What are Theological Liberalism and Theological Postmodernism?

Mark Corbett

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The spirit of theological liberalism was first seen a long time ago. It appeared not in a dark cave, but in a splendid garden. Its first words were, “Did God really say . . . ?”

Since that tragic day, theological liberalism has been sowing doubt about the content, reliability, truthfulness, goodness, and authority of God’s words. And it has been doing this among God’s people by those claiming to represent Him.

What Prompted This Post

I read this question in an OP for another thread on this forum: “What makes a person theologically liberal?” (Feel free to respond either here or there.)

I read over 100 replies. Some were quite helpful, but I still felt more should be said.

While the original question asked about theological liberalism, I am including theological postmodernism also. There is a great deal of overlap between the two. Both have the effect of eroding the authority of God’s Word in the hearts and minds of the people they influence.

Various Disclaimers

I’m aware that there are a wide range of people who self-identify, or are identified with, theological liberalism and/or postmodernism. They’re not all the same. Some may be true brothers and sisters in Christ.

I’m not talking about politics. Although there is a high correlation between theological liberals and political liberals in the US, they are not identical, and my focus here is on theological liberalism. More specifically, I’m concerned with those who claim to be Christians, but embrace and promote theological liberalism and/or postmodernism.

Being “liberal” on one issue does not mean a person, church, or denomination is liberal overall.

Despite their errors, liberals sometimes do good and sometimes are used for good purposes by God.

While I recognize these “disclaimers”, I do not want to water down the truth about theological liberalism and postmodernism. These are some of the most serious and widespread sources of false teaching within Christianity. They distort God’s truth, and in the process lead many astray.

Short Definitions

Theological Liberalism: teaching which undermines trust in the truthfulness and authority of the Bible by compromising with modern beliefs, morals, and/or values which are contrary to God’s Word.

Theological Postmodernism: teaching which undermines trust in the truthfulness and authority of the Bible by compromising with postmodern beliefs, morals, and/or values which are contrary to God’s Word.

Both liberalism and postmodernism usually begin not with outright denials of the truth of the Bible, but with sowing doubt about its truthfulness. However, in settings where it is advantageous to their cause, they do go on to explicitly deny many Bible truths and teachings.

Examples and Indications of Theological Liberalism and Postmodernism

A teacher, church, or institution claiming to be Christian, may be theologically liberal or postmodern if you see any of the following.

* They cause doubt about whether the books of the Bible which name their authors were actually written by those historical people. For example, if someone causes doubt about whether Paul wrote 2 Timothy, they have been influenced by theological liberalism.
* They question the truthfulness of any account which is presented as historically real in the Bible. Examples would be Jonah being swallowed by a fish, the virgin birth, and other miraculous stories throughout the Bible.
* They question the need to win people to the Christian faith from other religions, such as Islam and Hinduism.
* If someone believes or teaches that any sexual act between two men (or between two women) is not sinful, they are theologically liberal/postmodern.
* Belief in unguided evolution as a correct explanation for the appearance of life and for all the types of life we see today is a strong indicator of theological liberalism.
* All, or nearly all, theological liberals deny the Bible’s teaching that husbands are to lead in a marriage and that only men should serve as Senior Pastors in the church. However, there are some Christians who are truly evangelical and theologically conservative overall who are wrong on this one issue.
* Postmoderns often undermine the Bible’s teaching that the death of Christ on the cross meant that He was acting as a substitutionary atonement on our behalf.
* If you are reading something on one of the above topics and the author’s view seems unclear and confusing, it is very often the case that the author is theologically liberal or postmodern. A lack of clarity is sometimes just poor writing. But a lack of clarity is also a trademark of some postmodern writing. Their writing causes doubt about things that are clear in God’s Word, while intentionally being worded in such a way that allows the author to avoid an accusation of outright heresy. This is especially common when postmodern authors desire to continue to be accepted by, and to be able to have influence among, evangelical Christians.

How to Guard Against and Respond to Theological Liberalism and Postmodernism

The best defense against the doubt, confusion, and errors of theological liberalism and postmodernism is to read, study, believe, and teach all of God’s Word.

If you know someone going down the path of theological liberalism, do all you can to gently, but clearly, win them back to the truth.

