A Christian’s world view foundation is built primarily by the manner in which he or she defines Love. The nature of love, when debated, described, or defined by human experience (desire) while re-wording, revising, or omitting the Word of God will consistently exalt the self, consistently give priority to the satisfaction found in this world and its ways. When love is approached apart from the Word, God will always be given the lower priority. Progressive christianity allows one to set his or her desire/emotions as their driving force. Friendship with God now and forever is given the lower place, subjected to however a progressive christian feels.
What about unconditional love?
“Jason is 19. When Jason is not high, he sells drugs to kids to support his habit. Jason lives at home with his working mom. Jason’s mom loves him dearly. He is all she has left in this world. Jason’s mom eventually realizes all that he’s been doing. She tells him she loves him. Then she tells him he must stop what he’s doing or he can no longer stay in her house. It breaks her heart in a way she did not know was possible. He doesn’t want help. He doesn’t think he needs help. She’s forced to kick her son out of her home because he refuses to stop living the life he has chosen to live.”
Unconditional love does not equal unconditional acceptance. What would you say if Jason’s mom said, “I cannot force his hand. He’s a good boy. I don’t like what he’s doing, but I love him. I have to let him do as he wishes.” Hopefully we can agree that is not love. That’s called enabling. If Jason’s mom were to react that way, what would that tell us about her? It would tell us she’s afraid of not being loved, that she’s insecure, that she’s willing to compromise in order to have at least some kind of Relationship, if only little more than proximity.
Is God insecure?
Do you think God is afraid of not being loved? Do you think He’s willing to compromise righteousness in order to keep proximity to us? Here’s a popular passage:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
So God makes this unbelievably grand gesture, offering us salvation though we did not ask for it, though we were sinners – lost. Those who believe in Him, those who do His will, are not going to be condemned. Those who do not believe, those who do not do His will – evil deeds (vs. 19) will be condemned.
God is not like us. God is not weak, broken, and insecure. The relationship He has offered to us is like any other relationship. Progressive christianity lacks the fundamentals for a healthy relationship with God by by removing God from His throne and replacing Him with one’s desire. When a person in any relationship puts his or herself first, the relationship is doomed. Progressive christianity can only exist when one is willing to compromise the integrity of the Word. When one is willing to define love as permission to be and remain as you are, it is not love that is being given, it is compromise, which can also be referred to as tolerance. Some think they are in good standing with God because they have clear consciences. While Holy Spirit can speak to us through our conscience, our conscience can not be our only moral compass. Simply, we want what we want. Our hearts often outweigh our conscience. Our overbearing desires easily suppress that little voice. As Holy Spirit said through Timothy, there are those who have their consciences seared as with a hot iron. In other words, some have an unfeeling, unsensing, conscience. Christians’ morals cannot be subject to Christians’ desire. Thankfully, God gave us both the Word and the Spirit to keep us on the narrow path.
Relationship, Relationship, Relationship
God wants a relationship with everyone. Every human being. He made the way by sending Jesus for us. Many take their belief in Jesus as the sole factor in their salvation. Whether in immaturity or selfishness, they deny the nature of a relationship. A self-centered person does not consider the necessity of reciprocity within a relationship. He or she only considers what needs to be said or done in order to get what they want out of the relationship. Surely an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or ex-spouse just came to mind. If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? – Hebrews 10:26, 29. For the one who “believes” in Jesus but chooses to condone unrighteous lifestyles under the banner of tolerance or unconditional love, he or she denies the nature of love. He or she makes no distinction between good and evil, light and dark. That individual chooses to live with the pre-teen mindset that love is a mere feeling and his or her actions hold little or no weight in comparison to his or her feelings. No earthly relationship can last when one person treats the other in such a selfish way. Likewise, there is no room for a relationship – the only thing God desires with us – when we are self-centered and self-sufficient.
Take Me As I Am
Just as I am, Lord. But that you might rid my soul of darkness. Just as I am, Lord: poor, wretched and blind. Just as I am Lord, that you might welcome and pardon. That you might cleanse me. That you might be my relief.
The hymn, Just As I Am, acknowledges our wickedness. It acknowledges Jesus as the only answer. Just as I am is not a slogan that should be used to welcome and enable those who seek to find spiritual support for living lifestyles that the Word calls unrighteous. Many will call the Lord by name, citing their belief, citing their good works. But they will be sent away if they did their own will, thinking it was the Father’s will a. For those who want to follow Jesus, they must 1) deny themselves, 2) daily take up their cross, 3) then follow B. None can take up a cross (much less follow Jesus) apart from first denying themselves. The door is narrow. The path to the door is difficult. Few find it B. Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. You want things only so that you can use them for your own pleasures. You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. So if a person wants to be a friend of the world, he makes himself God’s enemy d. Are you willing to surrender to God’s will and let go of your own? It’s not easy, but it’s good. The nature of love is self-sacrifice. Ask a mom. Ask a dad. Ask a happily married man and woman. There’s the natural precedent. Now look at what Jesus has done for us. Love can be defined by self-sacrifice for the good of another. This is the love God offers. And this is the love He wants in return. Are you willing to accept this love? It is selfless. And therefore… offensive. Are you willing to deny yourself?
a: Mat 7:21-23
b: Luke 9:23
c: Mat 7:14
d: James 4:1, 3-4
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