Fundamental Christianity vs. Modern or progressive Christianity
What does it mean to be a Modern and Progressive Christian?
Progressive Christianity is a recent movement growing in popularity, but what does being modern or progressive in one’s Christian beliefs mean? And the other hand, what does it mean to be a fundamental Christian? What is fundamentalism?
Noble Initiatives within Modern Christianity
One of the standout events in the movement for progressive Christian beliefs was the creation of The Center for Progressive Christianity in the 90s by James Rowe Adam. A retired Episcopalian priest, Adams founded the center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which consists of a network of congregations and groups. This movement promotes an “Eight Point” system of ideas that express a modern believer’s approach to progressive Christianity.
Some of these beliefs include:
- Welcoming all to be involved regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, tradition, etc.
- Recognizing that others follow their own paths to God.
- Striving to protect and restore the integrity of the Earth.
- Aiming for peace and justice among all people.
Another important initiative within the progressive Christianity movement is The Beatitudes Society. This national organization was founded in 2005 and considered its belief system to be Christian at its root but multi-faith in its reach. Their mission is to equip emerging leaders to cultivate modern faith communities that concentrate on justice and the common good.
What is a fundamentalist Christianity?
History of fundamentalism
The term “fundamentalist” has become commonly used by the news media to refer to any religious group that considers holding radical views.
Similarly, liberal society uses the term fundamentalist to identify any Christian they consider an extremist. Generally, they classify a Christian as a radical fundamentalist if they merely believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible. If they hold views against sexual permissiveness, homosexuality, abortion on demand, ungodly dressing, drunkenness, etc.
Fundamentalist Definition
Fundamentalists are traditionally referred to as any follower of Christ who believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and who believes in its literal interpretation. The fundamental Christian believes in the experience of the “new birth,” which occurs when faith is placed in Christ as Savior and Lord. To the world, this may be viewed as radical but is very basic to the Christian faith. For example, let’s see what the Apostle Paul has to tell the Corinthians.
(2 Corinthians 6:17 K J V)
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
(2 Corinthians 6:14)
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
The idea of Fundamental Christianity first emerged as a movement in the 19th century within various Protestant bodies that reacted against the rising wave of Modern Biblical Christianity. From a Bible conference of Conservative Protestants meeting in Niagara in 1895, a statement was issued containing what came to be known as the five points of fundamentalism:
- The verbal inerrancy of Scripture
- The divinity of Jesus Christ
- The virgin birth
- A substitutionary theory of the atonement
- And the physical resurrection and bodily return of Christ.
In the first half of the 20th century, most Protestant churches in the U.S. were divided into either Fundamentalist or Modern Christian groups. The term has generally been applied to all those who adhere to strict, conservative (Protestant) orthodoxy in the matter of Biblical inspiration.
Modern or Fundamental, who goes to heaven when Christ returns?
We must see what the bible says about the two-belief system to know the truth honestly. Progressive believes in welcoming all to be involved regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or tradition and recognizing that others follow their own paths to God. These two ideas throw modern, progressive Christians into overdraw. The first preacher of the church, the Apostle Peter, called for all to repent for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38).
Finally, with the book of Romans 1:18-28, I rest my case.
God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power, and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal human beings and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their errors.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Please comment after reading; I would like to hear from you about this life, heaven, God, etc. God bless you in the Holiest name of the Lord Jesus, the Christ.