Liberalism is growing in the Church, and so are its advocates. As we enter an unfamiliar age of seeing pride flags hanging from churches, and pastors “re-interpreting” the Bible in a contradictory manner — we cannot help feel threatened about not only losing our tradition and along with it also our values and principles.

As it turns out, the liberal wave is quite different than what it claims to be. It is not a peaceful movement of free-speech. But rather, a radical group that suppresses speech under the guise of their own heavily biased standards of political correctness. Many churches that are heading towards inclusion, will soon find themselves having included the devil as well. Here’s how.

#1 They justify un-Biblical views like the LGBTQ

Movements like the LGBTQ are inherently against the teachings of Christianity. Sexual morality standards have been stated out and re-emphasised in both the Old and the New Testament alike.

Christ Jesus has condemned sexual immorality in His teachings as recorded in verses like Mark 7:21. However, many critics point out that homo-sexuality has not been specifically pointed out.

This criticism, however, is not valid because the majority of Jesus’ teachings were aimed towards the Jewish audience who were already aware of this commandment. In his letter to the Romans (1:18–32), the Apostle Paul specifically condemns homo-sexuality.

“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 error.”

The advocates for the LGBTQ community label St. Paul- as a misogynistic patriarch, claiming moral and spiritual superiority over the Apostle himself.

#2 Ironically, they are intolerant

Judging by the word “liberal”, we are likely to view this group as an accepting and tolerant one towards the views of others. However, the reality is not as it appears.

In most cases, liberalism usually carries an agenda to overthrow systems that repress them — but later start repressing voices that don’t align with theirs.

Charlie Kirk is one of such examples. He was a conservative Christian evangelist who supported the US right-wing political party — the Republicans. He voiced his opinions strongly, which were usually good but at times debatable or inaccurate.

His life ended aged 31, married and with two kids, as he was shot in a campus event by a liberal who felt Charlie was spreading intolerance. He debated with Charlie in an open mic, then went on to shoot him dead.

May God comfort his family.

It scares me to remember that we are living in this society. A society where your life matters less than someone’s opinion of you.

“Love your enemy”

Being consumed by anger is not a Christian value. It is a weakness exploited by the devil. If your flesh and blood controls you, so can the devil. As Christians, we must forgive even our enemies as equal human beings made in the image of God.

A conservative is expected to be intolerant. Except, Christ Jesus Himself taught us the concept of radical love in Matthew 5:43–48. We are intolerant only towards evil, not the person possessed and at the disposal of evil forces.

““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

A guard cannot “forgive” by letting loose a thief (his enemy), as he would be unfaithful towards his duty. However, it shouldn’t stop him from praying for even the thief’s life to be improved, so that he may live a better and honourable life.

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

By the virtues of Christian grace and forgiveness, we cannot help but find stark contrast of the intolerant liberal Christian community to the conservative Christians who focus on practicing and preserving these values.

The early Christians died for the truth, it is obvious that we will live to conserve the faith that has led us to God.

#3 Their claims are unscientific and irrational

Liberals modify the interpretation of the Holy Bible without any justification backed by evidence. It must be emphasised that the guidance from God and the spiritual journey towards redemption from sinful desires is not an easy walk. It is outrageous to twist the scriptures and play with the spiritual lives of billions.

The Holy Bible shows us how our flesh (physical wants) and the world (material and social wants) can become a source of temptation. The devil tempts, and his logic keeps us blind to the truth of God. Jesus warns us about the bonds of sin in John 8:31–38.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

This claim of being “set free” if we follow the words of Jesus, i.e., to deny ourselves, is also something taught in the secular world.

Christianity stands true even through the lenses of psychology

In the book “No Excuses!” by the world-famous author Brian Tracy, he elaborates on the two mechanisms that lead to our default state of failure: the path of least resistance, and the expediency factor.

Path of least resistance suggests that we always do the things that feel the easiest to us, and

the expediency factor claims that we always go for the most instant form of gratification.

‘These mechanisms are a part of our default behaviour, but they stop working when we are working towards an objective’, the author states.

Jesus emphasised on the importance of working for the kingdom of God. He taught us the significance of spiritual warfare and our role as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16).

Such teachings provide practicality to Christianity by providing a scientific framework to break our default lifestyle of comfort, through living a purposeful life.

Liberalism on the other hand is focused towards acceptance of even teachings that provide no clear framework or even alignment with Christian teachings.

The lack of any conventional evidence like hypothesis testing or a practical alignment to Biblical teachings weaken the liberal argument.

As a result, even through secular lenses, liberalism does not propagate the Christian life.

#4 They want Christ removed from Christianity

We all have seen preachers speak on ethics and morals while not mentioning Christ Jesus or His role. If we ask them the reason, they will most likely justify saying that the teaching matters more. But, seriously? Think about it.

Our faith is in the LORD Jesus Christ and His grace to change our heart from within. Without Him, we are nothing- even if we try our best. This is submission to the LORD. This is Christianity. We shall overcome not by our power, but by His. That’s what guarantees victory over evil.

Liberals will often remove Jesus’ name from wherever they can.

A striking example of this is the gradual replacement of the Anno Domini (AD) calendar system with the Common Era (CE).

Dionysius Exiguus, a Catholic monk, invented the AD calendar system that we use today. Anno Domini is from the full phrase “anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi”, in English this translates to “in the year of our LORD Jesus Christ”. The history of this monk, as well as the reasons behind the use of this calendar system cannot be justified in a single article.

Today, we are taught to write CE and BCE instead of AD and BC. Because it is more socially acceptable. Yes, denying Jesus has always been easy and socially acceptable. But is that why we are Christians? Are we so indifferent to the fading truths?

A single prayer is more powerful than a lifetime of devils working against you. That’s why even the simple act of prayer, of closing your eyes a few seconds focusing on God — feels so difficult. The devil absolutely hates prayers.

Liberals will often dilute the role of Christ Jesus as a moral teacher to gain social acceptance. But this is an extremely damaging practice unaligned with Christianity because it leads us away from Christ Himself. If you are a saved soul, having been reborn by the Holy Spirit, never deny or hide your faith in Him.

Never give in to the world, because He said…

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”

As Christians, our faith should be grounded in our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ over all. All things were created through Him, and for Him. If we drift away from Christ, our practices stop proving effective and we are led astray. If we gradually shift further away from Christ, it will become tougher to find His strength and comfort for coming generations amidst suffering of evil.

In conclusion,

Liberal Christianity cannot be deemed as a true form of Christianity despite its appearance of inclusion and freedom. This is because as Christ taught us to ‘judge by the fruits of peoples’ work’, and we can witness the wave of liberalism leading people away from Christ towards a world of justified sinfulness.

While Jesus accepted the sinners, he asked them to “sin no more” and change their lives. He never validated a desire to sin. In Matthew 18:7–9, Jesus emphasises the graveness saying…

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

In the same chapter, in verses 15–17, Jesus teaches us how to deal with people who sin:

And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The Holy Bible guides our Christian lives as we learn the teachings of Christ Jesus, His promises, and the history and context of His time as well as our Church history. The spiritual role of Christianity and the Church is to redeem people from the clutches of evil through the holy sacraments of our faith.

The world becomes more desperate to find a light that helps them avoid falling back into the dark bottomless world of sin. As the guiding light for the people of Christ, we must defend and conserve the true Christianity amidst the infiltration of dark ideologies under the veil of liberalism.

May God save the Church, and may He strengthen us to defend our faith.