Christian teachers, authors, and leaders who promote theological liberalism should be opposed as false teachers.

If you find yourself in a liberal or postmodern church or denomination, unless you are called by God to fight against these errors by staying, get out! Get into a church that believes that all of the Bible is really true.

In applying these principles, be careful not to become divisive over minor issues or doctrines which many truly theologically conservative, evangelical Christians disagree on. Although they may be mistaken, someone is not a false teacher just because they have a different view from you of the age of the earth, or a different understanding of the millennium, or a different way to explain God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. In your zeal for the truth (which is good!) do not neglect to also have a passion for unity among true believers.

A Few Verses to Meditate On

NIV Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

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

NIV Matthew 24:11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

NIV Acts 20:30-31 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

NIV 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves.

NIV 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

NIV 2 Timothy 2:25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

This is slightly modified from a post on my blog.
 

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Theological%2BLiberalism%2BDid%2BGod%2BReally%2BSay.jpg


The spirit of theological liberalism was first seen a long time ago. It appeared not in a dark cave, but in a splendid garden. Its first words were, “Did God really say . . . ?”

Since that tragic day, theological liberalism has been sowing doubt about the content, reliability, truthfulness, goodness, and authority of God’s words. And it has been doing this among God’s people by those claiming to represent Him.

What Prompted This Post

I read this question in an OP for another thread on this forum: “What makes a person theologically liberal?” (Feel free to respond either here or there.)

I read over 100 replies. Some were quite helpful, but I still felt more should be said.

While the original question asked about theological liberalism, I am including theological postmodernism also. There is a great deal of overlap between the two. Both have the effect of eroding the authority of God’s Word in the hearts and minds of the people they influence.

Various Disclaimers

I’m aware that there are a wide range of people who self-identify, or are identified with, theological liberalism and/or postmodernism. They’re not all the same. Some may be true brothers and sisters in Christ.

I’m not talking about politics. Although there is a high correlation between theological liberals and political liberals in the US, they are not identical, and my focus here is on theological liberalism. More specifically, I’m concerned with those who claim to be Christians, but embrace and promote theological liberalism and/or postmodernism.

Being “liberal” on one issue does not mean a person, church, or denomination is liberal overall.

Despite their errors, liberals sometimes do good and sometimes are used for good purposes by God.

While I recognize these “disclaimers”, I do not want to water down the truth about theological liberalism and postmodernism. These are some of the most serious and widespread sources of false teaching within Christianity. They distort God’s truth, and in the process lead many astray.

Short Definitions

Theological Liberalism: teaching which undermines trust in the truthfulness and authority of the Bible by compromising with modern beliefs, morals, and/or values which are contrary to God’s Word.

Theological Postmodernism: teaching which undermines trust in the truthfulness and authority of the Bible by compromising with postmodern beliefs, morals, and/or values which are contrary to God’s Word.

Both liberalism and postmodernism usually begin not with outright denials of the truth of the Bible, but with sowing doubt about its truthfulness. However, in settings where it is advantageous to their cause, they do go on to explicitly deny many Bible truths and teachings.

Examples and Indications of Theological Liberalism and Postmodernism

A teacher, church, or institution claiming to be Christian, may be theologically liberal or postmodern if you see any of the following.

* They cause doubt about whether the books of the Bible which name their authors were actually written by those historical people. For example, if someone causes doubt about whether Paul wrote 2 Timothy, they have been influenced by theological liberalism.
* They question the truthfulness of any account which is presented as historically real in the Bible. Examples would be Jonah being swallowed by a fish, the virgin birth, and other miraculous stories throughout the Bible.
* They question the need to win people to the Christian faith from other religions, such as Islam and Hinduism.
* If someone believes or teaches that any sexual act between two men (or between two women) is not sinful, they are theologically liberal/postmodern.
* Belief in unguided evolution as a correct explanation for the appearance of life and for all the types of life we see today is a strong indicator of theological liberalism.
* All, or nearly all, theological liberals deny the Bible’s teaching that husbands are to lead in a marriage and that only men should serve as Senior Pastors in the church. However, there are some Christians who are truly evangelical and theologically conservative overall who are wrong on this one issue.
* Postmoderns often undermine the Bible’s teaching that the death of Christ on the cross meant that He was acting as a substitutionary atonement on our behalf.
* If you are reading something on one of the above topics and the author’s view seems unclear and confusing, it is very often the case that the author is theologically liberal or postmodern. A lack of clarity is sometimes just poor writing. But a lack of clarity is also a trademark of some postmodern writing. Their writing causes doubt about things that are clear in God’s Word, while intentionally being worded in such a way that allows the author to avoid an accusation of outright heresy. This is especially common when postmodern authors desire to continue to be accepted by, and to be able to have influence among, evangelical Christians.

