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Romans 1:17-23 NKJV — For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
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Turning Heads
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On the cutting edge, trend setter, an innovator. Nothing like being a head turner and getting the adoration of your peers. Accepted by society because you meet all the expectations and, most importantly, you meet the criteria that qualifies you as part of the “in” crowd.
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Acceptance is what we all desire and as long as no one criticizes the way we conduct our lives and the choices we make then our lives can sail smoothly – no harm, no foul, right? In a perfect world, maybe, but we don’t live in a perfect world, so we live with the consequences of our actions still looking for that place to fit in. For some of us, that’s where religion comes into play.
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Searching for Sanctuary
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Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholic, Protestant or even politics, yes, even politics can be a religion of choice. Whatever caters to our beliefs and lifestyles is what we gravitate to when we are looking for no condemnation for who we are. Christianity, or at least true Christianity, presents a problem for those who want to live their lives in the proverbial gray area. It doesn’t mean people, religious leaders, institutions and scholars haven’t tried to skirt around the true message of the Gospel.
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1 Timothy 4:1-3 NKJV — Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
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“God is good, God is love and God is my co-pilot,” all nice sentiments that you will probably find on a bumper sticker or on your refrigerator door. Unfortunately, that’s about how deep or as close as some Christians get with their relationship with the Lord. Gone are the days of old-fashioned tent revivals with messages pointing out the difference between right and wrong. Now we live in the age of the social electronic mega-churches with their lobbies filled with coffee shops and food courts. When the doors open to enter the sanctuary, we are greeted to an appearance that looks more like a Van Halen concert and messages that preach acceptance of all lifestyles, moral and immoral, and as long as we claim that “Jesus is just alright” and “God is great” then we are all okay and have a easy pass to heaven. This is called the “new” way of being a Christian, a “Progressive Christian.” The problem with this is that it is a total deception and is leading people to the doorstep of hell.
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Colossians 2:8 NKJV — Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
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The term “Progressive Christian” represents a broad collection, ranging from moderates who claim belief in an “authoritative” Bible yet dismiss passages they deem as stumbling blocks, to liberals who barely believe in God. The common thread among Progressive Christians is not politics, despite much commonality with left-wing political views, but a postmodern theology that shuns certainty and celebrates mystery for its own sake. A belief statement at progressivechristianity.org, for example, speaks of finding “grace in the search for understanding,” and adds, “[we] believe there is more value in questioning than in absolutes.”
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Some religious observers and researchers say that it’s not uncommon to find a Progressive Christian who affirms, unlike their old-line liberal forebears, some of the miracles and even the Apostles’ Creed, they deny full Biblical authority and Christian truth over other religions. They proclaim that feelings and sentiment trump Scripture and reason.
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They agree that this may be true for many mainline Protestants but it has become increasingly more for many members of the post-evangelical left. There is also a tendency among religious progressives to loath Western civilization and the idea of American liberty as exceptional, yet typically, they very much are themselves American exceptionalists. They have a very extraordinary expectation of what America is and what it is expected to do. They expect Americans to be uniquely altruistic and self-denying, unlike any other societies in the world.
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Many theologians believe the Progressive version of Christianity has essentially become a different gospel. Many young people are attracted to its social justice emphasis because they see real prejudices and biases and they have a heart of solidarity for those who seem marginalized and outcast.
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That may be a positive element to their belief but the negative part is that they are often throwing out the baby with the bath water. They are forgetting the real liberating truths of the Gospel. In many cases the biggest problem is that many churches and ministries have not been preaching really strong Gospel messages for years.
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One possible antidote to such departures from Christian faithfulness is for Christians to be countercultural in a world where the current is pulling powerfully away from Scripture. If this present tide continues, where exactly could it lead? Being conservative on some issues and liberal on others may sound balanced but is it really?
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Looking for Answers
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Revelation 3:15-19 NKJV — “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
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People go from app to app, church to church, one event to another and even one “soul” mate to a new “soul” mate so that they can find the right combination of peace, safety and satisfaction. No judgement and no conviction in their core beliefs. Whatever seems to be trending at the time is what excites them and drives their way of life. Progressive Christians want and demand a liberal interpretation of God’s Holy Word so that it doesn’t condemn sin but embrace it. Lukewarmness or life in the center lane is not what the Lord desires for us. His sacrifice on the cross was for the redemption of our sins so that we can be saved and be spared from the coming judgement of the world. The center lane is only meant for turns or to merge onto the flow of traffic. It’s not a free drive thru lane to avoid traffic – in this case, life and the challenges it applies – it is a place to pause and contemplate which direction one person should take.
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There are times when the Lord will place us in a place to pause and pray for His guidance and wisdom before we make the next move. We must look at the issues before us and decide what is right and what is wrong. Most importantly, do our choices line up in agreement with the Word of God.
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The Word of God
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2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV — All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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The Word of God is Holy, sacred and complete. With the help and the presence of the Holy Spirit, a true believer and follower of Christ can acquire the knowledge and wisdom needed to understand what God is desiring for their lives. It will define the Godly values a righteous person shall live by and strengthen the foundation of their faith.
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We see compromise everywhere even in the Catholic church where traditional moral values are supposedly held sacred. In a recent article published by Nation World, the headline read,
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Pope endorses same-sex civil unions in new documentary film
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‘Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,’ Pope Francis said in one of his sit-down interviews for the film.
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To accommodate the sin nature of man just to stay relevant in today’s society can give the impression that all activity is acceptable in the eyes of God which is not so.
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1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV — Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
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The Word of God is clear and direct when it comes to the sin nature of mankind. There are many who will not accept the truth literally. Progressive Christians believe there is another way to achieve the eternal promise of life. In the late 1970’s, the United Methodist Church began an ad campaign claiming that “all paths lead to God.” Opening their denomination to the Progressive Christian theology and that a soft-handed, lollipop, cotton candy gospel was better suited for their congregations. A residual effect influenced and caused some megachurches in Houston, Texas and San Francisco, California to adapt to this type of “lite” gospel. Once again contradicting the very words of Jesus.
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John 14:6 NKJV — Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
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Progressives want to deny the authority of God’s Holy Word and say that fundamentalists misunderstand God’s purpose for mankind and that they should remember that “God is Love and loves all” and though this is true, God is more than just shallow, quirky sentiments you find on a bumper sticker. The Lord is asking us to leave the shallow end of the pool and throw the floaties away. Dive into the deep end of the pool and learn to swim. In other words, enter and dwell in His presence and be filled with the Holy Spirit and let the Word of God become alive in your heart and soul. Get out of the center lane and merge into the River of Life and your traffic jam will be behind you.
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1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV — For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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