A summation of "Progressive" Christianity beliefs.

[Ain't Zwinglian]

I was listening to Issue, etc. today and heard Alisa Childers give a summary of the Progressive movement. I looked her up on the internet and found her summation of progressive beliefs posted on the White Horse Inn archives.

**************

The Atonement
Often, progressive Christians will refer to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as horrific or unnecessary. The idea that God the Father would require the blood sacrifice of his Son is perceived to be an indictment on God’s character, turning him into a divine abuser. This is sometimes referred to as “Cosmic Child Abuse.”


Biblical Authority or Inspiration
In the progressive church, the Bible is viewed more like an ancient spiritual travel journal than the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. The Biblical writers are viewed as well-meaning ancient people who were doing their best to understand God in the times and places in which they lived, but they were not necessarily speaking for God. Scripture is also seen as contradictory, not internally coherent, and not authoritative for Christians.


Original Sin
The doctrine of Original Sin is roundly rejected in progressive Christianity, with the idea of Original Blessing put in its place. Progressive Christians don’t typically deny that sin exists or that it is a bad thing. But they often deny the idea that we have some sort of a sin nature that was passed down to us from Adam and Eve. Instead, progressive Christians often teach that sin isn’t what separates us from God, but our own self-imposed shame. In the progressive view, it’s often taught that we simply need to realize that we were never separated in the first place…that we are beloved and accepted by God just as we are.


The Deity of Jesus
Certainly not all progressive Christians will deny Jesus’ deity, but this doctrine tends to be downplayed. The concept of “Cosmic Christ” is sometimes presented as our ultimate goal…that Jesus is a model and exemplar of someone who was christened as both human and divine, and we can follow his example by finding the divine within ourselves.


The Physical Resurrection of Jesus
Again, not every progressive denies the physical resurrection, but the idea that Jesus was bodily raised back to life is often deemed less important or significant than the meaning we can draw from the idea of resurrection.


The Virgin Birth
In the progressive church, the virgin birth and other miraculous events can be downplayed, ignored—or like the resurrection—viewed as less important than the life-lessons we can learn from these stories.


The Trinity
A denial of the deity of Jesus would naturally be a denial of the Trinity. But some progressive Christians take it further and affirm the view of pantheism, which states that the universe is God. Others will affirm a slightly less radical view called panentheism, which is the belief that God and the world are inter-related. God is in all and all is in God. This implies that God is somehow dependent upon creation, which casts serious aspersions on the nature of the Trinity.


The Sinlessness of Jesus
You probably won’t find many progressive Christians who outright declare that Jesus was a sinner. However, Jesus’ humanity tends to be emphasized. For example, in Matthew 15, Jesus tells the Syrophoenician woman, “It’s not good to take children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” This is viewed as Jesus’ having racial biases that were recognized and corrected during this exchange.

Affirmations​

LGBTQ Relationships and Marriage
One of the hallmarks of progressive Christianity is the shift on issues of sexuality and gender. There is an almost universal acceptance of same-sex relationships and marriage, a belief in the validity of transgenderism, and a rejection of cisgender norms.


Universalism / Universal Reconciliation
The primary view of heaven and hell in the progressive church is Universalism, which is the idea that no one will be punished in hell, and everyone will eventually be saved and restored to right relationship with God. Some progressive Christians will still say that Jesus is the only way, but believe he will save everyone.


The Gospel of Social Justice and Critical Theory
In progressive Christianity, the gospel is not seen primarily as the good news of God saving sinners and reconciling them to Himself. Instead, social justice issues become the heart of the gospel message, with what one does being viewed as more important than what one believes. Often, the secular framework of critical theory is embraced, where the world is viewed through the lens of oppressed vs. oppressor.


Pluralism
Religious pluralism is the idea that all roads lead to God, and no one religion holds ultimate truth when it comes to who God is and how he reveals himself to the world. Often, progressive Christians will tout the mantra, “Everyone has a seat at the table,” meaning all creeds and religions are true in their own way and the people who embrace them are equally accepted by God.


