How is it that liberal churches exist today? (please read on)?

Question

If they all wanted to believe, why wouldn’t they continue to believe the fundamentals? Why go create a different church?

Answer 1

i think that some religious people have become smarter in a way. people still want to believe in god, but don't want any of that controlling crap like "you're going to hell if you _______" they want to think for themselves AND have faith. I go to a liberal church and love the freedom there to discuss, express, and have differences of opinion.

i see other people whose religion is like a ball and chain. i feel sorry for them

Answer 2

Liberal churches exist in the same way that Christianity exists. Someone comes along as says there is a better way to interpret the Bible.

Jesus came and said that he was the messiah, then promply was killed. Paul after having an experience, believed the story and created theology to explain how the Jewish law was now changed, and fulfilled in Christ. Christianity evolved from there.

I hope you are catholic, because the whole protestant movement is a change to accepted Christianity. Martin Luther dissagreed with 95 things the current church was doing, and then protestantism evolved.

Liberal churches are just evolving to match societal changes. In the same way that you no longer sequester women during their menstral cycles as the jews and early Christians did (at least I hope you don't), Liberal Churches are accepting societal change as a way to re-interpret Gods will.

Its no different than you eating a ham sandwich. You may say that it is ok, but Jews will disagree, as will some denominations.

Christianity is all about interpretation, that is why it is so difficult for many of us to believe in. All Christians say "just go by the bible" The problem with that, is interpretation varies widely from group to group and is largely based on culture and societal norms. I think you will find that early Christians lived their lives a lot more like Muslims or Orthodox Jews than you live your life today. Does that make you a liberal? Or is your interpretation of the law perfect and correct?

Answer 3

It would seem to be the other way around. Usually a church that has been around long enough starts to learn and grow. They realize that old understandings fail when new discoveries are made about life and the world. So they adapt, understanding revelation in a new, more nuanced way.

But some people hate complexity. They denounce any new "learning" and uphold the "old ways" to save themselves from having to change. If they are the minority, they break away and form their own, "pure" denomination. If they are the majority, the adapters are excommunicated and must either create a new denomination, merge with another denomination, or dissolve.

Fundamentalism as we understand it is a relatively recent interpretation, dating back less than 200 years. It was a reaction to a perceived increase in secularism resulting from the use of scientific methods to learn things about the world that weren't precisely Biblical and a consequently more allegorical understanding of the Bible. The people who instituted fundamentalism feared the fluidization of their moral absolutes and tried to bring their religious practices "back" to a pre-"Enlightenment" time when there were presumably no questions (aside from the ones Martin Luther asked).

The problem with fundamentalism is that it can never admit the possibility of change, so institutions are frozen and no social progress can be made. "Liberal" congregations believe their faith can be adapted and applied to the social and moral issues of the day as they arise. They interpret their faith to make it relevant and involved. Fundamentalists either fight any attempt to evaluate or change the status quo or they withdraw into an afterlife-oriented focus.

"New" churches are created when people of faith find themselves excluded but still think their faith matters. It could as easily be progressives or reactionaries.

Answer 4

The old saying is, "All you need to start a new church is a store front, a collection plate, and a resentment."

There are thousands of different denominations within the Christian religion because some people just don't believe the same way that others do. This started back in the first century as evidenced by some of Paul's writings warning of false teachers preaching a different Christ. It goes on to this day with small groups splitting off larger groups because someone thinks the preacher doesn't have it just right and they want to interpret the Bible their own way.

And remember, Jesus was a liberal Jew that went up against the authority of the fundamentalists of his day.

Answer 5

There are many differences between different denominations, and even some denominations are split into several groups.

Here are some of the reasons:
1.+++++++
Some believe the word of God is inspired.
Some believe none of this things happened, but were written as moral stories to teach us how to live our lives.
2. +++++++
Some believe we are saved by faith
Some believe we are saved by faith and good works.
3. +++++++
Some believe the events in Revelation are yet to come.
Some believe the events in Revelation happened in 70 AD, and there is nothing yet to come.
4. +++++++
Some believe that a choir and organ and orchestra aid in our giving praise to God.
Some believe that any musical instrument in church is sinful.
5. +++++++
Some believe if a member of the church is divorced, he can no longer teach or serve as a deacon.
Some believe ours sins are taken care of by Christ and you have been forgiven, and you can serve.
6. +++++++
Some believe that only a pastor or priest can baptize.
Some believe that anyone who has been baptized can baptize, allowing lay people to baptize members of their own family in the church.
7. +++++++
Some believe the only social activities should include a Bible study or other teaching experience.
Some believe it is fun to get together with fellow believers for no reason at all.

The list goes on.

There is also a debate on what the fundamentals are.

grace2u

Answer 6

Whose fundamentals?

People create churches based on what they believe to be the truth. Said truth can come from many sources.

Answer 7

Christians like to pretend that the Bible is easy to interpret. The Jews, whose scriptures make up the majority of what Christians call the Bible, are more realistic. They admit that it's not always so easy to understand scripture and even have a large body of scholarly discussions (the Talmud) in which rabbis argue points of theology. Christians interpret scripture differently, too, and develop their own traditions.

Answer 8

These are the ones that will usher in the Anti-Christ.They will jump at the chance for a "one-world " mandatory religion.They will say"Now we can have peace with all mankind".They will be the first in line to take the Mark of his holiness in their right hand."See,I'm a faithful follower I have the chip in my hand to prove it".They will believe his falsehoods because they don't believe in the deity,and resurrection of Christ."Oh, please,it's just ALL allegory,come on!"
Meanwhile the" NewAgers",will convince these dolts that when the true believers are "Raptured" that it was... "Aliens cleansing the planet of all those horrible fundamentalists!"
That's why they are here.God never seems to work with the majority,it is always the "Remnant".

Answer 9

I think its because they got out of the will of God. Some churches sadly want to "fit in" and be so PC that they are willing to compromise the Bible, God and what Jesus said to make all the people happy. The Bible is clear: if you love God you will obey his commandments and won't change it. I'm glad I go to a fundamental independent Baptist church, the word of God is truly taught there.

Answer 10

They want a church which has their beliefs. If the church doesn't have their beliefs, they make their own.