Liberalism Is Dangerous
By: Brenda

Everyone knows that liberals exist; our country is divided over the differences in liberalism and conservatism.  Liberalism in the world is destructive; in the work of the church, it causes even greater damage.  While a foreign concept to many who claim to be Christians or those who look for ways to injure Christians, this concept is often cited as harsh and unloving.  It is, however, very important to see this matter for what it really is; sin.  Like the ugly neon-yellow, green, and purple polka-dotted VW tooling around Austin: once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.

If we are to be pleasing to God, we must look at ourselves first, then others to identify liberalism – and the compromises required.  Each of the following scriptures names people who were damaging to the work of the early church and were clearly identified and rejected.  (I Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 4:14; 3 John 9, et al)

I am not writing this article to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for the work of the Lord; the lost are dying in droves every day.  I am, however, pleading with each of us to a) understand that being enthusiastic for the wrong reasons is condemned by God (Romans 10:1-3) and b) recognize that while many of us think  we are good people, love God, and will be welcomed home with Him one day, we may not (Matthew 7:21-23).  We can be rejected if we don’t carefully and honestly look at ourselves and change those things that are in opposition to God’s will.

I cannot apologize for the truth in this article, nor will I, for it is written to show that a) liberals exist, b) liberals can be identified, and c) liberals can be so clearly identified that there remains no confusion about who they are and why they are liberal.  We are told we must mark error (Romans 15:17-18); this isn’t an option, it’s a command.

The Lord’s church is so riddled with liberalism today, it is often difficult to recognize excepting the sign over the door.  The new hermeneutic (a highly subjective, error-filled, and personal way of interpreting the Bible), car washes and bake sales to fund mission work (I Corinthians 16:1-2), instrumental music blended into the worship (I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), women usurping authority over men (I Corinthians 14:34), and the list goes on and on… seemingly forever.

The liberal mindset joyously embraces entertainment in lieu of reverent worship in spirit and truth.  Liberals believe it far more important to cater to an atmosphere of social acceptance than be concerned with pleasing the God they say they are worshipping.  Go back and carefully read Matthew 7:21-23:

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (NKJV)

Are we exempt from God’s commands today?  Does God not clearly provide the pattern by which He accepts our worship?  Unlike the children of Israel, are we left to ‘feel our way’ to a worship that pleases Him?  Of course not.  Just as the priests who were told specifically what was acceptable and what was not, we, too, know what we have authority to include in our worship and what we cannot add or remove.

Consider this example: you browse the Internet shops (or open a catalog) and decide to buy a book.  The store you are considering stocks thousands of titles in the genre you want.  You finally decide on the book you want and you place your order.  You provide the title, ISBN, and any other defining elements because you only want that specific book.  Do you write the store with a list of books not to send?  Of course not; that list would be many pages long.  You know what will please you, what you will pay for, and what you expect.  A reputable book seller will not send you every book except the one you order!

God clearly states what He will accept in our worship to Him, and doesn’t have to list everything He will not accept.  Churches with praise teams, dramatic plays and presentations, women worship committees, and the like, find no authority in God’s word – by direct statement, approved example, or divine implication.

One of the most serious mistakes liberals make is in the area of redemption.  When our memberships include unconverted, unrepentant souls (I Peter 3:21), we call Satan part of our family.  The current popular clamor for religious union, accepting denominations and calling it ‘unity’, confusing liberal grace and fellowship with God’s perfect and divine grace and pattern for fellowship is equivalent to blurring God’s clear lines of demarcation.  We put ourselves and our own liberalism above God’s perfect wisdom and knowledge!

Need some examples?  The ‘visible’ and liberal church is happy to oblige.  Max Lucado continues to demonstrate this liberal mindset – the Oak Hills Church (using Christ’s name was too exclusive and would destroy community ‘unity’) was formerly a Church of Christ.  Compromising God’s plan of salvation, Lucado went on a Lubbock radio station – broadcast to countless numbers of listeners – and offered the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ in lieu of conversion.  The Oak Hills leadership allows their denomination’s website to proclaim that you are welcomed as a member there even “if you choose not to be immersed at this time”… but cautions that such choice must “respect our teaching position and not be divisive…”  How about the ‘Worship Ministry’ music?  A supposedly non-profit effort, this marketing effort is nothing more than “compromise and conciliation for crowds and cash” (Sweeten, 2007).

Is liberalism in the church a ‘new ‘ concept.  Nope.  It has been around for centuries and it really nothing more than rebellion against God.  Churches everywhere are dying for such artificial liberties.  God would never ask us to do anything that wasn’t ultimately for our own good and as such, has not left us to grope our way to salvation.  Isaiah wrote: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)  The book of Judges continues to condemn such liberal innovators, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes”. (Judges 21:25)

It comes to this: if we wish to please God, benefit our own lives while here on earth, and hear the welcome words “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:23) on the Day of Judgment, we will reject liberalism in all its forms and do the will of God in all things.

If we don’t, we will be lost for all eternity.  No ‘do over’, ‘sorry, let me try that one again’, or ‘well, God, you know I meant well’… just the reward we earned for our choices.

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