What is a Liberal Christian?

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Charlie24

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We all have our opinions and ideas of what a liberal Christian stands for, I would like to hear it from the horses mouth so to speak.

Hopefully some will explain exactly what it means to be a liberal Christian, why you label yourself in that way. Maybe explain why you feel the need to place "liberal" into Christianity.

Not looking to condemn, just want to understand your perspective on the matter!
 
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Addy

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People have such a need to place labels on things... I have never understood why... Christianity in it's true form does NOT change.
Anything that seeks to change the bible to "fit" the changes in society is doing nothing more than perverting the gospel.

This world is filled with FALSE gospel.... but it is NOT Christianity.
 

Truman

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As a libertarian, just left of center, I see a liberal can be an oversensitive person.
I see a conservative can be an under-sensitive person.
I believe left and right can both be different manifestations of the same madness, which causes division.
Both sides can be rigid in their views, aka, "authoritarian."
When both sides balance each other out, I think we can have the best government possible until Yeshua returns.
You may disagree with me, but I'll defend your right to disagree with me. Shalom.
 
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Charlie24

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As a libertarian, just left of center, I see a liberal can an oversensitive person.
I see a conservative can be an under-sensitive person.
I believe left and right can both be different manifestations of the same madness, which cause division.
Both sides can be rigid in their views, aka, "authoritarian."
When both sides balance each other out, I think we can have the best government possible until Yeshua returns.
You may disagree with me, but I'll defend your right to disagree with me. Shalom.

It's interesting that you mention under and over sensitive. How does that fit in the scripture and living a life of following Christ?
 

CadyandZoe

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We all have our opinions and ideas of what a liberal Christian stands for, I would like to hear it from the horses mouth so to speak.

Hopefully some will explain exactly what it means to be a liberal Christian, why you label yourself in that way. Maybe explain why you feel the need to place "liberal" into Christianity.

Not looking to condemn, just want to understand your perspective on the matter!
Liberal Christians don't refer to themselves as "liberal". That was a label given to them by others. A liberal Christian is someone who does not believe in the supernatural; does not believe in miracles; and especially does not believe in the resurrection of the dead. A liberal Christian attempts to follow Jesus as one would follow any other "good teacher" such as Buddha or Gondi. They don't believe that God deals directly with human beings or that he interferes in the affairs of men. God leaves us alone to work things out for ourselves.

Other than the moral teaching of Jesus, a liberal Christian does not commend prayer or mediation to those who seek self improvement. Rather, man is only able to progress through science and technology. Liberal Christians tend to read the Gospels through Marist lenses, believing that Jesus taught a form of socialism, or communism.
 

Addy

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Liberal Christians don't refer to themselves as "liberal". That was a label given to them by others. A liberal Christian is someone who does not believe in the supernatural; does not believe in miracles; and especially does not believe in the resurrection of the dead. A liberal Christian attempts to follow Jesus as one would follow any other "good teacher" such as Buddha or Gondi. They don't believe that God deals directly with human beings or that he interferes in the affairs of men. God leaves us alone to work things out for ourselves.

Other than the moral teaching of Jesus, a liberal Christian does not commend prayer or mediation to those who seek self improvement. Rather, man is only able to progress through science and technology. Liberal Christians tend to read the Gospels through Marist lenses, believing that Jesus taught a form of socialism, or communism.
Ok now.... LOL.... Where on earth did you get this from?? Is there truly such a thing as a liberal Christian?? I thought it was just a mix of politics and religion.
 

Charlie24

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Liberal Christians don't refer to themselves as "liberal". That was a label given to them by others. A liberal Christian is someone who does not believe in the supernatural; does not believe in miracles; and especially does not believe in the resurrection of the dead. A liberal Christian attempts to follow Jesus as one would follow any other "good teacher" such as Buddha or Gondi. They don't believe that God deals directly with human beings or that he interferes in the affairs of men. God leaves us alone to work things out for ourselves.

Other than the moral teaching of Jesus, a liberal Christian does not commend prayer or mediation to those who seek self improvement. Rather, man is only able to progress through science and technology. Liberal Christians tend to read the Gospels through Marist lenses, believing that Jesus taught a form of socialism, or communism.

I've talked to several over the years who consider themselves "liberal Christians."

I've never been able to get handle on exactly what that means.

I was hoping someone would explain it, how "liberal" fits into scripture.
 

Pearl

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I don't really understand the term 'liberal Christian' but to me it means tolerance rather than finger pointing. I means not banging people on the head with scripture. It means not adhering to religious rules and doctrines which are man-made. It means loving and caring and looking at the good in people. Of course that may not really answer the OP but it what I thought of when I saw it.
 

Addy

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I don't really understand the term 'liberal Christian' but to me it means tolerance rather than finger pointing. I means not banging people on the head with scripture. It means not adhering to religious rules and doctrines which are man-made. It means loving and caring and looking at the good in people. Of course that may not really answer the OP but it what I thought of when I saw it.

Funny.... when I heard the term... I took it to be a political statement. I truly wish I had not joined the forums during a US presidential election year... I think I might just be scarred for life with what I witnessed... HAHA.
 

Truman

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It's interesting that you mention under and over sensitive. How does that fit in the scripture and living a life of following Christ?
I may view things a bit differently.
Picture a plumb-line hanging down. I see this as the pure truth of God's word. Perfect peace.
A swing to the left is rooted in unbelief.
A swing to the right is rooted in pride.
When one's personality is built on unbelief, it doesn't take much to offend them. A disagreement with one's can be seen as rejection, which we all know can be painful.
A personality built on pride, while strong, is very sensitive to criticism, since it believes it's right. A hostile response is often triggered.
I believe that what I have just described is the carnal, or sinful nature, and is dealt with through the walking out of Luke 9:23. :)
 

Addy

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@CadyandZoe ... Ok... I found something about this... Is it a breaking away from Calvinism?? That seems to be what I have found in it's earliest form.
 