Pantheism, Panentheism or Perennialism
As stated above, many progressive Christians affirm pantheism or panentheism. Another view that is promoted in the progressive church is perennialism, the idea that although different religions look different on the outside, at their core they share the same truth. In other words, they share the same source and come from the same ultimate or divine reality. This divine reality can be discovered through mysticism and contemplative practices.

*********

My additional 2cents.... All GOSPEL and no LAW.

 

[jas3]

This is a good summary of theological progressivism, although I would say "all Gospel no Law" is too generous to this error that is plaguing every church today. It is not teaching the Gospel to say that all religions are paths to salvation (i.e. that the Incarnation wasn't necessary) or to cast doubt on the Trinity as it was revealed to man (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost - progressives often take issue with the masculine pronouns and terms used for all three Persons).

Fundamentally, the error of theological progressivism is the idea that there is no need for the Church today to have continuity with the Church founded by our Lord. All Christians could simply have been wrong about the sinfulness of certain relationships or about Christianity being the only path to salvation. I do not see how such a self-indulgent way of thinking can lead to spiritual fruitfulness; it seems much more likely that it is the "wide gate" and "broad path" that Christ warned about.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

although I would say "all Gospel no Law" is too generous to this error that is plaguing every church today.

Point well taken. How about this: It is a movement of 'NO HOPE." Basically, it is a belief "once your dead, your dead."

 

[The Liturgist]

This is a good summary of theological progressivism, although I would say "all Gospel no Law" is too generous to this error that is plaguing every church today.

Fortunately there is less of it in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches than elsewhere, but still we must remain vigilant.

 

[The Liturgist]

Point well taken. How about this: It is a movement of 'NO HOPE." Basically, it is a belief "once your dead, your dead."

That’s certainly true of a lot of it. A belief in an “after-life” that is Universalist-Docetic in nature, in which the spirits of all humans exist in some sort of unity,* also exists.

By the way, the problem of Progressive politics in churches is so bad that I recently watched a sermon by the pastor of a Unitarian Universalist congregation in which he warned that left wing politics were destroying their denomination. (The liturgy leading up to the sermon is pretty cringeworthy, but then so is the UUA). Despite their inherent cringeworthiness however, when the UUA has pastors complaining about the “illiberal Left” ruining their denomination, that says something about the scope of this problem.

*Except perhaps the souls of Republicans or Conservatives, who aren’t humans as far as some of the more extremist adherents of these doctrines, who I used to encounter at my former denomination, are concerned.

 

[bbbbbbb]

None of this is remotely new. In the early twentieth century it was called Modernism and it was linked to all aspects of contemporary culture of that era. Modernism, in theology, simply changed its label to "progressivism" even as left-leaning politicians distanced themselves from "liberalism" and now describe themselves as being "progressive". It is all about rhetorical spin. It is so much sweeter to identify as being "pro-choice" than as being "pro-murder".

 

[PloverWing]

I was listening to Issue, etc. today and heard Alisa Childers give a summary of the Progressive movement. I looked her up on the internet and found her summation of progressive beliefs posted on the White Horse Inn archives.

This list seems to be a summary of Progressive/Liberal Christianity written by someone who does not herself identify as Progressive or Liberal. As such, I would read it cautiously.

I'll add comments on two statements she makes in the article:

The slow slide into progressive Christianity is so subtle it is almost imperceptible. Unless you know some basics.

I'm all for knowing the basics. I think all Christians should study the Bible and should study the development of theology through the centuries of the history of the church.

Looking back at those centuries, I don't think the development of Liberal/Progressive theology was an imperceptible slow slide at all. Some major theologians and philosophers of the last 300 years or so wrote groundbreaking books which were controversial and widely debated. I wouldn't call Schleiermacher or Rauschenbusch or Barth "imperceptible".

