Liberalism

Gospel Greater Than Conservatism & Liberalism

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

The gospel is neither conservative nor liberal; and at the same time the gospel is both liberal and conservative.  This causes a lot of confusion to folks both inside and outside of the Church.

On the one hand, the gospel is conservative because it declares that there is such a thing as right and wrong, and that there are benefits from choosing right and consequences that accompany wrong.   Each person is responsible for his or her own actions and attitudes.  These are very conservative principles.

On the other hand, the gospel is the free gift that is given to those who have not earned it and cannot afford it.  In fact, we are told the gospel is the riches of Christ redistributed to those who admit their spiritual poverty.  Isaiah says it is like being invited to a party, but the only ones who can come are those who cannot pay, or who are humble enough to admit whatever riches they think they might have are not valid currency.  (Isaiah 55.1-2) These seem to be very liberal ideas and images.

Both are true. Equally true. Both are essential. Leave out one side or the other and you create a “different gospel” – which, as Paul says, is really no gospel at all.  In fact, Paul tells us that anyone trying to pass a counterfeit gospel should be ( and will be) anathema – repeatedly destroyed over and over for all eternity.  (Galatians 1.6-9)

I would suggest, even insist, that both Conservatism and Liberalism are false worldviews and offer counterfeit gospels.  The gospel is not a compromise of liberalism and conservatism, nor is it merely a middle way. The gospel is the expression of God’s very nature and plan.  It is therefore, THE Truth, because God himself – and God alone – is Truth.  And it is eternal Truth because God, who is Truth, is eternally God.

What both Conservatives and Liberals have done, at least those who operate as if these philosophies are the supreme ideologies, is to carve off portions of the Truth that meet their personal preferences at the expense of the valid point of the other.  Both begin with as a reduction of the gospel  Each then proceeds to build their respective worldview upon these faulty foundations of a corrupted gospel.

We begin to escape the confusion when we recognize our own propensity toward either Conservatism or Liberalism, at the expense of the other.  We begin to overcome our limitations when we recognize the whole gospel alone is the Truth, and then commit to a lifelong pursuit of excavating the depths and complexities of the gospel, while at the same time venturing to live out all the implications of the gospel in every aspect of our lives.

Whether theologically or politically, conservatism and liberalism are impotent to effect real, enduring, or godly change. But the gospel, undiluted and undistorted,  is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1.20-25)

Fundamentalists, Liberals, and Gospel-Centered Christianity

/ Dennis Griffith / 2 Comments

If you think about it, Fundamentalist and Liberal Christians have more on common with one another than either does with Gospel-centered Christianity.  While Fundamentalists and Liberals would seem to be very different from the other, almost even polar opposites, I am convinced this is true.  For both of those traditions tend to view the purpose of Christianity to be to make one a good person, or to validate a persons goodness.  Fundamentalist assume what makes one a “good” person is to keep the rules.  Liberal Christians, on the other hand, maintain that “good” people are never judgmental (except, perhaps, about judgmental people).  So both are in essence legalists.  At the center of their faith is the Law. The only thing to distinguishes them from one another is how they view and relate to the Law.  Both are driven by personal performance.

Gospel-centered Christianity, on the other hand, in line with the message of the Prophets and Apostles, and even Jesus himself, is not centered on the law nor driven by personal performance.  Gospel-centered Christianity is centered on the person of Jesus.  Unlike the other two traditions, Gospel-centered Christianity agrees with Jesus’ words: There are no good people – not when the standard is God’s holiness. (Mark 10.18)  Gospel-centered Christianity understands that Jesus, and what he has done on our behalf, is our only hope.  And Gospel-centered Christians take comfort, even delight, in that, because Jesus is the only hope and comfort we need.