A Response to NYT "Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?"

An op-ed entitled "Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?"  by Ross Douthat in the  New York Times offers a poignant critique of liberal Christianity and holds, in my opinion, some worthy points of consideration for many Episcopalians. 

To begin let me offer a note about conservative and liberal forms of Christianity here. In my opinion, conservative Christianity is more likely to pull away from the the societal trends surrounding it and 'conserve' the methods, ideas, arguments, and paradigms of the past. Liberal Christianity has the tendency to adapt to to the culture and society surrounding it, and be more "free" in its acceptance of contemporary trends and innovations. When we are honest with ourselves, none of us are fully 'liberal' (i.e. accepting everything freely) or fully 'conservative' (i.e. refusing everything new or innovative). Christianity has been, as Jesus was, both conservative and liberal.  

Why the discussion about conservative and liberal? Because I believe that Mr. Douthat is correct. The Divinity of Christ, personal conversion, societal transformation, and the mission of the Church are quite necessary elements of Liberal Christianity - elements, that some liberal Christians may have indeed forgotten or lost. In some, perhaps even many, places, Episcopalians have adopted the culture around them, rather than adapted to it. The critique of conservatives, which is outside the scope of aforementioned article, is to question whether conservatives are resisting not the innovations of human culture, but the call of God for change, growth, and sanctification. I would argue here that when conservative Christianity fails this question, it too has lost sight of the Divinity of Christ, personal conversion, societal transformation and the mission of the Church. 

It doesn't matter - conservative or liberal. Christianity asserts that Christ is Sovereign. Jesus is Lord. When, by grace, we accept God's supremacy in our lives, we will and must be changed by this faith (Eph. 2:8). As our lives change and conform to the Gospel, we will also work to transform our societies, because we love the people, our neighbors, that constitute them. And the mission of the Church is salvation in Christ, both temporal (now) and eternal (forever), physical (body) and spiritual (soul), individual (me) and corporate (us). 

Can Liberal Christianity be saved? I think only if the focus shifts from "Liberal" and returns to "Christ(ianity)". But beware: when that shift is made, worrying about "liberals" or "conservatives" will be among the least of any Christian's concerns.    

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