I write this a little tongue-in-cheek. It is a parody of Michael J. Kruger’s book, The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity.
But take note, each of these commandments is partially true. And it is a master class in half-truths that actually sound appealing on the surface.
1. Jesus is an object of worship, not a person we should imitate.
2. Affirming people’s depravity is more important than reminding them of their potential.
3. Making judgments is more important than reconciliation between people.
4. Right belief is more important than kind and compassionate behavior.
5. Supplying answers is more valuable than asking uncomfortable questions.
6. Group uniformity is more important than a personal search for truth.
7. Maintaining institutions is more important than meeting actual needs.
8. Taking power is more important than peacemaking.
9. We should care more about what people do in their sex life than about love.
10. The afterlife is more important than life in this world, therefore forget about the environment.
This Is not Christianity
If Michael J. Kruger believes “liberal Christianity is not Christianity”, then equally true, is that conservative Christianity is not Christianity. And can you really be a Christian if you do not follow Christianity?
Of course, I don’t believe either statement. Christians can be both liberal or conservative and still be Christians. What matters is whether they love God and have made Jesus their Lord and Savior. After all, you can be right in your heart and wrong in your head.
Christianity is the religion of Christians, and there is no perfect theology. Conservative Christianity and liberal Christianity are both imperfect. Progressive Christianity just tries to be honest and acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers. But we are constantly seeking the truth in love. We are progressing “until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). We are not there yet. Let’s be charitable.