How to Guard Against and Respond to Theological Liberalism and Postmodernism

The best defense against the doubt, confusion, and errors of theological liberalism and postmodernism is to read, study, believe, and teach all of God’s Word.

If you know someone going down the path of theological liberalism, do all you can to gently, but clearly, win them back to the truth.

Christian teachers, authors, and leaders who promote theological liberalism should be opposed as false teachers.

If you find yourself in a liberal or postmodern church or denomination, unless you are called by God to fight against these errors by staying, get out! Get into a church that believes that all of the Bible is really true.

In applying these principles, be careful not to become divisive over minor issues or doctrines which many truly theologically conservative, evangelical Christians disagree on. Although they may be mistaken, someone is not a false teacher just because they have a different view from you of the age of the earth, or a different understanding of the millennium, or a different way to explain God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. In your zeal for the truth (which is good!) do not neglect to also have a passion for unity among true believers.

A Few Verses to Meditate On

NIV Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

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

NIV Matthew 24:11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

NIV Acts 20:30-31 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

NIV 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves.

NIV 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

NIV 2 Timothy 2:25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

This is slightly modified from a post on my blog.

Was Satan the first theological liberal, as the image in the OP suggests?
 
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Mark Corbett

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Was Satan the first theological liberal, as the image in the OP suggests?

I would say that theological liberalism has its deepest roots in the efforts of the Devil to undermine our trust in the truth and goodness of God's Word. That's not exactly the same as saying Satan was the first theological liberal, but it's close.
 
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Halbhh

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Despite their errors, liberals sometimes do good

Surprisingly enough, what I'm finding, and I did not expect it, is that the 'liberal' (theologically) members of our congregation are often the most hard working in contributing and including also doing good works.

Just the fact here in our local congregation. It's not that the 'conservatives' don't. It's that the liberals outperform.

Often they seem more loving and more tolerant of the shortcomings of others, more forgiving.

Surprising.

Why is that?

It's not a small thing. Christ Himself said: "If you love me, you will keep my commands."

Do the 'liberals' love Him more?

In reality the labels aren't good enough. They always go wrong. The labels themselves are a wrong. They are merely a confusion, themselves.

We need faith and doing, Christ told us.

The 'conservative' that does not put Christ's commands into action is in no better a place than the 'liberal' that doesn't truly believe He rose. They are both in serious danger, and need our prayers.

Often, even more, they need to actually hear Christ's words, instead of another bit taken away from what He said and isolated.
 
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mkgal1

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"Did God really say?" doesn't always lead one *away* from Truth....but often away from status quo and into discovering Truth.

One study that's stayed with me over the years is Chip Ingram's study of the book of Acts. The title is Unstoppable--God's Agenda for Planet Earth (covering the first five chapters of Acts) and Diabolical--Satan's Agenda for Planet Earth, including you (covering Acts six through 10). Ingram breaks down the characteristics of God's agenda compared to Satan's.....and one particular contrast is that God's agenda is dynamic.....Satan's is about keeping the status quo. The most glaring example of that is in Acts 7 when Stephen gave his speech to the Sanhedrin. Ingram says that one of the main reasons the Sanhedrin got so angry was because in that speech Stephen was tearing down all the [man-made] traditions and false beliefs the Sanhedrin held to.

I believe that God's work in occurring in a trajectory --so if we try to cling to the status quo, I believe we're hindering the progression He has for humanity.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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Surprisingly enough, what I'm finding, and I did not expect it, is that the 'liberal' members of our congregation are often the most hard working in contributing and including also doing good works.

