Liberal Christianity

“Either the Bible is just an ordinary book, written by mortals, or it isn’t. Either Christ was divine, or he was not. If the Bible is an ordinary book, and Christ an ordinary man, the basic doctrine of Christianity is false. If the Bible is an ordinary book, and Christ an ordinary man, the history of Christianity theology is the story of bookish men parsing a collective delusion. If the basic tenets of Christianity are true, then there are some very grim surprises in store for nonbelievers…like myself” quote from Letters to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris (atheist).

I escorted my friends to their babysitting interview at a family’s apartment in Chicago. The family was pretty well off. The family was pretty well off and they knew we were from Moody. They called the school moodys and asked if were going to become priest (everyone always ask that). The conversation came around me becoming a pastor and writing sermons.
Father: We go to 4th Presbyterian Church, I love the sermons there. The pastor is so relevant, he gets his information from all these articles and studies. It’s like being in class instead of church.
Me: That’s good. I think I’ll make my sermons relative and engaging (but I’ll preach the truth).
Father: Well what really interested me was when I came for a Christmas sermon.
Me: (I’m expecting a conversion story).
Father: The pastor preached about how Mary was pregnant before marriage.
Me: (ok).
Father: He said that Joseph was there to take care of her and protect her.
Me: (ok, I wonder if he knows how she got pregnant).
Father: Then he said how could we expect mothers in Cabrini Green (a big housing project) to raise children without a father.
Me: (He’s probably going to say that the church needs to be that provider and protector for them).
Father: What I got was that he was implying that there is a right time for abortion.
Me: really…(I was shocked. This rich white guy thinks he can judge what standard of living is worthy of living).
Father: Well he didn’t say that but I think he was implying it.
Me: (Um…I hope he wasn’t).
Father: oops, I probably just put my foot in my mouth.

What’s the point of being a Christian if you don’t believe the incarnation, inspiration, or Trinity. Why try to live by the Bible if it’s not real? There is no in between, liberal christianity, is pointless. I’d rather be a blatant sinner and enjoy it than try to be go to some church that preaches from the latest news articles.

1 Corinthians 15. What’s the point of being a Christian? Jesus Christ is coming back and he’s going to set things right.