Posted on 02/02/2017 10:41:00 AM PST by SeekAndFind
One of the most fascinating speeches in the Bible happens in Acts 5, with Jewish Pharisee Gamaliel addressing the Sanhedrin. He warns them that if the message being preached by the Apostles of Jesus were of man, it would fail. But if it is from God, it can't be stopped.
It was of God, and it wasn't stopped.
I find that passage particularly relevant today within American Christendom. There is a reason why liberal Christian movements like those championed by Jim Wallis, Rachel Held Evans, Shane Claiborne, and others are so ineffective and unpersuasive in American culture. Rather than seeking to glorify and build the Kingdom of God, they regularly appropriate the language of Scripture to advocate for earthly, largely political causes that never address the principal need of humanity: salvation from sin.
For instance, preaching the words of Scripture when it comes to our nation's policy toward refugees is admirable (provided it is done in context) only if you don't ignore, downplay, or reject the counsel of Scripture when it comes to policy regarding abortion, marriage, and human sexuality. So-called progressive Christians have long chastised their conservative brethren for cherry-picking Scripture to support certain political causes. And to the extent that conservatives have done that, it has been to our detriment.
One need only walk through the graveyard of the "Religious Right" for confirmation of that reality. The Religious Right fell apart not because it sought to apply the truth of the Bible to politics. It was when it tied the message of the Gospel to a political agenda. Before long, the Republican Party became an idol, and its success was seen as the most effective way to advance righteousness in the land. The Religious Right ceased to be about God, and thus it ceased to be.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
“Progressive” Christians are just one more voice in the mob demanding larger government and more social services. That’s what they stand for. Turning Christianity into just another social services organization that hands out food to the homeless.
In the context of "refugees" on the other side of the world vis-a-vis government action I'm not sure what scripture you would cite.
Happy Rock Band, Jesus was a Hippie, Love everyone no matter what, Venus Flytrap Satanic Churches.
Is my name for these fools...
Progressives are very authoritarian and secular. Big government is their god. It seems that God is secondary for Progressive Christians.
“Progressive Christians” is an oxymoron... liberals are just morons.
And don’t forget: “Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus were a homeless family”.
Jim Wallis, Rachel Held Evans, Shane Claiborne...
Sadly, I’ve heard of Muhamad, though.
Progressive Christians do not use vulgar language.
Outside of that, they do not differ in mission from the secular left.
“appropriate the language of Scripture”
The felony version of taking the Lord’s name in vain.
And don’t forget: “Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus were a homeless family”.
And “refugees,” at that!
I am always amazed at my friends and acquaintances who seldom (or never) attend church or have actually left the faith entirely, who are always quick to trot out a verse of scripture here or there to further their liberal arguments.
'...that hands out food to bums.
Evidently, the object of the Emerging Church and other such movements has now become to have the church’s website added to a person’s favorites on Internet Explorer, along with Oprah, Dr. Phil and PBS. Attending such churches allows the unsaved to establish linkages for cherished secular actions and concepts while sanctifying themselves by including Christianity within their lives.
Yet the church leadership must at no point allow disruption of those linkages, which occurs when congregation members undergo the stress of encountering the Lord Jesus Christ in all His majesty as Job and Moses did in the Old Testament, or as Paul, Peter, James, and John did in the New Testament.
Very good points.
I knew of a liberal/progressive who hated the Catholic Church. Someone asked why he hated the Church and he said “Because the Roman Catholics crucified Jesus”. I kid you not.
Silly question: What is a “Progressive Christian”??
OBVIOUSLY a product of our public school system.
Because they are no more than Liberals with Labels.
Yes! Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers carrying rosaries. On orders from the Pope.
;^)
...are most likely unsaved.
They are trusting in their "works", which are abominations -- abortion, sodomite marriage, covetousness as policy, bearing false witness, haters of believers in Christ, vindictive, violent, ...
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