For the past couple of years, I’ve noticed many people who hold a liberal-democratic view of politics also consider themselves as “liberal Christians”. Certainly, this concept is really not new at all, however, it now has a title. It would seem that those who once aligned themselves with clear-Biblical teachings are enticed to relinquish those values for the sake of popularity.
This occurrence is most prevalent on the university campus where virtues and permissiveness collide. And sadly, the deluge of new ideas overwhelm a multitude of young adults into trading the Truth for a lie. Driven by strong emotions to satisfy the need to fit in and be accepted, a young adult’s core beliefs become reframed and overwritten. The still-small voice they once listened to for guidance is forced into exile.
How social pressures can test our faith
Most definitely, it is not easy to be young with so many challenges and social pressures to face, especially with the endless psychological manipulation that can be experienced on social media. Moreover, many new age ideologies are found seamlessly blended into our movies and music.
Truly, I am all about new ideas and concepts. In fact, I think it is right to seek knowledge and test the validity of progressive principles. However, when well-meaning ideas and concepts attempt to redefine the written Word of God (the Bible), we should begin to ask ourselves some very important questions. Such as, “where is this road leading to?”.
What is a liberal Christian?
I was recently bombarded with that title so much that I decided to do some research. Here is what I found.
When people describe themselves as liberal Christians, they typically mean they hold a more progressive or modernist interpretation of Christianity that differs from traditional or conservative approaches. Some key characteristics of liberal Christianity often include:
1. A non-literal interpretation of the Bible. Liberal Christians tend to view the Bible as inspired but not inerrant and interpret it metaphorically rather than literally [1][3].
2. Emphasis on social justice and ethics rather than doctrine. Liberal Christians often focus more on Jesus’ teachings about love and social reform than on theological doctrines [3][4].
3. Openness to modern science and scholarship. Liberal Christians generally accept scientific consensus on issues like evolution and seek to reconcile faith with reason [4][5].
4. Inclusive views on social issues. Many liberal Christians support LGBTQ rights, gender equality, and other progressive social causes [4][5].
5. De-emphasis of supernatural elements. Some liberal Christians interpret miracles and supernatural claims metaphorically rather than literally [3][4].
6. Belief in universal salvation. Many liberal Christians reject the idea of eternal hell and believe God will ultimately reconcile all people [3].
7. Interfaith openness. Liberal Christians are often more accepting of other religions as potential paths to truth [4].
8. Focus on these worldly concerns. Liberal Christianity tends to emphasize improving society now rather than focusing primarily on the afterlife [4].
9. Skepticism of church authority. Liberal Christians often take a more individualistic approach to faith rather than deferring to church hierarchies [1].
10. Willingness to revise beliefs. Liberal Christians are generally more open to changing traditional doctrines in light of new knowledge or cultural shifts [1][3].
It’s important to note that liberal Christianity exists on a spectrum, and individual liberal Christians may not hold all these views. The core idea is a more progressive approach that seeks to adapt Christian faith to modern knowledge and values.
The Truth re-defined
For me, leaning into the Bible as the absolute source of truth and validity is the crux of what defines a Christian. In fact, the word Christian means: “to be like Christ”. And what did Jesus declare several times about His purpose while on the earth? To do the will of His Father. Jesus was not concerned about being politically correct or gaining approval by preaching popular ideas of that generation. It was quite the opposite! So then, as Christians, we too should be in complete alignment with God as Jesus was and realize that the Word of God has been and will always be countercultural.
Jesus was not conflicted about absolute truth, so why should we?
Maybe for some of us, we don’t fully believe the Bible and perhaps choose to select what makes sense to us and throw away the rest. But to pick and choose what we want to believe about the Bible doesn’t take any faith. Faith involves hope. As Christians, we place our hope in Jesus for salvation and for Him to bring clarity to the mysteries of God. That is why studying the Bible is imperative for the spiritual growth of any believer. Without the Word of God in our lives, we are subject to our generation’s pop culture and thus render the Christian life as relative.
A loss of faith
Perhaps there was a time when something bad happened and you felt that God abandoned you. Maybe He didn’t answer your prayers and now you feel apathy or anger towards Him. I can understand those feelings. When we don’t see God show up, we can feel so alone in this crazy world. The challenges of life seem to entice us into believing that God is not good and that He is not real. But even though, through all of life’s tragedies, God is still close.
There is no way to successfully have a walk of faith without the help of other believers praying for you and encouraging you. If you feel like you’ve neglected your authentic faith in Jesus, I encourage you to talk to God and reconnect with Him today. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He is able to meet you where you are. You can bring all your doubts and discouragement to Him, He can handle it.
