What exactly is wrong with Liberal Christianity?

[Athetotheist]

In discussing Christian scripture with others, I sometimes encounter the assertion that "interpretation" is a legitimate factor in assessing the nature of said scripture.

According to Google, Liberal Christianity "interprets Christian teachings by prioritizing modern knowledge, science, and ethics over traditional doctrinal authority".

If even the more conservative apologist defends Christian scripture by allowing for interpretation of it, how much criticism is it fair to level at more liberal interpretations of Christianity?

[lastdaysbeliever]

[Replying to lastdaysbeliever in post #33]

We can always compare notes. You first?

My general impression is that conservative Christians focus on Jesus as a sacrifice for sin and that liberal Christians focus on him as a moral teacher. That's to say that the former are concerned with what Jesus does in the gospels and the latter are concerned with what he says in the gospels [especially what he says about how to treat others].

Coming at your OP from the direction of denominationally, that would, for me, give a more general impression myself. There are liberal denominations, such as the United Methodist, some SBC and other mainline churches. The denominations that would be considered conservative, imo, would be evangelical such as Calvary Chapels, Four Square and other pentecostal and charismatic and non-denom denominations. Go to either iteration and there is a distince difference, an obvious difference, which separates liberal from conservative.

Blessings,

ldb

Where then is one flock and one Lord if there are various denominations, which source of teachings is not the Lord Jesus Himself but the bible alone?

I don't know that I can answer you properly but, there is one Lord and His one ekklesia, and there is no denying there are various denominations that claim to be Christian (just read the markee outside their buildings). But Scripture tells us we are like the body, many different members of one Spirit in Christ, baptized in that same Spirit. All members of the ekklesia ( 1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Thay said, I'm afraid I don't quite grasp the concluding part of your question. Maybe rephrase it?

Thank you and blessings,

ldb

[OneJack]

[Replying to lastdaysbeliever in post #41]

I don't know that I can answer you properly but, there is one Lord and His one ekklesia,

Where is it, and how can we be members of that ekklesia?

and there is no denying there are various denominations that claim to be Christian (just read the markee outside their buildings).

Are they the body of Christ? Who leads them?

But Scripture tells us we are like the body, many different members of one Spirit in Christ, baptized in that same Spirit. All members of the ekklesia ( 1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Does the scripture make you a Christian? How can we become a full-pledged Christian?

Thay said, I'm afraid I don't quite grasp the concluding part of your question. Maybe rephrase it?

Thank you and blessings,

ldb

The one flock and one Lord is only found in the flock of the Lord, whose Teacher and Pastor is the real and forever living Christ Jesus, across all generations. However, in various denominations, the leaders are denominational [men] pastors, and the Bible alone is the source of teachings/doctrines, not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Where then is the one flock and one Lord in various denominations?

[lastdaysbeliever]

[Replying to lastdaysbeliever in post #41]

I don't know that I can answer you properly but, there is one Lord and His one ekklesia,

Where is it, and how can we be members of that ekklesia?

and there is no denying there are various denominations that claim to be Christian (just read the markee outside their buildings).

Are they the body of Christ? Who leads them?

But Scripture tells us we are like the body, many different members of one Spirit in Christ, baptized in that same Spirit. All members of the ekklesia ( 1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Does the scripture make you a Christian? How can we become a full-pledged Christian?

Thay said, I'm afraid I don't quite grasp the concluding part of your question. Maybe rephrase it?

Thank you and blessings,

ldb

The one flock and one Lord is only found in the flock of the Lord, whose Teacher and Pastor is the real and forever living Christ Jesus, across all generations. However, in various denominations, the leaders are denominational [men] pastors, and the Bible alone is the source of teachings/doctrines, not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Where then is the one flock and one Lord in various denominations?

With all due respect to you and your line of questioning, we are derailing this OP. As much as I would like to write a response I don't want to be responsible for continuining to derail, out of respect to the author of the OP. I pray you agree.

Blessings,
ldb

[OneJack]

[Replying to lastdaysbeliever in post #41]

I don't know that I can answer you properly but, there is one Lord and His one ekklesia,

Where is it, and how can we be members of that ekklesia?

and there is no denying there are various denominations that claim to be Christian (just read the markee outside their buildings).

