In recent decades, a significant theological movement has emerged within Christian circles, often referred to as “Progressive Christianity.” This movement, rooted in a re-examination of traditional Christian doctrines in light of contemporary sensibilities and cultural shifts, is steadily gaining traction across congregations, particularly in the West. Advocates of Progressive Christianity promote a flexible, inclusive approach to faith that, while appealing to many, raises critical theological concerns. By drawing from both historical Christian orthodoxy and modern critiques, this essay will critically examine the central characteristics of Progressive Christianity and explore the theological and ethical implications of its divergence from traditional Christian teachings.
Theological Foundations: Divergence from Historic Christianity
One of the most significant markers of Progressive Christianity is its departure from the historic, orthodox view of Scripture. Historically, Christians across various traditions have regarded the Bible as divinely inspired, infallible, and authoritative. Early church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo, and later Reformers like John Calvin, consistently affirmed the Bible’s central role as the Word of God, indispensable for guiding moral and spiritual life. In contrast, within Progressive Christian circles, the view of Scripture is often diluted, with the Bible increasingly perceived as a culturally contingent document—a “human book” interwoven with divine insights.
This theological shift is apparent in the language Progressive Christians use to describe the Bible. Phrases like “The Bible contains the word of God” or “The Bible reflects human attempts to understand divine truths” reveal a move away from the traditional Christian belief in Scripture’s inerrancy and ultimate authority. Such positions raise critical theological challenges because they destabilize the foundations of Christian doctrine, making personal and societal experiences the primary lens through which Scripture is interpreted. This subjectivization of biblical interpretation has far-reaching consequences, including the re-interpretation of doctrines pertaining to sin, redemption, and salvation.
Theologians like Thomas Aquinas have long emphasized that Scripture is God’s unchanging revelation, intended to guide humanity across time and culture. Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, argues that divine revelation in Scripture is necessary for humans to know God’s will and to understand moral truth, which transcends the limitations of human reason. The Progressive Christian view undermines this timeless understanding, replacing it with a more malleable framework that often aligns biblical interpretation with contemporary moral trends.
The Primacy of Experience: A Shift from Objective Truth to Subjective Feeling
A defining characteristic of Progressive Christianity is its emphasis on personal experience and emotional resonance over objective doctrinal truths. This shift reflects broader postmodern philosophical trends, wherein individual narratives and subjective interpretations take precedence over universal or absolute claims to truth. Within this context, Scripture is no longer the definitive guide for belief and practice; rather, it becomes one of many resources, secondary to personal experience.
This reorientation is particularly evident in the re-interpretation of Christian moral teachings, especially on matters of sexuality, gender identity, and human relationships. The traditional Christian ethic, which grounds its views on sexuality and marriage in biblical teaching, is increasingly reshaped by personal encounters and contemporary cultural values. A common refrain in Progressive circles is, “I used to believe X, until I met someone who changed my mind.” This subjective approach often leads to moral relativism, whereby truth becomes negotiable based on individual experience rather than a coherent, objective standard rooted in divine revelation.
In theological discussions about salvation, Progressive Christianity’s emphasis on feeling over fact becomes even more pronounced. One frequently hears sentiments like, “I just can’t believe that a loving God would send people to hell.” While such views may resonate emotionally, they reflect a significant departure from traditional Christian teachings about judgment and atonement, which are rooted in the belief that God’s holiness and justice demand a response to sin. Theologian Karl Barth warned against the dangers of basing theology on subjective feelings, arguing that true Christian faith must confront the reality of human sin and the necessity of God’s redemptive action in Christ. When theology is shaped primarily by sentiment, the radical nature of God’s grace is often minimized, reducing the gospel to mere ethical teachings rather than the transformative proclamation of salvation.
Doctrinal Fluidity: Reinterpretation of Core Christian Beliefs
Perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of Progressive Christianity is its fluid approach to doctrine. In this framework, even the most fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith, such as the resurrection of Christ, the virgin birth, and the nature of sin, are open for reinterpretation. As Progressive author John Pavlovitz articulates, “There are no sacred cows,” meaning that every doctrine or tradition is subject to re-evaluation in light of contemporary thinking and ethical concerns.
This doctrinal fluidity is perhaps most evident in discussions surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. In many Progressive Christian circles, the resurrection is understood as a metaphorical or spiritual event rather than a historical, bodily occurrence. Statements like “The resurrection doesn’t need to be literal to convey truth” reflect a trend of demythologizing the central events of the Christian faith. Such reinterpretations not only undermine the historical basis of Christian doctrine but also diminish the theological significance of these events. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” The historicity of the resurrection is foundational to the Christian hope of redemption and eternal life, and to reinterpret it as merely symbolic is to risk hollowing out the core of the gospel message.
Redefining Traditional Terms: The Semantic Shifts in Progressive Christianity
A key feature of Progressive Christianity is the redefinition of historic theological terms to align with contemporary cultural values. For instance, while many Progressive Christians affirm the doctrine of divine inspiration, they often redefine “inspiration” to mean something quite different from its traditional understanding. Rather than seeing the Bible as the unique and authoritative Word of God, inspiration is viewed as a quality shared by many religious or literary texts. This redefinition weakens the Bible’s authority and undermines its role as the definitive revelation of God’s will.
Similarly, the concept of “love” is often reinterpreted in Progressive Christian circles. Rather than reflecting the biblical understanding of love, which encompasses both grace and truth, love is often equated with uncritical affirmation of all behaviors and beliefs. This new understanding of love minimizes the biblical call to repentance and transformation, reducing the gospel to a message of self-acceptance rather than one of redemption and renewal. N.T. Wright has noted that such redefinitions of key terms distort the biblical message and ultimately obscure the radical nature of God’s love, which calls for both justice and mercy.
The Centrality of Social Justice: A Shift from Redemption to Activism
A final defining characteristic of Progressive Christianity is its emphasis on social justice, often at the expense of traditional doctrines of sin and redemption. While historic Christianity has always emphasized the importance of caring for the poor and advocating for the oppressed, these actions have been understood within the broader context of the gospel message—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again for our justification. In Progressive Christianity, however, the focus often shifts to activism and social reform, with little emphasis on the need for personal repentance or spiritual transformation.
In some cases, this shift has led to outright rejection of traditional doctrines of atonement. The concept of substitutionary atonement, wherein Christ dies as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, is sometimes dismissed as “cosmic child abuse” in Progressive Christian circles. Such a view reflects a broader discomfort with the idea of divine justice and the necessity of Christ’s sacrificial death. Instead, Progressive Christianity often emphasizes human effort in addressing social inequalities and injustices, reducing the gospel to a call for moral activism rather than the proclamation of divine grace.
Conclusion: A Call for Theological Vigilance
In conclusion, while Progressive Christianity may present itself as a compassionate and inclusive alternative to traditional faith, it represents a significant departure from the core teachings of historic Christianity. By downplaying the authority of Scripture, prioritizing personal experience over doctrinal truth, and reinterpreting essential doctrines, Progressive Christianity risks leading believers away from the transformative power of the gospel. As the church continues to grapple with cultural changes and ethical challenges, it is essential for Christians to remain anchored in the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Only by holding fast to the truth of Scripture and the historic doctrines of the Christian faith can the church continue to bear faithful witness in a world that is increasingly adrift in relativism.
Bibliography
Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica, 2nd ed. New York: Christian Classics, 1981.
Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics: The Doctrine of the Word of God. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1975.
Pavlovitz, John. A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017.
Wright, N.T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
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