This post is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:21-23. Progressive Christianity, which we can also label as woke Christianity, is not the right path for the church. But this movement is already damaging and deceiving Christians, particularly the leaders. Here are signs that this leftwing movement is infiltrating the church and putting her at risk of going past what is written in Scripture.

Let’s begin.

This post comes out of these sobering verses:

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21-23)

These are fuller signs that your church is going down the wrong path. You may be leading the way.

I. Signs of Progressivism

A. Sexual misconduct

Any leader who endorses sexual misconduct because he is “evolving,” allowing, for example, two people to live together (e.g. same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples), is a worker of lawlessness. Yes, we can be patient with these couples, as God deals with them, but to endorse by allowing their lifestyle is lawlessness. Pastors who sexually abuse people, particularly children, are practicing lawlessness and not even close to doing the will of the Father.

Matt. 5:28 and Adultery in the Heart

Unlawful Sexual Relations in Leviticus 18 from a NT Perspective

B. False doctrines

Any leader who continuously teaches false doctrines and denies true ones, like  Christ’s deity and Lordship and the atonement to take away our sins, is not doing the will of the Father. Jesus instituted the New Covenant by symbolizing it with the bread and wine and then ratifying it by dying in the cross. To deny the full import and the absolute necessity of the cross is to deny the whole purpose of the four Gospels.

Christ’s Death on Cross = Cosmic Child Abuse?

We also need the other theories of the atonement:

Atonement: Bible Basics

What Does ‘Atonement’ Mean?

Theories about the Atonement

C. Diminishing Jesus’s deity

Any leader who says Jesus was just a good teacher and fine moral example and denies his full deity is not doing the will of the Father. The leader is really not understanding what “Lord, Lord” means. Jesus will say, “Depart from me” at judgment. This is a declaration of repudiation in Rabbinic usage current back then, but Jesus elevates the severity by placing those words at the final judgment. His being the judge show his full deity.

Here are other verses that explain his full humanity and full deity:

7. Do I Really Know Jesus? Thirty Truths about His Life

D. Ignoring the demands of the kingdom

Any leader not obeying Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and the rest of the Gospel (and depending on God’s power and grace to help him) is bound for a crashing fall. This obedience to his teaching includes righteous living and actions. The hyper-grace teachers are revealing themselves to be workers of lawlessness. Yes, God is willing and loving enough to work with our failures (as he does mine daily), but our repentance must bring forth works worthy of repentance (Matt. 3:8; Acts 26:20), sooner rather than later. Any leader who says repentance is not so important is also a worker of lawlessness.

8 Righteousness of the Kingdom

The Fruit of Righteousness

What Is Righteousness?

E. Agnosticism and searching

Any church leader who says he’s an agnostic and is “searching” for God yet remains in his pastoral duties is a worker of lawlessness. He must step down until he gets things sorted out. He cannot lead people, when the NT totally affirms that these issues, like God’s existence, and doing righteousness and sexual restrictions to heterosexual marriage, have already been worked out and settled. If he cannot follow the NT, then he must remove himself until he has developed the conviction which the apostles had. The church belongs to Jesus, not a troubled pastor. And Jesus didn’t doubt God’s existence or teach same-sex “marriage” or have a lackadaisical outlook on righteous living.

5. Titles of Jesus: The Lord

F. Discarding the OT

Discarding the OT is misguided. If you could time-travel back to the time of Jesus and then Paul, they would be aghast to hear that modern Christians are throwing out their Scriptures. Jesus is resurrected now and is Lord of his church, so I believe that he opposes such rejection right now. The OT’s moral law and Messianic prophecies, for example, are still relevant.

What Does the New Covenant Retain from the Old? (The NT for sure keeps moral law)

Messianic Prophecies

God has never given up on moral law. It existed long before the law of Moses. It was his gift to humanity.

What Is Moral Law?

Will Breaking Moral Law Break America?

Moral and Other Laws in Leviticus 19 from a NT Perspective

G. Summary

Religious Progressivism is infiltrating and destroying the church, little by little. And now rapidly. Advocating for those issues and doing them is to practice lawlessness and may deserve the sobering words: “Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness! I never knew you!” (Matt. 7:23).

II. Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture

A. Scripture

These verses are about the Old Testament and the reason it must be respected:

Next, Paul says we are not to go beyond what is written:

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. (1 Cor. 4:6)

What is written may refer to the OT, or it may refer to what Paul was writing then and there, authoritatively.

