Ultra-Liberalism In Churches of Christ
Introduction
I would like to thank Glenn Melton for asking me to write a series of articles for StraitWay in 2002. I have chosen as my topic "Ultra-Liberalism In Churches of Christ" In this series I intend to look at the ultra-liberalism that is tearing apart liberal/institutional churches.
Several years ago I was given an article by Robert R.Taylor, Jr. of Ripley, TN. The article was reprinted in a church bulletin, East Hill News, August 16, 1992 (I do not know brother Taylor, neither do I know which church publishes the East Hill News). The title of the article asks, "Is There A New Liberalism?" Taylor lists fifteen items that he considers proof that there is a new liberalism in the church:
- "Rewriting God's laws of marriage, divorce and remarriage..."
- "Turning God's church away from its spiritual mission into recreational outlets and entertainment activities."
- Filling sermons (???) with anything and everything except the Bible..."
- "Advocating a direct leading of the Holy Spirit'"
- "Insisting that Holy Spirit baptism and charismatic gifts are still available..."
- "Calling sectarian the sound veterans of the faith fought sectarianism all their valiant days."
- "Insisting that there are...sincere Christians scattered among the denominations."
- Tampering with God's avowed purpose of baptism..."
- "Moving us closer and closer to the mainstream of popular Protestantism."
- "Making amazing apologies to Christian Church preachers for our being wrong in treating the mechanical instrument issue as basically a matter of their lacking respect for Bible authority..."
- "Relative to the music issue some of our brethren are telling Christian Church preachers that we are the weak brethren and they...are in reality the stronger brethren."
- "A refusal to preach anything negative or that breaths the spirit of controversy."
- "A refusal to see and heed the dangers of Crossroads and its mini cultic characteristics."
- "That there is grace and grace only and no law at all in Christianity."
- "A growing tolerance for anything that calls itself a Bible." (Taylor points out they prefer the NIV and the RSV).
From his article, I believe it would be safe to assume that Taylor is what some are now calling a "conservative/liberal." He does not go along with what I consider ultra-liberalism, but he would still be in favor of the church support of some human institutions.
To Taylor's list I would add::
- The rejection of the Bible as the complete and final revelation of God's will.
- The idea that man is not bound by any law, especially written laws.
- Leadership roles in the worship service should be extended to include women.
- The worship service is changed to include songs during the Lord's Supper and the responsive reading of Scripture, involving women speaking in the worship assembly.
Why do conservative/non-institutional brethren need to be concerned about the trouble in liberal churches? Because, brethren, it is coming our way. At least thirteen of the above nineteen items were involved in the recent split of a conservative East Texas church. Fortunately, the sound brethren were in the majority and were able to hold onto the building. That is not always the case. Next month: How Ultra-Liberalism Comes Into A Congregation - Richard Sims