The word “liberal” has many different meanings in history, economic, politics and philosophy. But when used about many churchgoers from the Protestant churches, the word liberal” refers to those who believe and/or practice some or all of the below. Liberal churchgoers:
1. believe that the Bible is not the Word of God but only contains the Word of God in some of its parts.
2. say that the Bible contains some myths and fables.
3. believe that Biblical teachings and practices must be changed and adapted to current popular philosophies and ethical practices in the world.
4. teach that the Bible is not an infallible authority for what Christians believe and practice.
5. say that all teachings and practices of Christians must be based on sound human reasoning and practical human experience. [1]
6. teach that the only correct way to interpret the Bible is through the higher critical modernist methods used in university history courses since the Enlightenment in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s or through post-modern approaches to literature.
7. believe that God speaks through certain philosophers, intellectuals, scientists and the leaders of various social and political movements just as much as He does through the Bible. This is why liberals will regard some or all of the teachings of these specific philosophers, intellectuals, scientists, social leaders and political leaders as having supposed equal God-given authority as the words of the prophets in the Bible and the other Biblical authors. As a result of this idea, liberals interpret God’s written Word to fit in with many man-made teachings and practices.
8. believe that natural law or natural justice is inspired by God just as much as is the Bible. Natural law or natural justice refers to the sense of right, wrong, justice and injustice which God has put into the hearts and consciences of all humans. [2]
Many atheists and agnostics believe in natural law, natural justice and natural human rights but not as things inspired by God.
In ancient Greece and Rome, many pagans believed in natural law and natural justice also. Their concepts of natural justice and natural law involved believing women were inferior to men and that paedophilia, abortion, infanticide, murdering gladiators and harsh forms of slavery were just practices.
9. claim that personal and collective religious experience has equal God-given authority as the Bible’s teachings and commands. [3]
- rejects some or all of the claims of the Bible about God working miraculously in the affairs of men. This for example, results in them rejecting the Trinity, Jesus’ virgin birth, His miracles and His resurrection.
- teach that there is no such thing as absolute truth.
- claim that there are no absolute moral standards about right and wrong.
- base their own moral standards on worldly ethical philosophies such as situational ethics, utilitarianism, pragmatism and humanism.
- say that the Mosaic Law represents all moral absolutes and under the New Covenant Jesus freed us of all moral absolutes.
- insist that God does not command Christians to obey any absolute rules and laws.
- say that God has only given Christians flexible guidelines which can be amended to suit their current situations.
- claim that the so-called “letter of the law” or “letter of the Word” involves saying we must obey precisely whatever God commands under a specific relevant covenant.
- say that the supposedly superior “spirit of the law” or “spirit of the Word” is flexible guidelines in Scripture which can be changed, added to or subtracted from depending on the situation.
- say that Christians who oppose homosexuality and abortion are legalists.
- claim that Christian leaders who rebuke or correct people through preaching or private conversation for being involved with sex outside marriage, homosexuality, stealing or other sins, are guilty of the sin of judging which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:1-5.
- claim that God is not a God of absolute justice.
- argue that sin or evil is not an offence against God, His justice and His holiness but is instead just imperfection, ignorance, psychological maladjustment and immaturity.
- say that God is not angry with unbelieving sinners or their sins.
- focus solely on God’s love, grace and mercy to the utter exclusion of His justice, holiness and anger.
- focus solely on our relationship to God in Father – children terms to the total exclusion of any emphasis on our relationship to Him in terms of Lord or Master and Servant.
- teach that God does not punish any person here on Earth.
- believe that Jesus’ death was not necessary to remove God’s anger against unbelievers and their sins.
- imagine that a little bit of positive thinking is acceptable as a substitute for a reformed heart and life.
- hate preaching which warns of God’s judgment and/or Jesus’ Second Coming.
- hate preaching which emphasizes repentance and turning from know sins.
- claim that we can be saved by a faith which is not accompanied by repentance and turning from our known sins in our hearts.
- teach that the fruits of repentance in our lives are not the subjective sign of our having saving faith and accompanying repentance.
- compromise with the world’s standards instead of obeying Biblical commands about occult, sorcery, witchcraft, nudity, modesty, abortion, sex outside marriage and homosexuality.
[1] Human reasoning and the ability for humans to have practical experiences are good gifts of God, but they are limited in their perceptions of God, His Word and His Creation.
[2] God has put His commands on people’s hearts and consciences (see Acts 24:16 and Romans 2:15). But this is subjective and not an infallible authority like the written Word of God.
[3] Experience of God and His Presence is important, but it is subjective and not an infallible objective authority.