The Curse of Liberalism: When Culture Drives the Church

 By David B. McWilliams - Posted at Firm Foundation Partnership:

Let there be no mistake, the homosexuality issue is symptomatic of a more fundamental problem. The fundamental issue is that Johnson and those supporting his approach have made experience and feelings authoritative over God’s Word.  The day that Johnson made this speech, applauded by shepherds of the flock, was the saddest day in the history of our assemblies. An unbiblical, emotive story became for many the authority and the Bible was set aside and ignored. At base, the fundamental issue is the authority of God’s Word. 

In 1988, stalwart Baptist leader W. A. Criswell addressed the Southern Baptist Convention on the theme: “The Curse of Liberalism.” The curse of liberalism is also what the Presbyterian Church in America now faces. Presently, the virgin birth and bodily resurrection of Jesus are not denied. Nonetheless, the two fundamental characteristics of liberalism are apparent in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). What are the two characteristics that define liberal epistemology? First, the subjective becomes authoritative over the Bible. Second, culture drives the church’s agenda. 

When TE Greg Johnson spoke at the PCA 2019 General Assembly to rousing applause, both of those liberal, epistemological commitments manifested themselves. The cultural agenda was apparent. And, despite the fact that the Bible is clear about homosexuality, Johnson’s emotional autobiographical tale placed his subjective experience over biblical authority. 

Let there be no mistake, the homosexuality issue is symptomatic of a more fundamental problem. The fundamental issue is that Johnson and those supporting his approach have made experience and feelings authoritative over God’s Word. The day that Johnson made this speech, applauded by shepherds of the flock, was the saddest day in the history of our assemblies. An unbiblical, emotive story became for many the authority and the Bible was set aside and ignored. At base, the fundamental issue is the authority of God’s Word.

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