Evangelical Left Leader: Social Justice is Biblical, 'Pretty Conservative'
Liberal social policies are “actually pretty conservative because the biblical teachings are from the prophets, from the Torah, from the Old Testament, from Hebrew scripture, and from Jesus.” Dr. Paul Alexander
… is due in part to the efforts of those on the Evangelical Left to reach those to their right and pull them in that direction. They are having a lot of success in the battle of ideas.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I suggest that their (liberals) success has come greatly from many so-called conservative Christians in their development of theological definitions and boundaries by means of rationalism/philosophy. It may not be that there is always a direct relationship but as demonstrated on many topics you have arguments being made without honest acquiescence to grammatico-historical exegesis, rather you have a primary preference for a philosophical/rationalistic approach to theology from which one then proof-texts and manipulates their exegesis (or simply denies proper exegesis) for their arguments to fit their preceding rationalized position.
These “liberals” are no different. They use the bible in the same way. They primarily use philosophy/rationalism for the development of their theological positions. Then they approach the bible in the same manner found among many alleged conservative Christians with proof-texting and exegetical manipulation/denial. And because rationalism ultimately serves as no real theological boundary or safe-guard, such conservatives are quite susceptible to the arguments of liberals precisely because they use same/similar methods.
These “liberals” are no different. They use the bible in the same way. They primarily use philosophy/rationalism for the development of their theological positions. Then they approach the bible in the same manner found among many alleged conservative Christians with proof-texting and exegetical manipulation/denial. And because rationalism ultimately serves as no real theological boundary or safe-guard, such conservatives are quite susceptible to the arguments of liberals precisely because they use same/similar methods.
I do have a feeling that the pendulum between right and left political views of Christians has started to swing back to the right. The actions by the Obama administration haven’t exactly been “good” liberal.
Steve Newman
Fri, 03/11/11 12:04 pm
Left is killing mainline denominations, after evangelicals next.
The evangelical push for “relavancy” and the sell out to liberals continues….
Discussion