The following lists are not comprehensive, and they aren’t a catch-all for every progressive Christian. However, progressive Christians will typically deny one or more of the doctrines in the first list, and affirm one or more in the second.

I appreciate her disclaimer. It's an important one.

Her last sentence above is true, in the sense that Progressive Christians typically deny the inerrancy of the Bible and frequently affirm the pursuit of social justice as obedience to Jesus' teachings. As to the other points on the list: yes, she is not describing every Progressive Christian. The list contains a mix of views from different variants of Liberal Christianity, stirred together and somewhat caricatured. I would balance her list with some writings of Progressive or Liberal Christian theologians describing their faith and practice in their own words.

(What Do Progressive Christians Believe?)

 

[AlexB23]

I was listening to Issue, etc. today and heard Alisa Childers give a summary of the Progressive movement. I looked her up on the internet and found her summation of progressive beliefs posted on the White Horse Inn archives.

**************

The Atonement
Often, progressive Christians will refer to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as horrific or unnecessary. The idea that God the Father would require the blood sacrifice of his Son is perceived to be an indictment on God’s character, turning him into a divine abuser. This is sometimes referred to as “Cosmic Child Abuse.”


Biblical Authority or Inspiration
In the progressive church, the Bible is viewed more like an ancient spiritual travel journal than the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. The Biblical writers are viewed as well-meaning ancient people who were doing their best to understand God in the times and places in which they lived, but they were not necessarily speaking for God. Scripture is also seen as contradictory, not internally coherent, and not authoritative for Christians.


Original Sin
The doctrine of Original Sin is roundly rejected in progressive Christianity, with the idea of Original Blessing put in its place. Progressive Christians don’t typically deny that sin exists or that it is a bad thing. But they often deny the idea that we have some sort of a sin nature that was passed down to us from Adam and Eve. Instead, progressive Christians often teach that sin isn’t what separates us from God, but our own self-imposed shame. In the progressive view, it’s often taught that we simply need to realize that we were never separated in the first place…that we are beloved and accepted by God just as we are.


The Deity of Jesus
Certainly not all progressive Christians will deny Jesus’ deity, but this doctrine tends to be downplayed. The concept of “Cosmic Christ” is sometimes presented as our ultimate goal…that Jesus is a model and exemplar of someone who was christened as both human and divine, and we can follow his example by finding the divine within ourselves.


The Physical Resurrection of Jesus
Again, not every progressive denies the physical resurrection, but the idea that Jesus was bodily raised back to life is often deemed less important or significant than the meaning we can draw from the idea of resurrection.


The Virgin Birth
In the progressive church, the virgin birth and other miraculous events can be downplayed, ignored—or like the resurrection—viewed as less important than the life-lessons we can learn from these stories.


The Trinity
A denial of the deity of Jesus would naturally be a denial of the Trinity. But some progressive Christians take it further and affirm the view of pantheism, which states that the universe is God. Others will affirm a slightly less radical view called panentheism, which is the belief that God and the world are inter-related. God is in all and all is in God. This implies that God is somehow dependent upon creation, which casts serious aspersions on the nature of the Trinity.


The Sinlessness of Jesus
You probably won’t find many progressive Christians who outright declare that Jesus was a sinner. However, Jesus’ humanity tends to be emphasized. For example, in Matthew 15, Jesus tells the Syrophoenician woman, “It’s not good to take children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” This is viewed as Jesus’ having racial biases that were recognized and corrected during this exchange.

Affirmations​

LGBTQ Relationships and Marriage
One of the hallmarks of progressive Christianity is the shift on issues of sexuality and gender. There is an almost universal acceptance of same-sex relationships and marriage, a belief in the validity of transgenderism, and a rejection of cisgender norms.


Universalism / Universal Reconciliation
The primary view of heaven and hell in the progressive church is Universalism, which is the idea that no one will be punished in hell, and everyone will eventually be saved and restored to right relationship with God. Some progressive Christians will still say that Jesus is the only way, but believe he will save everyone.


