Are You a Conservative, Liberal, or Progressive Christian?

The Christian landscape can be quite confusing. The breadth and diversity of beliefs and perspectives among those who self-identify as “Christian” can be mind-boggling to say the least. Trying to get one’s head around it is tough. Trying to explain it via a short blog post is even tougher. But I’ll make my best attempt here.

First, I’m going to set aside Catholicism vs. Protestantism for this article. We’re also not going to talk about the various Orthodox churches. We’re going to confine ourselves to the conservative vs. liberal and progressive perspectives on the Bible and the Christian faith within “Protestant” and/or “evangelical” and/or “nondenominational” circles — and we’re going to focus mainly on how this all plays out in the United States.

I also don’t want anyone to get confused with how these terms might be used politically. There is overlap, but it is certainly possible to be a theological conservative and a political liberal. Ask William Jennings Bryan. It’s also possible to be socially and politically more conservative while having more of a traditional “liberal” perspective on the Bible. Ask Jordan Peterson.

Understanding the distinctions between Conservative, Liberal, and Progressive Christianity can help clarify where you might align within the broad spectrum of Christian beliefs in the United States.

I’m going to word the following definitions broadly and as fairly as I can — even though I have strong convictions on this. Here we go…

Conservative Christianity

Conservative Christians uphold a high view of Scripture, often emphasizing its inerrancy and viewing it as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice. They tend to interpret the Bible more literally and adhere closely to traditional doctrines.

Please note that a literal interpretation of Scripture does not preclude seeing appropriate parts of the Bible as poetry, allegory, or metaphor. Conservative Christians — at least intelligent, well-studied conservative Christians — believe that Scripture should be interpreted “literally” according to the author’s original intent. If the author intended metaphor, it’s a metaphor. If the author intended history, it’s history. If the author intended theology, it’s theology. And so forth.

This approach to Scripture means that moral and ethical guidelines are seen as absolute. Doctrinal correctness and purity are high priorities.

What’s more, it’s this approach to Scripture that takes seriously the Bible’s teachings on sin and the need for personal salvation and evangelism — which is where the term “evangelical” comes from.

Conservative Christians don’t always agree. In fact, they often disagree on matters of doctrine and practice, but those differences come down to their interpretation of Scripture — not whether the Bible is the highest authority. They are united on that.

Popular conservative Christian theologians, authors, and preachers in the last 200 years include Charles Spurgeon, J. Gresham Machen, Carl F.H. Henry, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Elisabeth Elliot, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Norman Geisler, R.C. Sproul, Charles Swindoll, Wayne Grudem, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Alisa Childers, Alistair Begg, and many more.

The Southern Baptist Convention is squarely in the conservative Christian camp as is the Statement of Faith of Olney Baptist Church, the church I serve.

Liberal Christianity

Liberal Christians approach faith with an openness to reinterpreting traditional beliefs and doctrines in light of modern knowledge and societal changes. They may regard Scripture as one of several sources of truth and divine inspiration, often interpreting it through the lenses of reason, tradition, and contemporary values and experience.

Note that, within Liberal Christianity, there can be differences over how to interpret Scripture, of course. But it gets more complicated because the differences also come down to how much importance is placed on Scripture. The Bible is one of many sources they turn to for wisdom, guidance, and morality.

This perspective emphasizes the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus, focusing on social justice, inclusivity, and the application of Christian principles to address contemporary societal issues.

Some of the most popular thinkers and preachers within Liberal Christianity over the last few hundred years include Friedrich Schleiermacher, Karl Barth, Rudolf Bultmann, Henry Ward Beecher, Walter Rauschenbusch, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Paul Tillich, and John Dominic Crossan.

Progressive Christianity

Progressive Christianity shares similarities with Liberal Christianity in that they continually re-examine traditional interpretations of Scripture to align with contemporary understandings of equality and human rights. But they often place a stronger emphasis on social activism and inclusivity.

Progressives tend to advocate for the full inclusion of groups they see as marginalized. They view faith not so much in the eternal sense but as a means to promote social change and address systemic injustices.

Progressive Christians tend to highly prioritize values, which most often correlate with leftist political thought. I know I said earlier not to confuse politics with this, and that still holds true, but… modern-day theological progressivism in Christian circles is often driven by leftist political philosophy more so than Scripture. That’s just a fact. Many leading progressive “Christian” thinkers are often more apt to cite concepts within Critical Theory or quote from Karl Marx than they are to turn to the Bible.

Notable progressive thinkers and theologians include James Cone, Howard Thurman, John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, Rachel Held Evans, Serene Jones, and Brian McLaren.

