How do they differ?

Presbyterian Continuist

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How do Liberal Christians and Conservative Christians differ?
The latter have hope for eternal life if they hold to the true gospel of Christ. The former have no hope at all because they depart from the true gospel.
 
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HTacianas

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How do Liberal Christians and Conservative Christians differ?

It depends on how you care to define conservative and liberal. I am an Orthodox Christian. That makes me conservative. But then within orthodoxy there are no conservatives, only the Orthodox.

I consider protestants to be liberal Christians because they follow newer doctrines than the original gospel.
 
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It depends on how you care to define conservative and liberal. I am an Orthodox Christian. That makes me conservative. But then within orthodoxy there are no conservatives, only the Orthodox.

I consider protestants to be liberal Christians because they follow newer doctrines than the original gospel.
Paul set out the gospel quite clearly in Romans and Galatians. My definition of liberals is that they don't believe in a personal God, the historical Jesus, virgin birth, or the resurrection. They boil Christianity down to a set of religious and moral principles so as to embrace Humanism.

If you read the beginning of 1 Corinthians, Paul defined those who gave themselves labels as "carnal" and no different from those in the world. This is why I am steering away from labels like "Pentecostal", "Charismatic", or even (the church was was involved with for the last 23 years) "Presbyterian", because labelling myself according to any denomination makes me carnal and more of the world than of Christ. I retain my forum ID only because I can engage in the Pentecostal/Charismatic forums.

Something to consider when identifying oneself according to the particular religion we subscribe to.
 
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HTacianas

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Paul set out the gospel quite clearly in Romans and Galatians. My definition of liberals is that they don't believe in a personal God, the historical Jesus, virgin birth, or the resurrection. They boil Christianity down to a set of religious and moral principles so as to embrace Humanism.

If you read the beginning of 1 Corinthians, Paul defined those who gave themselves labels as "carnal" and no different from those in the world. This is why I am steering away from labels like "Pentecostal", "Charismatic", or even (the church was was involved with for the last 23 years) "Presbyterian", because labelling myself according to any denomination makes me carnal and more of the world than of Christ. I retain my forum ID only because I can engage in the Pentecostal/Charismatic forums.

Something to consider when identifying oneself according to the particular religion we subscribe to.

If you read 1 Corinthians 11 you'll see Paul clearly identify the bread and wine of the Eucharist as the body and blood of Christ. So do the gospels. And the unbroken chain of commentaries of the Church Fathers identify it as well. But sometime later someone decided that it wasn't and went and did their own thing. I consider someone with that belief to be a liberal Christian. And their break from the original gospel is what has led them to just what you've described.
 
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Sabertooth

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How do Liberal Christians and Conservative Christians differ?
As they are typically defined,

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (Liberal POV)
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Conservative POV)" Romans 6:1-2 NKJV
 
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Presbyterian Continuist

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If you read 1 Corinthians 11 you'll see Paul clearly identify the bread and wine of the Eucharist as the body and blood of Christ. So do the gospels. And the unbroken chain of commentaries of the Church Fathers identify it as well. But sometime later someone decided that it wasn't and went and did their own thing. I consider someone with that belief to be a liberal Christian. And their break from the original gospel is what has led them to just what you've described.
My theology is (a label! :) )Puritan Reformed, which is very strict in its principle of true conversion and holiness of life. So I guess I am a conservative Christian rather than a liberal one.
 
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barefeetonholyground

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The latter have hope for eternal life if they hold to the true gospel of Christ. The former have no hope at all because they depart from the true gospel.
what many of us conservatives fear to say.
 
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barefeetonholyground

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I find that conservative Christianity tends to elevate Scripture above lifestyle and tries to make Scripture the basis for their lifestyle and culture. Liberal Christianity tends to marry worldly lifestyle to Scripture and uses Scripture to justify their lifestyle.
I do believe, however, that among conservative Christianity God may convict some of things and not others. Alcohol, for example, is one that I see strongly debated among conservative Christians as the Bible does speak of the dangers of alcohol but doesn't directly command us not to drink.
 
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Simon/Rock

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I find that conservative Christianity tends to elevate Scripture above lifestyle and tries to make Scripture the basis for their lifestyle and culture. Liberal Christianity tends to marry worldly lifestyle to Scripture and uses Scripture to justify their lifestyle.
I do believe, however, that among conservative Christianity God may convict some of things and not others. Alcohol, for example, is one that I see strongly debated among conservative Christians as the Bible does speak of the dangers of alcohol but doesn't directly command us not to drink.

I agree with most of what you said, except, I guess would say this about this part; "the Bible doesn't directly command us not to drink."

Drinking alcohol is not thee problem in the Bible or even in today's society. The problem, is that it is a sin to get buzzed and/or drunk, and I'm pretty sure that it says that some where within the Bible to some degree.

So many now a days get addicted to alcohol. Unfortunately it's a huge political play by the Liberal Democrat Politicians and their left wing Socialist Media Agenda.
 
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barefeetonholyground

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I agree with most of what you said, except, I guess would say this about this part; "the Bible doesn't directly command us not to drink."

Drinking alcohol is not thee problem in the Bible or even in today's society. The problem, is that it is a sin to get buzzed and/or drunk, and I'm pretty sure that it says that some where within the Bible to some degree.

So many now a days get addicted to alcohol. Unfortunately it's a huge political play by the Liberal Democrat Politicians and their left wing Socialist Media Agenda.
True, but the Bible commands us not to get drunk. It does not command to abstain from alcohol entirely
 
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Simon/Rock

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True, but the Bible commands us not to get drunk. It does not command to abstain from alcohol entirely

yup. That's why I said this, in my previous message to you.

