|
When I was a child, I
spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11
|
What is a
Liberal Christian?
Sometimes liberals are thought to be Christians who have backslidden;
people who don't have enough faith, or are too "in the world."
Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth. Liberal Christians
are committed believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have thoroughly
studied the scriptures and traditions of the Church, and have examined
their faith in the light of reason and experience. They believe in:
Diversity
Perhaps the defining characteristic of liberal Christians is that they
are comfortable with ambiguity and diversity. They realize that life
is a complex spiritual journey, and that each person on that journey is
confronted with unexpected revelations and unique experiences. Liberal
Christians therefore welcome a variety of approaches to understanding
God, and are open to new ways of talking about the divine. Religious
questions are seen as complex, and answers only tentative. Certain that
"now we see through a glass, darkly" (1 Cor. 13:12), liberals are
cautious about making dogmatic statements or claiming to have a
monopoly on the truth. They see the search for truth as an ongoing
task, rather than one that has already been completed.
A Non-Literal
View of Scripture
Conservative Christians are often content to answer religious questions
by appealing to the absolute authority of Scripture. Liberal
Christians, on the other hand, find such an approach to be flawed. Many see the Bible as a witness to revelation, or
generally inspired, rather than completely inspired in all its parts.
Just as Jesus was fully human and wholey divine, so one must also see
the Bible as a product of both human and divine influences. Indeed,
liberal Christians are quick to point out that the falleness and
imperfection of its human authors gives the Bible an imperfect quality
and authority.
Liberals view Scripture through a critical lens, and are not afraid to
challenge traditional assumptions and interpretations. They rely heavily on higher criticism of the Bible, which looks into the origin
and composition of the biblical texts, revealing a great deal about the
human aspect of Scripture. Modern philosophical, biological, and
cosmological theories that are well supported by evidence, and reflect
the true nature of the world around us, can also shape the way liberals
interpret Scripture. Traditional Christian doctrines, such as the
Virgin Birth, the Atonement, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the
Resurrection, are sometimes given new interpretations by liberals.
Perhaps more so than evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians, liberal
Christians see the teachings of Jesus as having a central place.
Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience are each given equal
footing in determining Christian faith.
An Intimate,
Personal View of God
Imminent and personal images of God in Scripture are attractive to
liberals. For some this takes on the form of a belief in panentheism
(Everything-in-God-ism). Liberals also see little distinction between
the natural and the supernatural, and therefore do not look for
"miracles" to confirm the existence of God. Instead, they feel that
faith in God allows one to see the Spirit moving in the everyday stuff
of life.
Universal
Salvation
The concept of personal salvation is not typically stressed by liberal
Christians. Accordingly, traditional images of heaven, hell, and the
End Times are not given much weight in their theologies. When
salvation is discussed, liberals are more apt to stress its "this
worldly" aspects, and appeal to a universalist interpretation of
Scripture when confronted with questions of eternal punishment and
rewards.
For many liberal Christians, social justice is a central concern, and
the transformation of society, rather than that of the individual, is
more typically stressed. Equality for racial minorities, women,
homosexuals, and the economically disadvantaged is seen as an essential
part of the Gospel message. A concern for the environment, and other
typically liberal social issues, also find a great deal of support
among liberal Christians.
Fellowship &
Community
Liberals tend to stress the centrality of community in the Christian
experience. They can be found in almost all churches (from Roman
Catholic to Southern Baptist), but tend to be in greater numbers in the
mainline Protestant denominations: American Baptist Churches, USA; Disciples of Christ; Episcopal Church; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;
Presbyterian Church, USA; United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church. The Unitarian Universalist
Association and the Metropolitan
Community Churches are even more liberally minded.
The
Truth
I find many of the liberal Christian views on God, salvation, women,
homosexuality, Scripture, and Creation to be convincing. When I was an
evangelical Christian, I often felt the need to wash over historical
and scientific evidence with "faith" because the world around me did
not mesh with my preconceived notions about Scripture. I had questions
about Evolution, the Bible, other religions, etc., but those questions
were always met with criticism or simplistic answers by my fellow
evangelical believers. As a liberal Christian, I don't feel like I have
to be intellectually dishonest to myself any more. I can incorporate
what I know about science, history, and theology into my world-view
without conflict. In other words, liberal Christianity just makes more
sense! It is ultimately the reason why I became one.
|