I hear it a lot these days. It is in the media, in political commentary and on social media platforms of all kinds. It’s the term “progressive”. And the way that descriptor is now used irks me to no end. But that word “progressive”, and “progressivism”, as well, have become terms (read “tools”) used by the woke brigade (woke media outlets, commentators and especially politicians) to describe standards, values and perspectives that are not progressive at all. In fact, they’re the exact opposite. The word is, in a sense, being misappropriated.
The Greens political party, for example, claim to have a whole range of progressive policies. I disagree. Many other political voices make the same claim, asserting that they advance progressive policies. But, from a biblical perspective, these are not progressive but increasingly evil. “Progressivism” is a deception – a strategy to normalise that which is sinful and incredibly damaging. Remember when abortion law reforms, way back in the 1970’s and 80s, were trumpeted as “progressive” reforms protecting a woman’s rights? And, yes, as I have said before, there are certain genuine circumstances where an abortion is justified. But what began as a so-called “progressive” policy and “reform” has now become a method of birth control – which is murder. There are babies not that far from term who survive the abortion process only to be left to die alone in a Petrie dish in the dark, unheld, unloved. Progressive?
But this is but one of hundreds of end results of the strategy of progressivism, which is now standard operating procedure at all levels of society.
Progressivism in woke spheres is the intentional sanitisation of something sinful until it becomes acceptable - then normal. Progressivism is real, it is pernicious and is incredibly persistent and patient until it gets its way. Then, a new standard is cemented in place - or, should I say, imposed on the population. It is the method by which politicians, educators and other prominent social voices do battle for the control of our hearts and minds to bring about acceptance of sin and evil.
The virus of progressivism has even infiltrated many churches today. In an effort to remain “relevant” to its surrounding culture, the church has bowed its knee to progressivism and now acceptance is a critical goal that, when finally attained, has no gospel influence, at all. This new acceptance means, in practice, that there can be no accountability to the truth of God’s Word or the Gospel. Acceptance and tolerance and inclusion – other clever woke terms – have now become the goal of many churches. This is at the cost of the Great Commission and our missional influence. The kind of acceptance that has emerged from progressivist strategies has painted the church into a corner where it is unacceptable no longer acceptable to speak about sin – a critical issue in making disciples and living out our salvation, the new life in Christ.
Probably the most fraught issue here for many churches is sexual sin, whether that be fornication, adultery or LGBTQ lifestyles. The church has been forced into a strange muteness on these issues because it doesn’t want to lose its “Acceptance Badge”. There are elderships and pastors in many churches who cannot – or will not – speak to these issues because acceptance, at the present time is more valuable than someone’s eternal salvation. This I condemn. I do not condemn those lost to the heavenly Father, whom He desperately seeks. But acceptance of sin – any kind – means that there is no accountability, and with no accountability there is no righteous influence, and that means people remain in their sins …
Romans 6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death, …”
The acceptance that comes by progressivism destroys the church’s mission, because it affirms behaviours so opposed to God’s holy standards. This acceptance seems, to me anyway, to be a desperate attempt by elders and pastors to avoid perceptions of condemnation, to avoid conflict, to avoid upsetting anyone – and especially to lose their sense of relevance in the community. But this all comes at horrendous cost. The cost is the loss of influence for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We become salt that has lost its saltiness.
This kind of acceptance in the church makes it extremely unlikely that it will ever be able to proclaim the pure Gospel that sees souls saved to the Father. This acceptance and “tolerance” is completely incompatible with the Gospel. It destroys the message of the cross, and this precisely why the apostle Paul made the following statement …
1 Corinthians 1:17-21 (NIV) “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”
Which brings me to the remedy for this acceptance that has come to us through the tides of progressivism. The critical issue for all Christians is the biblical commitment to honestly, yet lovingly, hold each other accountable to our faith in Christ by means of God’s Word. This is a vitally important issue for our churches today and the only way progressivism’s virus can be eradicated. This accountability in the church – between us Christians - has to be relearned and exercised in mercy and grace. It cannot be reduced to using the Bible as a rule book with which to belt people into line. That NEVER works. It must be used as the means to understand and to know - and delight in - God’s holy requirements.
Hebrews 12:14-17 (NIV) “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.”
Friends, it is not about the rules – it is about the new life we have in Christ. The church can be an agent by which the door of the kingdom is opened to those the Father is seeking to redeem – and there are serious consequences.
Matthew 23:13 (NIV) "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
Or, we can be the church God has called us to be – a kingdom of priests, ambassadors, reconcilers. Think on these things. Resolve to eradicate the virus of progressivism that leads to the acceptance of unholiness. God will not accept it. Before the church can seek to proclaim the Gospel with any integrity and influence in obedience to Christ, it needs to start dealing with acceptable unholiness amongst its own family.
Ps Milton