In the context of communion, Paul writes:

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you … (1 Cor. 11:23)

Paul got all of his ideas either by revelation or handed-down traditions–all by the inspiration of the Spirit.

This verse says we must handle Scripture correctly:

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  (2 Tim. 2:15)

Apostolic teaching is authoritative:

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teaching we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thess. 2:15)

Next, let’s show humility about Scripture and not stand in judgment over it:

[…] When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. (Jas. 4:11b-12a)

Scripture is still infallible and authoritative. You cannot pick and choose by your own tastes. “I like this verse, but not that one!”

B. Summary

If you could time-travel back to the life of Jesus and then the apostles and tell them you were throwing out the OT, they would be aghast at your act. No one can barge into the kingdom and the church and rewrite the rules. This is God’s Son’s kingdom and church, not yours.

Don’t accept the equation that honoring the infallible and authoritative Scripture = Bibliolatry. Don’t “improve on” the apostolic view of Scripture.

Authority and Inerrancy of the Bible

III. Marriage and Sex

A. Teaching of Jesus

Let’s get started with the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus teaches us what marriage is:

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, [Gen. 1:27] ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ [Gen.2:24] ? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matt. 19:4-6, my translation)

The norm for marriage is one man and one woman.

See my post:

The Biblical Norm for Marriage

B. Teaching of Paul

Paul says that men who had had sex with men were now washed and sanctified and justified in Jesus’ name and by the Spirit; in other words, they were changed and are now living a new life:

⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral … nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men… will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

No matter how desperately gay activists reinterpret v. 9, men who have sex with other men cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This “kingdom” is probably talking about the future kingdom, but the verse may also be talking about the kingdom right now. Both now and in the future.

5 The Kingdom of God: Already Here, But Not Yet Fully

Men and women with same-sex attraction must be born again, filled with the Spirit, discipled, leave behind their old friends and relationships, and taught how to be friends with and court someone of the opposite sex. In time, by God’s grace, they will develop opposite-sex attraction. Thousands of men and women already have, and their stories should be respected and imitated, not ignored. Look them up online.

These next verses are very sobering because they are about sexual immorality among brothers and sisters in the church. The Thessalonians are not to reject this instruction, because to do so is to reject God, who gave his Spirit.

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. (1 Thess. 4:3-8)

That teaching is straightforward. We need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit (vv. 3 and 8). In which area of our lives? We must avoid sexual immorality (v. 3), so that we can learn to control our own body (v. 4). This avoidance means we do not take advantage of a brother or sister (v. 6). I desperately wanted to find a softer definition in Greek of “punish” (v. 6), but I can’t. He will punish sexual sins. Let’s hope the punishment is accomplished down here on earth mercifully and redemptively and not irreversibly at the final judgment! We need to live a holy life, not an impure life (v. 7). As noted, if we reject this teaching, we reject God, not Paul (v. 8). So the NT Scriptures are authoritative, and they teach no illicit sex.

C. Summary

In this section I did not even refer to Leviticus or the first chapter in Paul’s epistle to the Romans. Jesus said one man and one woman. That’s it.

Please don’t go beyond what is written.

IV. Judgment Is Coming

A. Stricter judgment

James warns teachers that they shall incur a stricter judgment.

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. (Jas. 3:1-2)

The one who controls his tongue (speech) is mature, certainly mature enough to teach God’s people. Teachers, watch your words while you teach! Be mature in your words!

B. Judgment based on words

Since teachers speak often, I place these two verses here. We will have to give an account of every word we have spoken.

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt. 12:36-37)

C. Receive what is due

The verses in 2 Cor. 5:9-10 may apply to everyone as well, but especially to those who minister the gospel.

⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:9-10)

D. Burning off bad works

Preachers who arrived in Corinth after Paul established a church there tried to push him aside. However, Paul warned them to be careful how they build on his foundation. Their bad “ministry works” may be burned up (v. 15). But those who build rightly–good “ministry works”–will receive a reward (v. 14).

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Cor. 3:10-15)

Paul follows up those sobering verses with this one:

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. (1 Cor. 3:17)

Yes, God will actually destroy bad leaders, when they chip away at his sacred temple (the church). I don’t know how this destruction happens, but I don’t want to find out. So God can also destroy, but only to redeem.