The Gospel of Social Justice and Critical Theory
In progressive Christianity, the gospel is not seen primarily as the good news of God saving sinners and reconciling them to Himself. Instead, social justice issues become the heart of the gospel message, with what one does being viewed as more important than what one believes. Often, the secular framework of critical theory is embraced, where the world is viewed through the lens of oppressed vs. oppressor.


Pluralism
Religious pluralism is the idea that all roads lead to God, and no one religion holds ultimate truth when it comes to who God is and how he reveals himself to the world. Often, progressive Christians will tout the mantra, “Everyone has a seat at the table,” meaning all creeds and religions are true in their own way and the people who embrace them are equally accepted by God.


Pantheism, Panentheism or Perennialism
As stated above, many progressive Christians affirm pantheism or panentheism. Another view that is promoted in the progressive church is perennialism, the idea that although different religions look different on the outside, at their core they share the same truth. In other words, they share the same source and come from the same ultimate or divine reality. This divine reality can be discovered through mysticism and contemplative practices.

*********

My additional 2cents.... All GOSPEL and no LAW.

I do not like Progressive or Conservative Christianity. It is better to just be a Biblical Christian, and stay out of extreme politics. 2 Timothy 4:3 warns us about twisting the truth for our own desires.

In 2023, Reverend Dr. Caleb J. Lines preached a false teaching – a blasphemy, stating that “God is trans” and “gay”, which the Bible clearly states that God made man and women in his image (Genesis 1:27). The congregation failed to rebuke him, as the church had an un-biblical ideology as a whole, similar to the Church of Laodicea (Revelations 3:15).

5 Minute Video of Pastor Lines preaching false doctrine, with 2 Timothy 4:3 commentary by Brother Maverick (a Christian YouTuber)

Date	May 12, 2024 | Cafeteria Christianity
Verse	2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV): "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions"
Explanation	2 Timothy 4:3 is a warning from the Apostle Paul to Timothy about the end days and the attitude of people towards sound teaching. The passage suggests that as the end times approach, people will become increasingly unwilling to hear and accept the truth, instead gravitating towards teachings that cater to their own desires and passions. This verse relates to the concept of Cafeteria Christianity, where people pick and choose which teachings they want to follow based on their personal preferences or desires, rather than submitting themselves to the whole truth of the gospel. The passage suggests that this tendency will become more prevalent as the end times approach. Using the analogy of a buffet, we can understand this concept further. Onions represent the truth, which can be stinging or uncomfortable at times. Firm steak represents the reading and understanding of the gospel, which can be challenging and requires effort. Nutrient-rich vegetables such as spinach represent the growth in faith that comes from embracing the truth and applying it to our lives. On the other hand, avoiding fish represents disregard for Jesus, who is the source of our salvation and the foundation of our faith. Consuming excessive amounts of sweet junk food or desserts such as cake represent the ungodly teachings that cater to humanity's selfish desires, rather than leading us towards a deeper relationship with God.
Societal Relevance	Cafeteria Christianity can be particularly dangerous during the modern times because of the abundance of information and teaching available through various media channels. With so many voices clamoring for attention, it can be easy to get lost in the noise and end up consuming teachings that do not align with the whole truth of the gospel. Revelation 2 and 3 also warn about the dangers of false teaching and the importance of remaining faithful to the teachings of Jesus. In Revelation 2:14-15, Jesus rebukes the church in Pergamum for holding on to the teaching of Balaam, which encouraged the people to indulge in sexual immorality. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus warns the church in Laodicea for being lukewarm in their faith and for not realizing that they are poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, it is important for us to be discerning in what we consume and to prioritize the truth of the gospel above our personal desires and preferences. We must be willing to embrace the challenging aspects of the faith and to grow in our relationship with God through the nutrient-rich teachings of the Bible. Ultimately, our goal should be to remain faithful to Jesus and to follow His teachings, rather than being swayed by the allure of false narratives or the desire for comfort and convenience. Here are 7 of the most common false teachings that we must avoid as Christians: The prosperity gospel: The belief that God will bless us with wealth and health if we have faith, disregarding the suffering and struggles that believers may face in this life. This teaching is not supported by the Bible, which teaches that believers may experience trials and hardships (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 4:12-13). Salvation by works: The belief that good works or religious rituals can earn us salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16). Denial of the Trinity: The belief that there is only one person in the Godhead, rather than the three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who make up the one God. The Bible clearly teaches the doctrine of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14). Rejection of the deity of Christ: The belief that Jesus was not God in human form, but rather a prophet or a good teacher. The Bible affirms the deity of Christ (Daniel 7:13-14, John 1:1, John 3:16-18, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:8). Denial of the resurrection: The belief that there is no bodily resurrection of the dead or that Jesus did not rise from the dead. The Bible teaches that believers will be raised to eternal life and that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-23, Acts 1:3, Luke 24). Doctrine of total individualism: The belief that emphasizes personal self-reliance, total self-sufficiency, and self-indulgence, disregarding the importance of community and the greater good. This teaching is not in line with the teachings of the Bible, which emphasizes the importance of loving our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31, Galatians 5:13-14). Anti-environmentalism: The belief that prioritizes human needs and desires above the care and preservation of the natural world. This teaching is not supported by the Bible, which teaches that humans are stewards of God's creation and are called to care for it (Genesis 2:15, Colossians 1:16-17, Isaiah 24:4-6, Jeremiah 2:7). These false teachings can be harmful to our spiritual growth and can lead us away from the truth of the gospel. It is essential that we stay grounded in the teachings of the Bible and remain discerning in what we believe and teach.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

