Episode 23: Can Christianity Be Progressive?

[gentle music] Welcome to Practical Apologetics, where we give clear answers to everyday Christians with real questions.

I'm Kenneth Willis.

Today's episode asks a question that has become increasingly common over the last several years.

Can Christianity be progressive? You've probably heard terms like progressive Christianity, progressive theology, or maybe you've heard someone say that the church needs to get with the times or that Christianity needs to evolve as society evolves.

At first, that might sound reasonable.

After all, don't we want society to progress? Don't we want to see more justice, more compassion, more concern for the poor, less racism, less abuse, and less violence? Absolutely.

As Christians, we should want to see our communities reflect God's goodness more and more.

But here's where we need to be careful.

There's a difference between saying society should progress and saying Christianity itself should progress.

Those are two very different claims.

Today, I want to explore that distinction by asking a simple question.

Should Christianity change as culture changes, or should Christianity be the thing that changes culture? I want to suggest the answer is this.

Christianity progresses culture.

Culture cannot progress Christianity.

Now, before you think I'm just making an assertion, let's walk through why.

[gentle music] Welcome to Practical Apologetics, where we give clear answers to everyday Christians with real questions.

I'm Kenneth Willis.

Today's episode asks a question that has become increasingly common over the last several years.

Can Christianity be progressive? You've probably heard terms like progressive Christianity, progressive theology, or maybe you've heard someone say that the church needs to get with the times or that Christianity needs to evolve as society evolves.

At first, that might sound reasonable.

After all, don't we want society to progress? Don't we want to see more justice, more compassion, more concern for the poor, less racism, less abuse, and less violence? Absolutely.

As Christians, we should want to see our communities reflect God's goodness more and more.

But here's where we need to be careful.

There's a difference between saying society should progress and saying Christianity itself should progress.

Those are two very different claims.

Today, I want to explore that distinction by asking a simple question.

Should Christianity change as culture changes, or should Christianity be the thing that changes culture? I want to suggest the answer is this.

Christianity progresses culture.

Culture cannot progress Christianity.

Now, before you think I'm just making an assertion, let's walk through why.