Just the fact here in our local congregation. It's not that the 'conservatives' don't. It's that the liberals outperform.

Often they seem more loving and more tolerant of the shortcomings of others, more forgiving.

Surprising.

Why is that?

It's not a small thing. Christ Himself said: "If you love me, you will keep my commands."

Do the 'liberals' love Him more?

In reality the labels aren't good enough. They always go wrong. The labels themselves are a wrong. They are merely a confusion, themselves.

We need faith and doing, Christ told us.

The 'conservative' that does not put Christ's commands into action is in no better a place than the 'liberal' that doesn't truly believe He rose. They are both in serious danger, and need our prayers.

Often, even more, they need to actually hear Christ's words, instead of another bit taken away from what He said and isolated.

We would likely disagree on exactly what Christ's commands were.

Did He ask His Church to open soup kitchens? Did He ask them to provide help to those breaking immigration laws?
 
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Mark Corbett

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The 'conservative' that does not put Christ's commands into action is in no better a place than the 'liberal' that doesn't truly believe He rose. They are both in serious danger, and need our prayers.

I agree with the quote above from your comment.
 
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Halbhh

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We would likely disagree on exactly what Christ's commands were.

Did He ask His Church to open soup kitchens? Did He ask them to provide help to those breaking immigration laws?

Maybe we would disagree, but maybe not. Let's see. Here're the ones I think of just from memory -- "Love one another", "Forgive...seventy times seven", "Love your enemy", "So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you", "love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and all of your mind, and all of your soul, and all of your might". There are more, but often they are more about how to do these in more detail, like giving extra to those who ask from us, our "cloak too". Is the last a 'soup kitchen'? Well, instead I would say it could happen during a soup kitchen, which itself is not a bad, but more an opportunity for good, the good being when we give food, to do it with love, and not as a mere accounting or showy thing ever. Illegal immigrants? -- We of course He said must "welcome the stranger" who are His brothers and sisters, no matter what, no qualifier, but any one of them, always. He made it clear this isn't a maybe or a sometimes. In the OT, we see over and over God commands plainly to welcome the sojourner in your land! No way to cancel that.
 
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Mark Corbett

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We would likely disagree on exactly what Christ's commands were.

Did He ask His Church to open soup kitchens? Did He ask them to provide help to those breaking immigration laws?

I'm conservative, but I'm certainly in favor of soup kitchens as one of many ways to apply this passage:

NIV Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

And while I'm not in favor of helping someone to break immigration laws, I am in favor of showing grace and helping someone who is my neighbor even if they broke an immigration law:

NIV Deuteronomy 10:19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
 
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Mark Corbett

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"Did God really say?" doesn't always lead one *away* from Truth....but often away from status quo and into discovering Truth.

I'm in favor of challenging the status quo in my own live, in my church, and in others, where the status quo is contrary to God's Word. But when Satan said "Did God really say . . .", he was causing doubt about something God had indeed really said.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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I'm conservative, but I'm certainly in favor of soup kitchens as one of many ways to apply this passage:

NIV Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

And while I'm not in favor of helping someone to break immigration laws, I am in favor of showing grace and helping someone who is my neighbor even if they broke an immigration law:

NIV Deuteronomy 10:19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.

Matthew 25 is not a blanket statement covering all of mankind, as many have misunderstood it to be. Look at it again: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, MY BROTHERS (caps mine) you did it to me.’
 
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Halbhh

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Surprisingly enough, what I'm finding, and I did not expect it, is that the 'liberal' (theologically) members of our congregation are often the most hard working in contributing and including also doing good works.

Just the fact here in our local congregation. It's not that the 'conservatives' don't. It's that the liberals outperform.

Often they seem more loving and more tolerant of the shortcomings of others, more forgiving.

Surprising.

Why is that?

It's not a small thing. Christ Himself said: "If you love me, you will keep my commands."

Do the 'liberals' love Him more?

In reality the labels aren't good enough. They always go wrong. The labels themselves are a wrong. They are merely a confusion, themselves.

We need faith and doing, Christ told us.

The 'conservative' that does not put Christ's commands into action is in no better a place than the 'liberal' that doesn't truly believe He rose. They are both in serious danger, and need our prayers.

