What is Progressive Christianity? Reclaiming a Faith of Love
What if everything you’ve heard about Christianity—the exclusion, the judgment, the rigid rules—wasn’t the full story? What if faith could be about love, justice, and compassion instead of fear, division, and condemnation? Progressive Christianity offers an alternative to the narrow, often exclusionary Christianity portrayed in the media or experienced in some churches. It’s about reclaiming the radical message of Jesus, who called for inclusivity, justice, and love for all people. No exceptions, no footnotes.
Whether you’ve been hurt by the church, turned off by its divisiveness, or are exploring Christianity or the Church for the first time, Progressive Christianity invites you to see faith as something that connects us all. It’s not about conforming to rigid rules or dogmas. It’s about discovering a faith that evolves with us, embraces both questioning and growth, and centers on the love of God for all. This is a faith for everyone—whether you’re seeking a community, exploring the message of Jesus for the first time, or hoping to reclaim the true heart of the Gospel.
At the Heart of Progressive Christianity
At its core, Progressive Christianity is not just a theology. It’s what faith can look like when it is rooted in the love and compassion exemplified by Jesus. It’s about returning to the heart of the Gospel, where love for all people is the foundational principle. When Jesus spoke about loving your neighbor, he meant it. This radical love not only extendsthose the world deems unworthy or marginalized, it’s a call to action. So much more than a feeling or platitude, it invites us to dismantle systems of oppression, care for the vulnerable, and speak out for justice.
As such, progressive Christians believe that faith isn’t static. It’s a living, evolving relationship with God that requires us to engage with the world in a meaningful way. Unlike dogmatic Christianity that can emphasize strict adherence to ancient rituals and doctrines, progressive Christianity embraces the ongoing journey of faith. It recognizes that God’s love and truth are expansive and boundless, inviting us to continue growing in understanding, compassion, and service.
Key Principles of Progressive Christianity
1. Love Above All Else
The teachings of Jesus are clear. The most important commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Progressive Christianity understands this is a call to radically love all people, regardless of their background, identity, status, or beliefs. It’s a love that challenges us to confront and dismantle systems of hate, prejudice, and injustice, whether in the world or within the church itself.
Jesus’ call to love is meant to transform us. It challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones to engage with the world in ways that foster healing, justice, and reconciliation. This radical love calls us to advocate for the marginalized, fight against inequality, and welcome those society often pushes aside.
2. Sacred Worth of Every Person
Progressive Christians celebrate that everyone—everyone—has value and is beloved by God. There is no “us” versus “them” in this view of the world. Everyone is a part of the sacred family of God. Each and all are included and called to live into that truth by embracing all people. This includes those who may seem different from us or whose lives seem complicated or unfamiliar.
This belief also leads to a commitment to equality–striving for the rights of those who’ve been historically oppressed or excluded. From LGBTQIA+ communities to people of different racial or cultural backgrounds, progressive Christianity rejects the notion that some people are inherently less worthy of love or justice. Instead, it asserts that everyone is created in the image of God and that every human life is valuable and sacred.
3. Scripture with Context and Reflection
Progressive Christianity honors Scripture as sacred and inspired, but approaches it with an appreciation for its historical and cultural contexts. As the Bible was written in many different times and places, its interpretations must consider the social, cultural, and political realities of the people who wrote it. This approach allows for a deeper, more nuanced readings of the text.
As such, progressive Christianity believes that Scripture must be interpreted in light of contemporary understandings, including science, social justice, and human experience. This approach invites questions, challenges assumptions, and encourages a more inclusive and dynamic relationship with the text.
4. Commitment to Social Justice
For Progressive Christians, faith isn’t just about personal salvation or individual belief; it’s about transforming the world around us. Social justice is not an optional add-on, but a central calling of the Christian life. This means actively working to address poverty, racism, climate change, immigration reform, and other systemic injustices. It also means advocating for the oppressed, whether those oppressed by social, economic, or political systems.
This commitment is not just about feeling compassion for the poor or downtrodden. It’s about taking action—doing the hard work of dismantling injustice in all its forms. Jesus’ teachings were often about proclaiming good news to the poor, liberating the oppressed, and breaking down walls between people. Progressive Christians follow that example, working for a world where love, justice, and peace reign.
5. Freedom to Question and Explore
In some forms of Christianity, doubt is seen as something to fear or avoid. In progressive Christianity, however, doubt is welcomed. Curiosity, questioning, and exploration are seen as essential parts of a vibrant faith. Faith, after all, is not about having all the answers. It’s about the journey—the ongoing exploration of God, self, and the world. As a result, progressive Christianity embraces mystery. It recognizes that God’s truth is too vast to ever fully comprehend and that we are all on a lifelong path of discovery and growth.
This openness creates a safe space for spiritual exploration, where individuals are encouraged to ask difficult questions, seek understanding, and discover a faith that resonates with their experience of the world. In this space, doubt doesn’t diminish faith; it deepens it.
Why Progressive Christianity Matters Now
Progressive Christianity is more than just a theological stance—it’s a call to action. In a world where Christianity has often been co-opted for power, division, and fear, progressive Christianity offers a radical reclaiming of the faith. It’s a counter-narrative to the Christian nationalism and hate-based theologies that have hijacked much of the modern church.
Now, more than ever, we need a faith that heals rather than hurts, that includes rather than excludes, that challenges systems of oppression and inequality. Progressive Christianity asks us to question the status quo, to reclaim love as the true heart of faith, and to live out our faith with action, compassion, and inclusivity.
Let’s walk this path together.
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