Key Differences

• View of Scripture: Conservatives typically hold to the inerrancy and literal interpretation of the Bible, while liberals and progressives may see it as a dynamic document to be interpreted in the context of modern knowledge and experience.
• Theological Flexibility: Liberal and progressive Christians are often more open to reinterpreting or questioning traditional doctrines, whereas conservatives emphasize maintaining fidelity to Scripture.
• Social Engagement: Progressive Christians are more likely to integrate their faith with political activism, focusing on issues like social justice and inclusivity. Conservative Christians, when they do get politically active, tend to favor traditional moral values based on a classic Judeo-Christian framework. They are also sensitive to encroachments on their freedom of speech and sense of religious freedom. In general, though, they prioritize evangelism and personal morality over politics.

A Few More Observations

These categories should often be seen as a ‘spectrum’ rather than boxes. There are moderate conservatives and moderate liberals, for example. There aren’t that many moderate progressives these days (at least not when dealing with some of the more controversial issues), but there are a few.

The lines between Liberal and Progressive Christianity are often very blurry. There is considerable overlap, and in many cases (like, say, the late John Shelby Spong and Marcus Borg) some theologians start in the more traditionally “Liberal” camp and gravitate to the “Progressive” camp.

Some popular Christians are hard to classify. The late Jimmy Carter, for example, was moderately conservative in much of his theology while being liberal and even progressive in other areas of his life. Beth Moore was a conservative Christian for most of her ministry but left the Southern Baptist Convention and has been heading in a more liberal direction.

I mentioned Jordan Peterson earlier. If you’ve watched his interviews and lectures, he is definitely on the political right. He’s extremely critical of Marxism, postmodernism, modern progressivism, and atheism. Nevertheless, if you listen carefully to how he talks about God and the Bible, his perspective has more in common with classic liberal Protestantism than conservative Christianity.

Which is Correct?

Let me publicly say that, when it comes to our relationship with the state and in the context of encouraging peaceful and practical coexistence, I support everyone’s freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. But…

This doesn’t mean that God is obligated to accept every belief or behavior as equally valid. And He doesn’t. If He did, there would be no need for most of the Bible. Let that sink in!

While I believe strongly in “love your neighbor” and strive to do so…

While I admit that conservative Christians can become hypocritical, mean-spirited, and judgmental (just as the Pharisees were in Jesus’ day)…

While I admit that conservative Christians have (at times) been on (as the popular saying goes) “the wrong side of history” on some issues whereas more liberal and progressive Christians (like Martin Luther King) were on the right side…

While I acknowledge that modern-day politics can bring out the worst in just about everyone, including conservative Christians…

Nevertheless…

The cure is sometimes worse than the disease. In this case, I believe the “cure” of liberal and progressive Christianity is worse than the “disease” sometimes found within conservative Christianity.

Liberal and Progressive Christians often “deconstruct” their faith or move to the theological left because of bad experiences they’ve had in conservative Christian churches or circles. In some cases, it’s because they are upset with conservative Christian beliefs. But if a messenger brings you a message, and the messenger turns out to be corrupt or mean-spirited, does that mean the message itself is wrong? Maybe, but not necessarily.

It’s more important that you double-check the truth claims than anything else. That’s why the Bereans in the Book of Acts “searched the Scriptures.” They didn’t look into their hearts or search their feelings.

Liberal and Progressive Christians often emphasize the use of reason and personal experience as lenses through which to interpret Scripture. While this approach aims to make the Christian faith more accessible and relevant to contemporary society, it leads to interpretations that are subjective and variable. It also elevates a person’s experience and their own ability (or lack thereof) to “reason” things out — elevates those things higher than the Holy Spirit!

Can you not see how this fatally undermines the very concept of truth itself, let alone divine revelation?

It also gives cover for people to ignore or redefine what they don’t want to hear.

If you have a disease, you may not want to hear it — but you need to hear it. I don’t want my doctor immersed in relativism or the desire to please me. I want the truth. As Jesus said, only the truth will make us free!

Prioritizing individual perspectives, personal narratives, and subjective beliefs detaches the Bible and the entire Christian church from the well-established foundational truths that have historically unified the Christian faith, not to mention the objective and divinely authoritative revelation of God!

Unfortunately, most liberal and progressive “Christians” (and I have to put that word in quotation marks here) reject the deity of Jesus and conceptualize God more abstractly, viewing the divine as a symbolic or metaphorical presence.

When it comes to how we should approach the Bible, the only right answer is found in these verses…

• He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4, KJV)
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7, KJV)
• Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV)
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10, KJV)
• He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26, KJV)
• The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV)
• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6, KJV)
• Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15, KJV)
• All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (II Timothy 3:16, KJV)
• For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (II Peter 1:16, KJV)
• Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (II Peter 1:20-21, KJV)

Based on those verses – and please go back and re-read them again, meditate on them if necessary – which perspective (conservative, liberal, or progressive) do you think those verses favor?

The answer should be obvious.

Blessings!

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