose faith is centered in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
It’s that bunch that claims to be “Christian” who deny the truths revealed in the Scriptures that you must be on guard against! Jesus clearly warned against an invasion of false prophets and teachers in the latter days before He returns. He especially stressed this in such chapters as Matthew 24. See also statements in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:3,4; 2 Peter 2:1,2 and Jude 3,4 on this critical issue. Over the years I have been exposed at times to the writings and teachings of those who are a fulfillment of the statement found in Jeremiah which is quoted at the beginning of these comments. One statement by Jesus which has helped me to weather the storm of unbelief as expressed by those who claim to be “Christian” is this: “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” [Matthew 18:2-7 (KJV)].
I attempt to approach the Scriptures in the spirit of a small child with assurance that the promise of Jesus regarding the Holy Spirit will be fulfilled. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and teach us all things, guide us into the truth and show us things to come. I fully believe that. I do not claim to fully understand everything that is written in the Bible nor why God did the things the way He did nor why He did them at the time. But whatever is written, no person, living or dead, has ever given me a reason not to believe what God has clearly revealed in His holy Word! For those claiming to be “progressive Christians” it is like a hobo who somehow manages to trade his rags for a tuxedo. He attempts to impress others as he parades about in his new suit. However, he is still a hobo at heart and really as poverty stricken as ever. Those who are sensitive to who and what he is know that the tuxedo does not change a single thing!
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” [2 Timothy 3:16,17 (KJV)].
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Jude 1:3-4 (KJV)].
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” [Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV)].
NOTE: for any who may want to wade further into the swamp of progressive “Christianity,” here are some references. Just make sure you have all your armor on when you make the trip!
Eight Points of Progressive Christianity
12 Theses of Progressive Christianity by Bishop John Shelby Spong
Religious Tolerance This one claims no religious identity with any group but attempts to describe different groups, their respective beliefs etc. The basic appeal is to work together for the common good of all no matter what your belief system may be.