The Gospel of Social Justice and Critical Theory
In progressive Christianity, the gospel is not seen primarily as the good news of God saving sinners and reconciling them to Himself. Instead, social justice issues become the heart of the gospel message, with what one does being viewed as more important than what one believes. Often, the secular framework of critical theory is embraced, where the world is viewed through the lens of oppressed vs. oppressor.

As with so many of these they present a distorted strawman sort of view. The gospel is still "seen primarily as the good news of God saving sinners and reconciling them to Himself". But the Gospel also reacquires our own good faith response. The Gospel of Christ is not a passive Gospel.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

That is Gospel.

"How are we healed of our wounding memories? We are healed first of all by letting them be available, by letting them our of the corner of forgetfulness and by leading them out of the corner of forgetfulness and by remembering them as part of our life stories. What is forgotten is unavailable, and what is unavailable cannot be healed." Henri Nouwen

 

[AlexB23]

The Bible does talk about standing up for the underlings though. This afternoon, an analysis will be posted here, and try to connect the three verses to our society.

Edit: It is ready Defending Others (Proverbs 31:8, Isaiah 1:17, Ecclesiastes 4:10)

 

[Clare73]

This list seems to be a summary of Progressive/Liberal Christianity written by someone who does not herself identify as Progressive or Liberal. As such, I would read it cautiously.
I'll add comments on two statements she makes in the article:
I'm all for knowing the basics. I think all Christians should study the Bible and should study the development of theology through the centuries of the history of the church.
Looking back at those centuries, I don't think the development of Liberal/Progressive theology was an imperceptible slow slide at all. Some major theologians and philosophers of the last 300 years or so wrote groundbreaking books which were controversial and widely debated. I wouldn't call Schleiermacher or Rauschenbusch or Barth "imperceptible".
I appreciate her disclaimer. It's an important one.

Her last sentence above is true, in the sense that Progressive Christians typically deny the inerrancy of the Bible and frequently affirm the pursuit of social justice as obedience to Jesus' teachings. As to the other points on the list: yes, she is not describing every Progressive Christian. The list contains a mix of views from different variants of Liberal Christianity, stirred together and somewhat caricatured. I would balance her list with some writings of Progressive or Liberal Christian theologians describing their faith and practice in their own words.