"Drinking alcohol is not thee problem in the Bible or even in today's society. The problem, is that it is a sin to get buzzed and/or drunk, and I'm pretty sure that it says that some where within the Bible to some degree."
 
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Cross Over the Lake

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I think if you just strike out the word Christian and get to the definition of both sides it is quite evident how they are different. It's messy already, gets even messier when you go down this rabbit hole. I have God direct me in all things, and that leaves me leaning conservative.
 
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barefeetonholyground

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I think if you just strike out the word Christian and get to the definition of both sides it is quite evident how they are different. It's messy already, gets even messier when you go down this rabbit hole. I have God direct me in all things, and that leaves me leaning conservative.
Truth. I have former friends who have embraced liberal Christianity and I can't get over how skewed the doctrine is.
 
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TLSITD

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Basically the difference is the degree to which they adhere to sound Scriptural doctrine or depart from or twist it.

I have said in the past that there is no such thing as a "liberal" Christian; only varying degrees of obedience to the New Testament as a Christian.

Christian doctrine is, by comparison to the views and ways of the secular culture surrounding it, very morally conservative; so calling oneself a "conservative Christian" is somewhat redundant---like calling oneself a "born-again Christian"---used only to distinguish oneself from those who are less orthodox.

Liberal Christians are known for proclaiming their "freedom in Christ" to stay as they are, to disregard or cherry-pick the New Testament's commands, and to generally pursue their own will. They see adherence to the commands and teachings of the New Testament as legalism.

They try to marry modern opinions, non-Christian philosophies, and secular disciplines, such as philosophy and psychology, mysticism and humanism, feminism and social justice, with Christianity.

However, just because a Christian is morally conservative, that doesn't mean that he or she is orthodox. I don't mean the orthodox branch of Christianity, but orthodox in terms of correct interpretation of and adherence to Scripture. And that's the only kind of orthodoxy that is pleasing to God or beneficial to the Christian.

There are conservative Christians who twist and depart from the Scriptures just as there are non-conservative ones who do. Being conservative is not spiritually beneficial in and of itself.

The Jews who followed the human teachings of their elders were orthodox, but not about keeping what God had given them as He had given it to them; and Jesus reprimanded them for it.

Similarly, the Amish are (at least outwardly) very morally conservative, but they are definitely not Scripturally orthodox according to NT doctrine.

There is also a political movement here in the USA that calls itself conservative Christian. The views of people who belong to this group aren't orthodox either. They believe in guns and self defense, military service, political involvement and patriotism for Christians, besides other things; and most, from what I have seen of them, behave much like so-called "liberal Christians", with the exception of being against homosexuality.

Christianity isn't political, and it's not merely part of being an American. (Most of the Americans who identify as Christians aren't.) I resent the term "conservative Christian" being used by a political identity group. It misrepresents the faith.

"Liberal Christians": What are you "liberated" from?

"Conservative Christians": What are you "conserving"?
 
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theoneandonlypencil

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Basically the difference is the degree to which they adhere to sound Scriptural doctrine or depart from or twist it.

I have said in the past that there is no such thing as a "liberal" Christian; only varying degrees of obedience to the New Testament as a Christian.

Christian doctrine is, by comparison to the views and ways of the secular culture surrounding it, very morally conservative; so calling oneself a "conservative Christian" is somewhat redundant---like calling oneself a "born-again Christian"---used only to distinguish oneself from those who are less orthodox.

Liberal Christians are known for proclaiming their "freedom in Christ" to stay as they are, to disregard or cherry-pick the New Testament's commands, and to generally pursue their own will. They see adherence to the commands and teachings of the New Testament as legalism.

They try to marry modern opinions, non-Christian philosophies, and secular disciplines, such as philosophy and psychology, mysticism and humanism, feminism and social justice, with Christianity.

However, just because a Christian is morally conservative, that doesn't mean that he or she is orthodox. I don't mean the orthodox branch of Christianity, but orthodox in terms of correct interpretation of and adherence to Scripture. And that's the only kind of orthodoxy that is pleasing to God or beneficial to the Christian.

There are conservative Christians who twist and depart from the Scriptures just as there are non-conservative ones who do. Being conservative is not spiritually beneficial in and of itself.

The Jews who followed the human teachings of their elders were orthodox, but not about keeping what God had given them as He had given it to them; and Jesus reprimanded them for it.

Similarly, the Amish are (at least outwardly) very morally conservative, but they are definitely not Scripturally orthodox according to NT doctrine.

There is also a political movement here in the USA that calls itself conservative Christian. The views of people who belong to this group aren't orthodox either. They believe in guns and self defense, military service, political involvement and patriotism for Christians, besides other things; and most, from what I have seen of them, behave much like so-called "liberal Christians", with the exception of being against homosexuality.

Christianity isn't political, and it's not merely part of being an American. (Most of the Americans who identify as Christians aren't.) I resent the term "conservative Christian" being used by a political identity group. It misrepresents the faith.

"Liberal Christians": What are you "liberated" from?

"Conservative Christians": What are you "conserving"?

I agree with most of your point, all I would suggest is that 'philosophy' and 'psychology' are not inherently secular disciplines, much like science. Both can and have been used to promote Christian belief and coincide perfectly fine with scripture(the bible is, after all, much like a giant philosophy book). I definitely would not glomp them in with mysticism, feminism or humanism.
 
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TLSITD

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I agree with most of your point, all I would suggest is that 'philosophy' and 'psychology' are not inherently secular disciplines, much like science. Both can and have been used to promote Christian belief and coincide perfectly fine with scripture(the bible is, after all, much like a giant philosophy book). I definitely would not glomp them in with mysticism, feminism or humanism.
I agree; I was thinking of the philosophies and psychological concepts that are in disagreement with Scripture and with Christian doctrine.
 
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