Are they the body of Christ? Who leads them?

But Scripture tells us we are like the body, many different members of one Spirit in Christ, baptized in that same Spirit. All members of the ekklesia ( 1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Does the scripture make you a Christian? How can we become a full-pledged Christian?

Thay said, I'm afraid I don't quite grasp the concluding part of your question. Maybe rephrase it?

Thank you and blessings,

ldb

The one flock and one Lord is only found in the flock of the Lord, whose Teacher and Pastor is the real and forever living Christ Jesus, across all generations. However, in various denominations, the leaders are denominational [men] pastors, and the Bible alone is the source of teachings/doctrines, not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Where then is the one flock and one Lord in various denominations?

With all due respect to you and your line of questioning, we are derailing this OP. As much as I would like to write a response I don't want to be responsible for continuining to derail, out of respect to the author of the OP. I pray you agree.

Blessings,
ldb

My line of questioning has something to do with Christianity, in general.

[otseng]

[Replying to OneJack in post #42]

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[RBD]

[Replying to RBD in post #28]

that generation has passed away, as has every generation since then to present. It's the last generation of sinful men ruling on earth, that will pass away at the Lord's return.

How do you get "the last generation of sinful men ruling on earth" from "this generation"?

Because that generation has passed away without those things coming to pass. And we know that generation has not come to pass, since Peter and John at the end of their lives and generation still prophesied of the Lord's coming.

By taking 'this' generation to the letter, rather than prophecy of the Spirit, some say Jesus has already come again, which is not true due to the manner of His coming with glory in the air for all to see. Others say He will not come at all, which contradicts the spirit and the letter of prophecy.

And 'this' generation of His coming is the last generation of the Lord's coming. And it is the last generation of sinful men ruling on earth, since He comes again to put down all evil doers, and righteously rule over all the earth with His resurrected saints: "This" generation is "the last generation of sinful men ruling on earth"

Which ties in to the age-old question, that finds fault with God the Almighty Creator: Why is so still much evil in the world?! It's not a question demanded of God in heaven, but rather than of men on earth: Who have been sinfully ruling over the earth themselves, since transgressing God's commandment in the garden of Eden.

The real question is why God has allowed sinful people to still rule themselves on earth, and for so long, which will end with the judgment of all people on earth at the Lord's coming:

2Pe 3:3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2Pe 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[RBD]

[Replying to RBD in post #27]

Must have been a liberal Christian. They go back and forth too.

Have you not read of how Jesus, with his disciples, violated the law by picking grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12) after teaching that not a jot or tittle had passed from the law (Matthew 5)? If Jesus could be liberal, why can't a Christian be liberal?

Have you not read that Jesus was falsely accused of violating the law by hypocrite law violators.

Since Jesus is a law keeper, Christians cannot be law breakers. And so not liberals, since you rightly compare liberals with law breaking...

And also, no surprise in active unbelievers in Jesus Christ, siding with false accusers of Jesus:

1Co 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:


Rubbing ears of corn to eat was not a violation of the written law of the Sabbath, but only a violation of sinful men's own tradition about the Sabbath.

Mat 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

[RBD]

This is going to be a hot take, but if you assume some sort of divine hand went into all this, there's not much wiggle room.

If God has said something is immoral, that's it. He's either got divine moral authority or he doesn't. At this point you must choose to dump the baby out with the bathwater or keep it all.

Amen to that. If not in the Lord, you're at least a good brother in spirit. I'd rather listen to your hot take, than all the slobber of liberal believers.

Rev 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Be ye hot therefore, and repent.


You got any other hot stuff?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to RBD in post #46]

How do you get "the last generation of sinful men ruling on earth" from "this generation"?

Because that generation has passed away without those things coming to pass. And we know that generation has not come to pass, since Peter and John at the end of their lives and generation still prophesied of the Lord's coming.

This is just a circular argument built on the assumption that the prophecy has to be true.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to RBD in post #47]

Since Jesus is a law keeper, Christians cannot be law breakers. And so not liberals, since you rightly compare liberals with law breaking...

"anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5:19)

"If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel."
(Deuteronomy 22:22)

In John 8, when some men drag a woman caught in adultery in front of Jesus and remind him of what the law says, does he teach them to keep the law by putting her to death?