The Bible knows only of justice. . .it covers all life.
There is no "social" justice, "economic" justice, etc. in Scripture,
there is only justice; i.e., giving everyone one his due--what he is owed, what he has earned.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

The Bible knows only of justice. . .it covers all life.
There is no "social" justice, "economic" justice, etc. in Scripture,
there is only justice; i.e., giving everyone one what he is owed, what he has earned.

Absolutely correct. As Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness;

There will always be for the Christian tension between justice and mercy....faithfulness to God's Word is also commanded.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

But the Gospel also reacquires our own good faith response. The Gospel of Christ is not a passive Gospel.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

That is Gospel.

Broadly speaking the Law is "to do" or "not to do." Broadly speaking the Gospel is all the things the Triune God does for mankind in Creation, Redemption and Sanctification.

One enters a slippery slope then the Gospel is turned into a work.

For the Christian, God's law tells Christians surrounded by sinful world the way of life which is pleasing to Him. But we should not confuse our response to the Gospel as or equal to God's work in Christ reconciling the world to himself.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Broadly speaking the Law is "to do" or "not to do." Broadly speaking the Gospel is all the things the Triune God does for mankind in Creation, Redemption and Sanctification.

One enters a slippery slope then the Gospel is turned into a work.

For the Christian, God's law tells Christians surrounded by sinful world the way of life which is pleasing to Him. But we should not confuse our response to the Gospel as or equal to God's work in Christ reconciling the world to himself.

The only confusion is mistaking a concern for justice as some sort of political gimmick.

 

[PloverWing]

The Bible knows only of justice. . .it covers all life.
There is no "social" justice, "economic" justice, etc. in Scripture,
there is only justice; i.e., giving everyone one his due--what he is owed, what he has earned.

I agree that "justice" can be a hard term to define. Professional philosophers don't even agree with each other about the definition, and I am not a professional philosopher. If "justice" is everyone getting exactly what they have earned, then I am willing to use a phrase different from "social justice" to refer to how we should treat each other in a society.

How we should treat each other is more than just giving people what they have earned. If I walk up to a random person on the street and punch them in the face, I've done something morally wrong, even though that stranger hasn't taken any action to earn nonviolence from me. My children, when they were infants, weren't capable of earning anything at all, but I owed them the moral duty to see that they were fed and sheltered and so on. So, giving people what they have earned is a good first step, but we owe each other more than that.

 

[The Liturgist]

None of this is remotely new. In the early twentieth century it was called Modernism and it was linked to all aspects of contemporary culture of that era. Modernism, in theology, simply changed its label to "progressivism" even as left-leaning politicians distanced themselves from "liberalism" and now describe themselves as being "progressive". It is all about rhetorical spin. It is so much sweeter to identify as being "pro-choice" than as being "pro-murder".

The term “progressive” was also popular in the early 20th century and meant something similar to what it means now. There is nothing new under the sun.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

The term “progressive” was also popular in the early 20th century and meant something similar to what it means now. There is nothing new under the sun.

Correct, but.....the latest form of heresy is called SOCIAL TRINITARIANISM. This term was coined in the 1980's. The term means since the Bible is a book absent divine inspiration, all descriptions of the Trinity must contain a human analogy. In this respect, we see in the Doctrine of the Atonement as God the Father as a cosmic child abuser on his son. Pure human analogy. From describing God using human terms, this means that each person of the Trinity as separate wills as humans do. This is TRITHEISM. No longer is God seen as three persons and one will, but three persons and three wills. No Divine Simplicity and no inseparable operations. The God for the progressives resemble more of Mormonism than historic Christianity. Real bad stuff.

 

[Clare73]

I agree that "justice" can be a hard term to define.

