WHAT IS LIBERALISM

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WHAT IS LIBERALISM ?

• There is nothing new under the sun Eccl. 18
• Modernism is not modern
• New thoughts are not new
• Innovations are repeats
• If it is true, it is not new if it is new, it
  is not true

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LIBERALISM IS ANCIENT

• Modern name given to old practice
• There have always been liberals in Biblical
  history
• Liberalism has to do with an attitude toward
  Gods revelation and ones relationship to it.

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LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
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DEFINING TERMS

• Conservatism the practice of preserving
  what is established disposition to oppose change
  in established institutions and methods
  (Webster, p. 389)
• Liberal/ism not literal or strict as, a
  liberal interpretation of the constitution. one
  who advocates greater freedom of thought or
  action (p. 1042) progressive (Wordrefer-
  ence.com)
• Dictionary definitions avoid prejudice

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I. DEBATE NOT CONFINED TO CHURCHES OF CHRIST
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM

• Politics
• Catholics
• Protestants
• Garden of Eden ! (Gen. 3)
• Conservative - Jehovah
• Liberal - Satan
• Was there a right or wrong?

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LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
II. DISCUSSION PRESUPPOSES A STANDARD OF AUTHORITY

• Politics and Constitution
• Catholics and Tradition/Papacy
• Protestants and Creeds
• Relativism or Pluralism denies a standard
  Situation Ethics
• One is as good as another
• There is no right or wrong

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GOD ESTABLISHED A STANDARD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
II. DISCUSSION PRESUPPOSES A STANDARD OF AUTHORITY

• Deut. 61-9 81
• Deut. 281-14 (cf. 15-68)
• Liberals Condemned, Deut. 131-5
• Attitude Like the nations, 1 Sam. 85, spirit
  of liberalism
• Spirit of discontent, freedom of thought

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NEW TESTAMENT IS ALSO A STANDARD
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
II. DISCUSSION PRESUPPOSES A STANDARD OF AUTHORITY

• Gal. 16-9 Jude 3
• 2 Tim. 113 22 316-17
• Liberals Condemned, 2 Jno. 9-11 Rev. 2218-19
• Attitude turn from truth, 2 Tim. 41-4,
  spirit of liberalism

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LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
II. DISCUSSION PRESUPPOSES A STANDARD OF AUTHORITY

• Spirit of Liberalism Be progressive, freedom
  of thought, non-judgmental
• Conservatives offend, embarrass, or otherwise
  trouble liberals by sound preaching, 2 Cor.
  103-5 1 Tim. 63-5
• To Obey Is Better, 1 Sam. 1522 2 Thes. 18

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LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
III. THE DEBATE BETWEEN LIBERALS AND
CONSERVATIVES IS MORE THAN NAME- CALLING OR
PREJUDICE

• Liberal and Conservative are human terms for
  attitudes toward the Bible
• Biblical word, sound (healthy) 1 Tim. 18-10
  2 Tim. 113 43
• Compare, Isa. 14-6, unhealthy
• Spiritual soundness is found in following Gods
  revelation

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LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• First Century, Matt. 2316-22 Acts 2028-32
• 1875-1925 in America
• Missionary Society, 1 Tim. 315
• Instrumental Music, Eph. 519
• 1950s in America ?

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ISSUES OF THE 1950s
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• Centralized Control Brotherhood elders,
  sponsoring churches, local churches under larger
  churches steering committees
• Acts 1423 1 Pet. 51-2 Phil. 11
• Repeat of First Century and 1800s, Acts
  2028-30
• Result Boston Mother Church

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ISSUES OF THE 1950s
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• Institutionalism Big businesses Church
  unable to do its work of evangelism, edifica-
  tion or benevolence subsidize institution
• Eph. 411-16 38-11
• Result Church supported hospitals

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ISSUES OF THE 1950s
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• Social activities as work of church Church
  kitchens, gyms, ball games, skits, youth
  directors, ski trips, youth churches
• Jno. 424 1 Tim. 315 Acts 242 1 Cor. 1122,
  34 Eph. 411-13
• Result Many churches have lost their
  distinctiveness they are like denominations

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LIBERALISM AND THE PLAN OF SALVATION
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• Be progressive, allow freedom of thought,
  non-judgmental
• Result Recognize those in denominations as saved
• To Obey is Better, Acts 529

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LIBERALISM AND MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, AND REMARRIAGE
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• Aliens are not under Gods marriage law
• Matt. 199 Jno. 1248
• Result All marriages are right in the sight of
  God

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LIBERALISM AND THE DAYS OF CREATION
LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM

• Creation days were ages Creation week was
  billions of years long.
• Gen. 11-22
• Result Deny miraculous in Bible

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LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM
I. DEBATE NOT CONFINED TO CHURCHES OF CHRIST
II. DISCUSSION PRESUPPOSES A STANDARD OF AUTHORITY
III. THE DEBATE BETWEEN LIBERALS AND
CONSERVATIVES IS MORE THAN NAME-CALLING OR
PREJUDICE
IV. EXAMPLES OF LIBERALISM
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DEFINING TERMS

• Conservatism the practice of preserving what
  is established disposition to oppose change in
  established institutions and methods (Webster,
  p. 389)
• Liberal/ism not literal or strict as, a
  liberal interpretation of the constitution.
  one who advocates greater freedom of thought or
  action (p. 1042) progressive (Wordrefer-
  ence.com)