David P. Larsen

Mr. Harrell uses the word 'Liberal' in the positive sense, and thus most of what he says is true. However, most people using the word 'Liberal' do not use the word in that sense. It's most common use would imply that they are free thinking and not bound to the truths of Scripture. 

Usually the most 'Liberal' churches either do not believe in the inspiration of Scripture without error, or at least water it down so it is more acceptable to a broader audience. There are many 'Liberal' churches in almost every major denomination, and this has unfortunately even caused many church splits. 

We should all as Christians hold fast to the true teaching in Scripture and weigh what our leaders say against its clear teaching. Without the balanced understanding of the truth of God's Word, we will be easily led astray. As seen here the term 'Liberal' can have different meanings, and can itself be an emotionally charged concept depending on how you take it. 

We would do well to remember that we will each give an accounting before God someday, especially leaders who influence others. Read God's Word daily and pray that He will give you guidance and discernment in knowing it, and in what church he would have you attend. Remember that Hebrews says that God's Word is "living and active" (Heb. 4:12).

June 29 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Glenn Harrell Bi-vocational Minister, writer

The most Liberal churches are the ones that 

--Have liberal leaders
--Have liberal followers

The reason for this is that we all have such a liberal God.

The most liberal churches are out in their neighborhood discovering and attending to the flock around them. They give cups of cold water. They reach out to love, give and care, asking for nothing in return.

They don't stop at the physical need--they earn the right to present the liberal grace of God through Christ Jesus--they tell them how to become a liberal person by accepting Christ Jesus into their hearts too. Jesus is the remedy for selfish and sinful. 

Liberal Theology to me is about connecting to the nature of God. This is a Fundamental need. If our understanding and relationship with God does not produce the fruits of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22) then we are fundamentally unsound, no matter our rhetoric and attempts at self aggrandizement.

Liberal is liberty. Liberal is lavish. Remember the liberality of the Corinthian people? 

"Although they were going through hard times and were very poor, they were glad to give liberally. They gave as much as they could afford, and even more, simply because they wanted to. They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God's people. And they did more than we had hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do" (II Corinthians 8:2-5)

Find you the best--the most liberal church you can. If their leaders are liberal, then you have a good chance of knowing the people in the congregation are not far behind.

How to spot the non-liberal churches:
1-Their leaders abandon the Word of God as the Word of God
2-Their leaders are myopic and they stay at home. They can't tell you the names of the people within a 1 mile radius of their building.
3-Their leaders are friends with the world and invite the world in on a regular basis.
4-Their leaders are friends of their own and are exclusive in attitude. 5-Their leaders are resistant toward the poor, lame and downtrodden.
6-Their leaders make need-be convictions into mere preferences and they make clear preferences into need-be convictions.


Liberal is about the giving nature of God and how that nature is inside those who profess to know Him. God is willing to make us liberal and not for the purpose of self absorption, but rather selfless behavior. 

"It doesn't matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have." (II Corinthians 8:12) 


What can prevent us from experiencing Liberal?

1-Running From Troubles.
God's liberality includes the need for maturity. This maturity can come only through the testing of our faith. "But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything." (James 1:2-4)

2-Failing To Ask For Wisdom
With God, many things are backward from this world.The world teaches that liberal is bad but such wisdom is earthly and political.
"If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is liberal (generous) and won't correct you for asking." (James 1:5)

3- Doubting God
"Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all" (James 1:6-8)

4- Trusting in Riches
Here is more of God's up-side-down wisdom.
"Any of God's people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so highly of them. But any who are rich should be glad when God makes them humble." (James 1:9-10)

How I pray for our churches to be unashamedly liberal in the Character of their Christ. I believe it was Him who said. "A thief comes only to rob, kill and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it (liberally) in its fullest." (John 10-10)

May God bless us all to be so liberal that we liberally share all our riches from Him.

June 28 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Debra Chiappetta Retired

not sure if your goal is to go to liberal churches or to avoid them.

For The question what churches are the most "liberal", some people may think the question is asking about a political view since many people view the world in which we live in purely political terms: are people or churches (which are groups of people) liberal or conservative? Some Christians feel more at ease going to a church that has people with similar views as them, including political views which is not necessarily right or wrong. Jesus loves all people from all different backgrounds, with all different political views. One of the disciples was named Simon the Zealot: Matt 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13. The Jewish Zealots was a political group who wanted to overrule the Roman Government. Jesus loves people who weren't not interested in politics too. Jesus also chose Peter who was a fisherman and would have had no time for politics. 

If the actual question is which churches practice Liberal theology, its best to check out the actual church for yourself, check out their website. Do your homework. I won't attempt to teach liberal theology as I'm not sure if that was the actual intent of the question. Easy enough to google it. Please note, there are many Christian denominations that believe Liberal theology also known as Liberal Christianity, is outside Christianity, a deviation from orthodoxy and therefore not Christian at all! 

"liberal" should not be confused with "Liberation Theology" which is a movement originally developed by Latin American Roman Catholics that emphasizes liberation from social, political and economic oppression as an anticipation of ultimate salvation. This radical movement has spread to America & elsewhere which could be interpreted as an attempt to mix politics and Christianity. This theology is outside Christianity as the Bible is clear on the Salvation issue. Jesus said clearly in John 3:1-21 that "you must be born anew to see the Kingdom of God...." Paul very clearly explains Salvation is a gift, not by works in Ephesian 2:8-9 " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (in Jesus Christ) and this is not from yourselves, it's the gift of God, not by works, so that no one may boost."

July 01 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report