E. Render an account

This following verse is clear. Church leaders will have to render an account, as follows.

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Heb. 13:17)

You are not immune from God’s judgment. You will not be judged to determine whether you are destined for heaven or hell, but whether you will get rewards or not.

Mercifully, God judges us now to spare us later. Peter and the author of Hebrews says God’s judgment begins now and is ongoing throughout our lifetimes.

F. Judgment and the people of God now

Peter teaches us that when God judges here on earth, he begins with his people.

For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

Judgment begins now, so we can be purified. Then our judgment in the New Messianic Age will not be negative. It can be positive.

G. Better to have discipline now

This long, long passage–so important!–teaches us that in love God disciplines us now, so we can grow in holiness, righteousness and peace (vv. 10-11). He uses hardship (v. 7). This loving discipline is a form of judgment or evaluation.

⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Heb. 12:5-11)

God intends to purify us now, so we can be trained (v. 11). We are being trained for righteous living now and then when we are judged in the New Messianic Age, his judgment won’t be negative–it will be positive!

H. Summary

If you continue down your Progressive path, God will hold you accountable for rewriting the rules of his kingdom and twisting the words of his Son and the apostolic community, some of whom were inspired to write the NT and pass on the teachings they heard from Jesus, two thousand years ago.

V. Application

A. Wise statement

Wise statement I read on Facebook: Popular Christianity is not biblical, and biblical Christianity is not popular.

God is love ≠ Love is god

Don’t turn love into a god.

B. Goodhearted but misguided

You pastors of these progressive churches have a heart to reach out to people and not chase them away. But is this heart confusing you? Have you taken your inoffensive outreach too far?

Love without truth is deficient and deceptive, and truth without love is off-putting and harsh. Here’s the balance:

Love + Truth = Balanced Message and Messenger

C. Preach grace and moral law

You have to preach righteous behavior. You must teach the biblical norm for marriage. Abortion is wrong (but forgivable). Ethics and morality cannot be short-changed in your church. Maybe you trust the Spirit sovereignly to lead them out of their sinful behavior. But maybe God set things up so that pastors and teachers should exhort–with actual words and teachings–the people to leave behind their bad behavior. That’s why the Sermon on the Mount and the practical sections of the epistles exist. They should teach and guide us by their spoken and written words.

D. Whole counsel of God

The messenger is you, the church leaders and pastors, and your message must encompass the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Preachers are (wrongly) famous for preaching one message. Here’s a partial list of their pet doctrines: the Word of Faith, the Word of Grace, the Word of Hopes and Dreams, the Word of Prosperity, the Word of Purpose, the Word of Deny and Die (deny yourself and die to self), or the Word of End-Times Bible prophecy. These teachers fish around for support for their own pet doctrine, and as a result they twist some Scriptures and ignore many, many others. Teach all of Scripture, even the uncomfortable verses.

Teach through Ephesians, for example. Teach through one of the Gospels. Be balanced and all-encompassing of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.

E. Real-life example

Your cousin or friend has told you that if the church does not accept gays and lesbians who have sex, just as they are, then she will refuse to come to church. You can now tell her that you have no authority to make the changes that she insists on. If she asks you who does have the authority, tell her only the King does; it’s his kingdom, after all.

You can also tell her the good news. She is invited to your church with the specific purpose of her being empowered to leave behind her old life of same-sex attraction and sex and of her being born again and Spirit filled and discipled. Many have already. Tell her there is hope. But you must not change the rules of the Son of God’s kingdom just to please your friend or cousin. She must change; the kingdom does not change.

To the leaders in evolving, progressive churches: In Matt. 16:18, Jesus said he will build his church on Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. He was intending and is now fulfilling his intention to build his church

F. Reminder again

Judgment is coming, both in your lifetime and on the Last Day. Don’t place yourself in peril. Therefore, I urge you to drop your western arrogance and submit to the King’s rules.

To conclude, “I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children”  (1 Cor. 4:14, 18). I may not be your spiritual father, but I do care enough to warn you.

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This post condenses these four:

Warning to Evolving, Progressive Churches: Danger Signs

Warning to Evolving, Progressive Churches: Authority of Scripture

Warning to Evolving, Progressive Churches: Marriage and Sex

Warning to Evolving, Progressive Churches: Judgment Is Coming