It's not hard to define at all.

Justice is giving everyone his due, or what he is owed, or what he has earned.

Professional philosophers don't even agree with each other about the definition, and I am not a professional philosopher. If "justice" is everyone getting exactly what they have earned, then I am willing to use a phrase different from "social justice" to refer to how we should treat each other in a society.
How we should treat each other is more than just giving people what they have earned. If I walk up to a random person on the street and punch them in the face, I've done something morally wrong, even though that stranger hasn't taken any action to earn nonviolence from me.

That is some seriously tortured unrealistic "reasoning," totally detached from the concrete.

The stranger is both due and owed non-violence from you as his human right.

My children, when they were infants, weren't capable of earning anything at all,

They were due food, clothing and shelter.

but I owed them the moral duty to see that they were fed and sheltered and so on. So, giving people what they have earned is a good first step, but we owe each other more than that.

Giving everyone his due or what he has earned or what he is owed is complete justice.

 

[Clare73]

Correct, but.....the latest form of heresy is called SOCIAL TRINITARIANISM. This term was coined in the 1980's. The term means since the Bible is a book absent divine inspiration, all descriptions of the Trinity must contain a human analogy. In this respect, we see in the Doctrine of the Atonement as God the Father as a cosmic child abuser on his son. Pure human analogy. From describing God using human terms, this means that each person of the Trinity as separate wills as humans do. This is TRITHEISM. No longer is God seen as three persons and one will, but three persons and three wills. No Divine Simplicity and no inseparable operations. The God for the progressives resemble more of Mormonism than historic Christianity. Real bad stuff.

Well, there ya' go. . .wrong premise = wrong conclusion.

 

[The Liturgist]

Correct, but.....the latest form of heresy is called SOCIAL TRINITARIANISM. This term was coined in the 1980's. The term means since the Bible is a book absent divine inspiration, all descriptions of the Trinity must contain a human analogy. In this respect, we see in the Doctrine of the Atonement as God the Father as a cosmic child abuser on his son. Pure human analogy. From describing God using human terms, this means that each person of the Trinity as separate wills as humans do. This is TRITHEISM. No longer is God seen as three persons and one will, but three persons and three wills. No Divine Simplicity and no inseparable operations. The God for the progressives resemble more of Mormonism than historic Christianity. Real bad stuff.

Yes, this is a good point. By the way, Tritheism originated among the Monophysites, the real ones founded by Eutyches, who was excommunicated by the same Oriental Orthodox who have been falsely accused of Monophysitism due to their refusal to accept the Tome of Leo and their desire to retain the exact wording of Pope St. Cyril of Alexandria. The Eutychian Monophysites degenerated into Tritheism, because of their belief that our Lord’s human nature was dissolved into His divinity, giving him a hybrid nature, which caused him to become distinct from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

Thus contrary to the arguments of some, the Oriental Orthodox are not the modern day heirs of the Monophysites, for they maintain that in His incarnation our Lord’s human and divine natures were hypostatically united without change, confusion, separation or division, which is also what the Chalcedonians believe; the only difference being that the Tome of Leo describes our Lord existing in two natures whereas St. Cyril and the Oriental Orthodox see him existing from two natures. Rather, the actual successors to the Monophysites are the Mormons, because of their embrace of Tritheism, and also adherents to the heresy you described above (which I have not seen called “Social Trinitarianism” before, but i take your word on it; i have seen it but usually it was lumped in with other modernist heresies and not given a distinct name).

I want to thank you for posting this excellent thread. I myself was planning on posting a thread like this but could not get around to it. You are one of the really excellent Lutheran theologians we have on this forum, along with @MarkRohfrietsch and @ViaCrucis and @JM among others, who make hugely important contributions to our discourse. By the way, I do have some additional information which may be relevant to this thread, but I don’t want to post it without reviewing it with you, if you were able to PM me.

God bless you, and please pray for me. My health is improving but I remain weak.