Truman

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I don't really understand the term 'liberal Christian' but to me it means tolerance rather than finger pointing. I means not banging people on the head with scripture. It means not adhering to religious rules and doctrines which are man-made. It means loving and caring and looking at the good in people. Of course that may not really answer the OP but it what I thought of when I saw it.
Sounds more like libertarian to me, which I think I am. I think center, politically, is where we find the word of God, aka, Jesus.
 

Agios

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I live in a highly liberal area, it's difficult to find a church that has not brought political agenda's to the pulpit. Many of these churches (and I have visited many of them), sounds more like a CNN news segment than a Biblical sermon. What I have noticed about "liberal" Christianity is they are more likely to toss out scripture, for instance, many of the more liberal denominations allow homosexuality into their leadership, they also allow sin inside their churches (for the sake of acceptance), they support people who support abortion, gay marriages, homosexuality and are, in my opinion, easily deceived to view issues without a Biblical bases.

I took a new neighbor to church, I did not realize she was liberal, the sermon was on true Biblical marriage, between a man and a woman, she hated the sermon and she never went back, she said it was too "judgy". LOL She considers herself a Christian but admits to saying she throws out the parts of the Bible regarding this issue because "the Bible has been changed too many times" - basically you can't trust the very Word of God because it was "changed".

What I have also noticed is, the more liberal Christians rely MORE on the government (wanting it to grow, wanting the government to solve the problems INSTEAD of God). A person can argue all they want, but this IS the truth. Liberalism likes big government, likes rules, wants to be ruled.

I also went to a more conservative church, it was the same, all he talked about were social issues. If people show up to your church on Sunday morning and you are the preacher - we want to hear about God from His Word. Not what CNN reports day in and day out.

That's my take.
 

CadyandZoe

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@CadyandZoe ... Ok... I found something about this... Is it a breaking away from Calvinism?? That seems to be what I have found in it's earliest form.
Hmm. That's interesting. Thanks for sharing your research.

What I had in mind was a time during the late 19th century when American Protestantism fractured into two parts: a conservative branch and a liberal branch and the definitions of "conservative" and "liberal" centered on the question of the inerrancy of the Bible. During that time, Christian Parents were sending their kids off to college and university, only to find that their children had lost their faith. This was due in part to a shift in higher education away from the humanities and toward science and engineering.

Thus, during that time, Christian Fundamentalism was born, which was a movement to teach and defend the fundamentals of the Christian faith in a world that was quickly rejecting faith and the Bible as a means to truth. Also during that time, other "Christians" were attempting to integrate science into the faith and in part, rejected the supernatural and everything that comes with it including God's revelation and his message to mankind. These folks began to adopt the progressive and humanitarian philosophies to suggest that man is basically and fundamentally good. The good news message of salvation was replaced with the emphasis on education as the means to human human fulfillment.
 

Truman

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God is right and disagreeing with Him makes one wrong.
Now, exactly what is He saying?
So many teachers...so many different opinions...I'd better hear Him for myself.
If, and most likely when, I make mistakes, I'll learn from them.
If I suffer because of them, at least my pain will be of my doing.
Now, if I can just forgive myself.
Help me, Jesus! :)
 
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Randy Kluth

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We all have our opinions and ideas of what a liberal Christian stands for, I would like to hear it from the horses mouth so to speak.

Hopefully some will explain exactly what it means to be a liberal Christian, why you label yourself in that way. Maybe explain why you feel the need to place "liberal" into Christianity.

Not looking to condemn, just want to understand your perspective on the matter!

Most liberals I've heard speak adopt the "Liberal" label as a badge of pride for supposedly being more "open-minded." Since the Enlightenment Period in the 18th century, there has developed an attitude in Europe that conservative, doctrinally-orthodox Christianity is outmoded and based on superstition, and is anti-science and anti-reason.

Since that time the Western world has directed its universities and public education to avoid religious "bigotry" and "narrow-minded dogmatism." Religion has essentially been relegated to a kind of "cultural artifact," and in its place humanistic morality, with its constantly changing set of concerns, has taken root.

"Liberals" gladly embrace the new intellectual orientation, since the supernatural is not an empirical basis for knowledge, they believe. Since an "experimental and a more practical methodology" has been in the ascendancy, religious "faith" has been left in the dustbin of history, reserved only for the "emotional, sentimental" side of life, for young children and old people nearing death.

This is certainly not my perspective. Knowledge comes both from empirical evidence and supernatural input from God. They cannot be separated without creating a certain "blindness" and a deficiency of knowledge, as God created it to be for us.
 

Addy

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What I had in mind was a time during the late 19th century when American Protestantism fractured into two parts: a conservative branch and a liberal branch and the definitions of "conservative" and "liberal" centered on the question of the inerrancy of the Bible. During that time, Christian Parents were sending their kids off to college and university, only to find that their children had lost their faith. This was due in part to a shift in higher education away from the humanities and toward science and engineering.

Thus, during that time, Christian Fundamentalism was born, which was a movement to teach and defend the fundamentals of the Christian faith in a world that was quickly rejecting faith and the Bible as a means to truth. Also during that time, other "Christians" were attempting to integrate science into the faith and in part, rejected the supernatural and everything that comes with it including God's revelation and his message to mankind. These folks began to adopt the progressive and humanitarian philosophies to suggest that man is basically and fundamentally good. The good news message of salvation was replaced with the emphasis on education as the means to human human fulfillment.
I didn't really do research... I looked it up... and the Calvinism thing was expressed in one of the statements. I was surprised to hear that this goes back as far as it does. Thank you for taking the time to share this.