Introduction

In recent years, a movement calling itself Progressive Christianity has been gaining traction. It’s presented with a glossy sales pitch — a softer, more inclusive, more “enlightened” faith that claims to move beyond traditional doctrines. It says, “We’ve evolved. We’ve outgrown the old way.”

But peel back the shiny label and you’ll see: this is not progress, it is deception. It is the latest incarnation of the oldest deception in history — “You will be like God.” (Genesis 3:5)

Progressive Christianity is not a higher form of truth; It is a very compassionate sales pitch based on half truths. The actual truth is ignored and watered down until it loses its power to actually help us overcome our separation from God in this fallen world and will prevent us from spending eternity with God when we leave this world. It replaces repentance with self-affirmation, conviction with comfort, and holiness with human opinion. It promises freedom but produces confusion, leaves its followers self-centered, trapped as slaves in their sinful ways, has them following a man-made kinder and gentler God instead of knowing the real God and aligning their hearts and minds with Him so they can know HI and He can know them and work in them to transform their lives.

Why does this matter?

Jesus makes it very clear that many will be surprised when they are rejected at heavens gate. They will have been doing all sorts of religious things in Jesus name, But because they do not actually know Him, and He does not actually know them, they will be rejected.  He only gets to know you when you have decided to actually repent and turn from sin, and choose to follow Him, His will for you, and His commandments.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

What is behind it?

We should not be surprised that there are folks trying to water down the Gospel.  Jesus makes it clear that the actual gospel message is repulsive to those who love themselves and their sinful ways.  It smells like death leading to death to them because it will put constraints on their earthly indulgences, but once you understand the reality of our sinful nature and our eternal destiny in hell, and what Jesus did to redeem us, it smells of Jesus sacrificed life leading to our eternal life.

Let’s look at a few of the popular claims — and the biblical truths that refutes.

1. “God is love — He wouldn’t judge anyone.”

This sounds compassionate, but it distorts who God really is.
Yes, God is love — but He is also truth and justice. His love is not sentimental; it is holy. A loving God cannot ignore evil any more than a good judge can ignore crime.

Because God is just, every wrong must be accounted for. Someone must pay the price for sin — and that “someone” is either us or Jesus.
We can bear the penalty ourselves for eternity, or we can accept the sacrifice Jesus already made on our behalf. That is love and truth working perfectly together.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23 

“Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.” — Psalm 85:10 

Progressive Christianity removes judgment in an effort to make God seem more loving — but in doing so, it erases the very reason the cross was needed. Without justice, the crucifixion makes no sense. Without truth, love loses its power.

2. “The Bible is inspiring, but not infallible.”

Progressive Christianity often teaches that Scripture contains truth but isn’t entirely true — that it’s a human book reflecting ancient culture and bias. But if we start deciding which verses to believe and which to discard, we make ourselves the final authority, not God.

When the foundation shifts, everything built on it crumbles.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16 

The Bible isn’t just ancient wisdom; it’s the living Word of God — timeless, unchanging, and sharper than any two-edged sword.

3. “Jesus is one way, not the only way.”

This message sounds tolerant, but it’s logically and spiritually impossible. Each of the world’s major religions makes competing claims about truth, salvation, and the nature of God. They cannot all be right at the same time.

If one says God is personal and another says He is impersonal, both cannot be true. If one says salvation is by grace through faith and another says it’s earned by works, they contradict. To claim “all paths lead to God” is to ignore that each path points in a completely different direction.

Only Christianity has a living Savior. Every other founder of a faith is still in the grave. Jesus alone conquered death. He alone offers forgiveness of sin through His own shed blood.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12 

The claim that all faiths are equal is not humility — it’s deception. Truth by its very nature is exclusive.

4. “Everyone’s truth is valid.”

This is the heart of moral relativism — the belief that truth changes from person to person. But truth does not bend to fit feelings. It is eternal and absolute because it flows from the unchanging character of God.

When we start redefining sin, morality, or identity to match culture, we no longer worship God — we worship self.
That is not progress. It’s rebellion dressed up as tolerance.

5. “God made me this way — He gave me these thoughts, feelings, and orientation.”

This statement appeals to emotion, but it confuses creation with corruption. God created humanity in His image — good, whole, and pure. But when sin entered the world, that image was marred. The world now shapes, confirms, and reinforces patterns of thinking and feeling that were never part of God’s original design.

God did not make anyone broken, confused, or bound by sinful desires — the fallen world and our fallen nature did that. What the world calls “identity,” Scripture calls “the flesh.”

Jesus didn’t come to affirm our fallen condition; He came to redeem us from it.
That’s why He said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:7)
To be born again is to receive a new heart and a renewed mind — to be restored to the image and purpose God intended from the beginning.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” — Romans 12:2

So no, God didn’t “make you that way.” The sinful conditions in this fallen world did. But God can remake you — fully, freely, and forever — through the new birth in Christ.

The Hidden Cost

Progressive Christianity promises freedom from guilt and dogma, but it delivers emptiness. It takes away the cross, the power of repentance, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

It creates a “faith” that never confronts sin, never changes hearts, and never saves souls. A faith that pleases people instead of pleasing God.

True Progress Is Returning to the Truth

Real progress isn’t found in reinventing Christianity — it’s found in returning to Christ.

The Gospel doesn’t need to evolve; it needs to be understood and believed.
The world doesn’t need a faith that conforms to culture; it needs to embrace a Savior who conquers sin and death.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8 

Progressive Christianity is not progress. It’s a detour — a comfortable, crowd-pleasing road that leads away from the cross.

Stand firm. Love deeply. Speak truth boldly.
Because real love never denies the truth that saves.