Perhaps Its Not The “Progressive” Movement You Think.

This article was posted a few days ago and I stumbled across it on my newsfeed. It took me by surprise- with a lot of thought while I was sitting at the airport reading all of these ridiculous assumptions and generalizations I realized that truly there is the evil of division in the church. And if you try to ask questions or go deeper into the meanings of things you will get labeled a "progressive" that will immediately spark an influence of a debate culture. We aren't straying away from God- we're just letting you know we aren't seeing God in you.

Here is the article-

https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/5-signs-your-church-might-be-heading-toward-progressive-christianity.html?utm_content=bufferd5d64&utm_medium=fbpage&utm_source=bstpg&utm_campaign=cdupdate&fbclid=IwAR0Y1Pwd8_gq3W4iVgnK_Q8WTE0FE3Np6lRZAqfN5Ew1zCn6E1VQZbKQjPA


Here are my thoughts,

Is it progressive christianity? Or is it a cleansing of translations that have been masked by racism, privilege, and bigotry. 

There is a movement happening. A wave coming thru that could carry many into redemption given through Jesus Christ. 

There isn’t a lowered view of the bible. But yet a yearning and searching through its interpretations of whats been lost.  We’ve grown up in your conservative churches and have heard and seen the actions of what doesn’t make sense. We don’t discount the bible, but we are discounting in your interpretations of it. Therefore, were searching truth and meaning of what was present in the day of Christ. 

Our feelings arent over flowing your “facts” however, if I can give you 18 pages of why homosexuality has been blown way out of proportions and the way the church has chosen to respond about it and you can only answer me back with “homosexuality is a sin” then no one wins in the educational aspect aside from feelings that show its a deeper understanding of the bible and its translation through greek and Hebrew. 

Perhaps our the need for re-interpretation is what makes the bible a living word? Perhaps we are seeking truth. And we are seeking this because all we see is condemnation in people who taught us God loves us, but we don’t see action taking place to show that you love me. We see your posts about abortion being a sin, but we don’t see you opening your doors for children in the foster care system. Or we don’t see you accepting the young single mother who already cant see her head above water. We see you calling her a murderer even before she makes any choices. We see your posts about homosexuality being a sin,  but we don’t see you loving people as they are when Christ washed their feet and loved them as they were- dirty. We don’t see you opening the doors for people as is and letting God work in their life we just see you condemning. 

We see you saying “I love you, but”. Which anyone who has been in any type of relationship knows what the “,but” means. 

We know you are set apart, that is because of your sins being freed. But with your sins being set free that really means you are to be below the sinner, serving the one who doesn’t know what it means to be set free yet. 

Historic terms aren’t being redefined- we are finding the real definitions. God is love, recite the verse that is spoken at every single wedding ceremony. Its not being plucked to fit our agenda, were telling you that you are using sin to fit your agenda. God sent His son Jesus to show his love for the world. You are the feet of Jesus but all we see you hoarding is your stuff and your condemnation to the world. Show me how you would set yourself apart in love and open your hearts, your doors, and your wallets to those who are the under dogs. I am probably considered a "progressive" by many "conservative" stand points- but I am a lover of what the Church could be. And in fact, I love the traditions of the Church and John Wesley's view of heaven and social holiness.

The heart of the gospel hasn’t shifted from sin and redemption to social justice. How on earth that comparison came about confuses me. But until you've sat TRUTHFULLY on the other side of redemption- seeking it because you’ve been shunned, banned, told you don’t belong, and beaten and bruised physically and mentally everyday because your sin, skin, orientation, or class is different than those who have been “redeemed” then you couldn't possibly understand how these go hand and hand. That is the most privileged and small minded view Ive seen yet.  

And you’re right, 

 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15 

Its not progressive labels we are deserving of, its change and cleansing we are seeking to bring a unity that isn’t casting condemnation without seeing any of your action. Where are our disciples in action? I see a cleansing happening, and Im not mad about it. 

Ephesians 4:31-32 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you