Would You Rather Be Popular or Right?
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
“Progressive Christianity is an oxymoron. You can either be a Christian or you can be a progressive.” – Deacon Calvin Robinson
Calvin John Robinson, age 38, is a British cleric, conservative political commentator, writer, and broadcaster. Since 2022, he has been a deacon with the Free Church of England, an evangelical Anglican church organization with about 2,300 members spread over 18 different congregations.
When I first read Robinson’s comments above, another recent quote came immediately to mind. This one was by Pope Francis, criticizing the Catholic Church for being too “backward-looking.”
Pope Francis went on to say that “we need to understand that there is an appropriate evolution in the understanding of matters of faith and morals,” noting that concepts of morality change over time. “In other words,” he added, “doctrine also progresses, expands and consolidates with time and becomes firmer, but is always progressing.”
That, my friends, is not only wrong, but also heretical.
To say that the core doctrines of the Christian faith need to change with the times is exactly what is wrong with the Church today… and why it has lost so much of its influence and effectiveness. Instead of impacting – and helping to positively shape the world for good – the Church is being infiltrated and diluted by the secular world in a vain attempt at being more popular.
The Bible is eternally true and doesn’t need to be amended, revised, or updated to make it more palatable or socially acceptable. On the contrary, it is just as relevant and applicable today as the day its various books were written.
God is unchanging (see Hebrews 13:8) and so is His Word (see Isaiah 40:8).
“I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
