For our purpose in this study, we use Webster’s # 5 definition of the word liberal: “not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as a literal translation.” Another definition by Webster is, “free from restraint; unchecked...”

Many of our readers may recall that the word liberal was employed frequently during the rage of the institutional question, and properly applied to those who went beyond what is written, in defending the right of churches to engage in general benevolence, to fund human institutions, such as benevolent societies, so called Christian schools, evangelistic institutions such as Herald of Truth, etc. etc. One was said to be liberal or conservative, depending on the stand he took on “the issues,” as they became known. Those issues became the standard by which one was judged to be sound or unsound. A prominent question in those days was, “how do you stand on the issues?” But now, as it was then, those aren’t the only issues which must be addressed. In fact, there are so many knotty problems or issues in the church today that should bring sorrow to our hearts, and tears to our eyes, and satan isn’t going to let these issues die. Brethren, it is later than we think!

Liberalism is a term which will encompass all of these issues; for when one is “free from restraint or unchecked,” it matters not what the issue may be. But the law of God is designed to restrain men in their life styles (I Tim. 1:9-10). But liberals (as we all know) will not be retrained. They know what the scriptures teach; they are acquainted with divine revelation, but it is not what we know, but how we feel about it. Brethren, it all comes down to the desire of the heart, and the heart cannot be passive, for it will attach itself to something. Too many times we look at what the denominations are doing, and we want that. We look at what the liberal churches are doing, and we want that. It’s the same attitude as described in I Sam. 8, of God’s people who said, “make us a king to judge us like the nations.” It is our selfishness! They said, “Make us a king.” That same attitude is strong among many today, I’m afraid. Brethren, it is later than we think!

Liberal churches today are in trouble, and they know it. Notice this from a liberal paper out of East Corinth Church of Christ in Mississippi, by Garland M. Robinson: “...We are at war! We are in a desperate battle for the souls of men. It’s time we keep the sword bloody by constant use against wickedness, evil doing and false teaching until the Lord removes it from our grasp in death. If we do not, the church will continue it’s headlong rush into apostasy. It will continue to split and splinter and be unrecognizable in comparison to the first century church.” Brother Robinson needs to be reminded that many of those institutional churches have already gone so far as to not be recognizable as a first century church, but have more resemblance to denominational churches. Brethren, it is later than we think!