Can A Christian Be Liberal?

It is difficult to define the word liberal, just as it would be difficult to define conservative. I myself couldn't even tell you where I would stand, most would probably consider me "Very Conservative" on facebook (but I leave it up to opinion). The fact is there are the "very conservative" "somewhat conservative" "liberal conservative" "conservative liberal" "liberal" "very liberal" "moderate", and who really knows where the line is drawn, since there is a plethora of issues and diversity of opinion on all of them.

But lets just assume we all understand what is meant by "Liberal." That being (for the most part), pro-choice, anti-death penalty, removal of religion from all government and schools, gay rights, anti-war, anti-gun, pro-welfare, etc. etc. etc. You get the idea.

Of course most of those are what might be looked as secular liberals. But then there are the "Christian Liberals," which is mostly what this note is dealing with. Christian Liberals are not always to be associated with some of the above politically stances, but many times are.

Liberal Christianity or "Liberal Theology" is imposing freedom of thought on the Holy Bible. Some idea of what Liberal Theology states:

1) The Bible is not 100% inspired. The Bible is wrong in most of what it says about geography or science or even history. It was written by men, composed by men, and therefore is susceptible to error and unauthoritative. Jesus is how one might "feel" about Him, or how someone wants Him to be, thus creating a false god and setting up an idol in their mind.

2) An approach to the Bible and Christianity is completely individualistic. There are no written creeds or confessions, and all interpretive thoughts have credibility. Christian judgment is absent therefore all ideas are valid, and there is no judgment between right or wrong dogma, simply because there is no dogma.

3) Most of the stances in the political realm are introduced into the church. The acceptance of unrepentant homosexuals as congregants, ultra-feminism, pro-choice, and a wide array of ideas of who or what "god" is. Though this is more of a result of the first two.

The meaning behind liberalism has changed throughout history. But what I am talking about is basically human reason, rationale, and logic placed over the Bible, instead of the other way around.

Almost any error can be linked to one of these ideas above.
-Arminianism = The idea that man's will is free to choose.
-Unitarianism = Denial of Trinity.
-Pelagianism = That man is born good and needs no grace.
-Arianism = Denial of the eternality of Christ.
-Universalism = Belief that all religions are equal.
-Postmodernism = Denial of absolutes truths.

So on they go.
Not everyone that falls under these errors of doctrine would be considered a liberal in the Political realm of course, but their liberal thoughts imposed on the Bible has caused a large disruption within the Church of Christ. I am sure there are many who would consider themselves "Conservatives" that wouldn't even realize that they do this to the Bible as well, especially under the Arminian category.

So then I ask (I'll say what I think, and if anyone wants to agree or disagree let me know)...

1) Can a person who denies the authoritativeness of the Bible be considered a Christian?

I have a family member who does this. He says he believes in God, and Jesus, but not how the Bible explains them. In his mind, "God would never send someone to hell, because He is a God of love," or "I think that all people are good, and as long as they try their best they will make it to heaven" (In complete denial of Biblical truths). What most people try to do is say, "I think..." or "I bet..." or "I believe...", but they do not use Scripture, it is simply the god they have created in their mind. So then they may believe in a god, but not the Christian (Biblical) God. The definition of a Christian is one who believes in the Bible, there is no other book, manual, or magazine that defines one.

2) Are all thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. of God equally valid? Should all judgment, creeds, and confessions be left out of the church?

A common cop out in an argument for most postmodern "Christians" (yes I group them in Liberal theology), is the statement "I think you are both right" or "Lets agree to disagree." Can one person say God is unitarian and another say God is trinitarian and both be right? Martin Luther once said, "Peace if Possible, truth at all Costs." This of course has been lost, and for the sake of what some call "Christian Unity" every wind of doctrine, every worldly idea has crept into the Church (Eph. 4:14). No creeds or confessions means no dogma, no dogma means no established truth, and no established truth means the complete denial of a Holy God who commands our obedience to His Word.

3) Can a Christian be liberal?

With doctrine. I say no. With politics. I say no. In both a Christian is to profess the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all realms. He does not just reside in the Church or at your Bible Study, but over all realms of life. Liberality implies that men can make the most rationale choice, and that God is no longer needed for the establishment of law or doctrine.

Are there Christians who are liberal in thought, I am sure there are. But should they be is the question?