Often, even more, they need to actually hear Christ's words, instead of another bit taken away from what He said and isolated.

I realized that an answer to the question I asked "Why do [liberals]" "outperform" is... at least for some, because they come to church (some not all!!) specifically in order to do good works, and this is what they do believe in (again, this only is accurate to some, not all).

But still, it's an example of how the labels are tricky and we are usually needing to leave the labels pretty fast and get back to the instructions Christ said, which are clear and direct and the thing.
 
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mkgal1

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We're in Controversial Theology....correct?

I heard this podcast this morning---thinking of status quo--and it's pretty controversial (I imagine)....but it does make sense to me.

The premise is that even Jesus inherited a certain framework that there's a specific hierarchy and that His work was ONLY to minister to the Jews (IOW.....He actually inherited some bias --traditional hierarchies-- that He had to overcome). The Biblical text that was used to demonstrate that He *did* overcome the bias and bigotry because of the persistence of another was Matthew 15. From the notes:


>>>Sometimes we have to sail off the map we have received from our parents, culture, etc.

Matthew 15:6 said:
So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.
It seems that even Jesus had to unlearn the bias that was handed down to Him.
Matthew 15:21-28 said:
Canaanite woman
21 From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 23 But he didn’t respond to her at all.

His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.”

24 Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.”

25 But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.”

26 He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.”

27 She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.”

28 Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed.


BONUS: Faith that Heals Bigotry and Bodies
 
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mkgal1

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I'm in favor of challenging the status quo in my own live, in my church, and in others, where the status quo is contrary to God's Word. But when Satan said "Did God really say . . .", he was causing doubt about something God had indeed really said.
There are certain things we've come to believe that *God* said.....when really it was just man's interpretation of what they *thought* God had said through the authors of the Biblical text (ordination of women clergy, for instance).
 
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Halbhh

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What about justice? Is God unjust? Would you protect a rapist from the police?

Instead of the easy question, with the obvious answer -- "Would you protect a rapist from the police?" : no, I'd lovingly help them confess and repent and turn themselves in and serve their time.

Instead, let's ask the much harder question -- the perfectly law abiding immigrant except only that they walked over the border years ago in desperation, without passing through a check point.... Those. Not the clearly criminal acting, but instead the more typical hard working, kind, actual people -- as I know of total certainty, because I personally know a few (I'm from Austin, Texas). One is just plain the proverbial 'salt of the Earth', always doing good it seems, but he doesn't have correct papers. If he gets deported, America is just a bit less good, a bit poorer, that day.
 
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Matthew 25 is not a blanket statement covering all of mankind, as many have misunderstood it to be. Look at it again: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, MY BROTHERS (caps mine) you did it to me.’

I'm not sure that Christians never benefit from soup kitchens. Still, I agree that the direct application of Matthew 25 is to Christians and soup kitchens are for everyone. Here's another verse:

NIV Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
 
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jimmyjimmy

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I'm not sure that Christians never benefit from soup kitchens. Still, I agree that the direct application of Matthew 25 is to Christians and soup kitchens are for everyone. Here's another verse:

NIV Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

That text is referring to interpersonal relationships, not a directive about feeding people.
 
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Mark Corbett

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There are certain things we've come to believe that *God* said.....when really it was just man's interpretation of what they *thought* God had said through the authors of the Biblical text (ordination of women clergy, for instance).

I certainly agree that sometimes we think God has said something that he didn't. Sometimes we interpret His Word incorrectly. And it's right to consider that possibility. However, I'm convinced that the traditional view that only men may serve as Senior Pastors is in fact clear in the Biblical text. I explained why in another thread here (where, I think I remember, you and I interacted some):

What Does the Bible Say about Women Pastors?

In that thread, I explain the following graphic:

Bible%2BWomen%2BPastors%2B1.jpg
 
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Mark Corbett

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That text is referring to interpersonal relationships, not a directive about feeding people.

Here's the text in question:

NIV Romans 12:20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Now, this may indeed be about interpersonal relationships. And there may be MANY applications. But certainly ONE way to apply a verse which speaks of feeding your enemy is to literally feed your enemy. Do you seriously doubt this?
 
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