Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
When I started this journey into writing a series of articles on Liberal Progressivism I thought I might try to go all the way back to the beginning in Genesis chapter 3 and I will touch on this in this first article. I do not know how many articles it will take to accomplish the task set before me however, I will endeavor to teach you the truth about the dangers of Liberal/Progressive doctrine.
Lets start by explain the descriptive terms which we will be using. The common dictionary such as Websters defines that “Liberal” means: “not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; not conservative.” “Progressive” happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step. (Of a group, person, or idea) favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas. a person advocating or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas.
The Liberal/Progressives which I will refer to as L/P from here on do many things for which there is neither direct statement, example or necessary implication for. Their attitude is that the Bible is merely a book of principles that they are at liberty to apply according to their own judgment or their own ( self sanctified) common sense”. They believe there is no absolute or complete pattern of authority in New Testament. This attitude begets their expressed idea that they do not need to have authority from the Bible for whatever they do or
teach. So then human judgment or expediency takes over and they cease to walk by faith. The ultimate conclusion of such thinking is a denial of the sufficiency of the scriptures. The L/P literally denies God’s word in order to have their own way.
We are not going to get in to a long study of the Old Testament but to understand L/P we must go back to it’s beginning. Gen 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Here we see the beginning of L/P doctrine. The serpent (Satan) beguiled Eve saying that God would not surely let them die but that in eating of the fruit they would be as God knowing both good and evil. The Serpent played on the feelings of Eve the lust to know more than she needed to know and also for the power the fruit would give them to be as God. The serpent also used the fact that the tree was full of good fruit to be desired to make her and Adam wise this appealed to the emotional side of Eve and laying aside the instruction of God not to eat she not only disobeyed but gave the same fruit to Adam and in this manner they separated themselves from their relationship with God the Creator. Liberal Progressivism has been a cancer on man ever since that day in the garden. Just as the Serpent did with Eve the L/P will always appeal to emotions, to a better felt than obey Gospel. L/P’s appeal to how something looks or makes one feel. The L/P will also twist the scripture as much as is needed to get others to follow them instead of God. L/P’s start by introducing little things into the church.
If you step back and take a long hard look at L/P it is always contradictory to the direct statement, example and necessary implications of God’s word. L/P undermines Bible authority in every area of men’s lives. L/P substitutes a feel good gospel, a better felt than obeyed doctrine, a prosperity doctrine for the truth plainly taught in scripture. L/P thrives on the confusion it causes. (Prov. 22:28) Says “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set”. (Prov. 23:10) Says “Remove not the old land mark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless”. The Israelite’s were commanded under the Old Law not to remove the landmarks (Deut. 19:14; 27:17). Why? All sinful activity brings about confusion. When we read from Job 24:1-9, 19-25 we learn that those who remove land-marks have no regard for order and authority.
L/P is full of transgressors of the order and authority of God always trying to ad something or take away something to fit what they want to believe. We can note the confusion and see the consequences of the one who removes the spiritual land-marks. Confusion is neither good nor righteous, therefore cannot be of God. 2 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” “Whosoever goeth onward and
abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn. 9). To “go onward” is in the Greek, proago or to progress. We can clearly see that this means that anyone who progresses onward is not “abiding” in the teaching of Christ and leaves God behind. Traveling onward and away from the guidance of God’s word is like the sinner removing the ancient landmarks. It causes confusion and chaos, is therefore not of God, and causes men to lose their souls.
Consider what we have gotten from those who desire to “go onward” and “not abide” with God
Those who “shoot first and ask questions later,” are the L/P brethren who do not bother with scriptural authority. The “liberal” churches, have been and still are the specter of Modernism”. L/P’s instead of looking for Bible authority fist run back to the scriptures after instituting worldly things into the church, L/P’s seek to justify their wants in worship and to see if they can explain away the Bible reasons of such error as why women cannot take a usurping part in worship and leadership or to justify homosexuality and unGodly marriages just to name a few. L/P is not bothered people clapping during worship and spontaneously singing solos, etc. L/P’s years ago laid aside the Bible so as to open the door to any “program” in the name of “change”. Now their Lack of knowledge is so complete and twisted about what God’s plan in these areas is that they cannot and will not even defend baptism for remission of sins!
The sad thing is all this as we will see the further we study this is that if you disagree with the L/Ps point of view, you are pathetically ignorant and unenlightened. You are in fact “a Legalist.” The non-adherence to the New Testament teachings was condemned by Jesus as teaching for one’s doctrine the commandments of men (Matt. 15:8-9). L/P’s seek to release men from responsibility to God’s divine as well as imposing as divine law the commandments of men. Writing new laws and releasing men from responsibility to divine law are the characteristics of liberals. Having witnessed how liberalism undermines Bible authority in every area, we can more easily understand Jesus’ warning about the leavening influence of the Pharisees’ doctrine (Matt. 16:12).
