In the early days of my ministry (1978-1990) I was known as a liberal because I favored the New American Standard Bible over the King James Bible, the new Church of God practical commitments over the old, and the contemporary music of Andrae Crouch, The Imperials, and Keith Green over Southern Gospel. Also, I was outspoken on the issues of racial equality and women in ministry. In fact, one well-meaning friend suggested to me, “Dan, you could get elected to the youth board if you’d just keep your mouth shut.” I replied, “The cost is to too high.” As my colleagues considered me to be liberal, I remained theologically conservative. My early experiences left me asking, “So, just what does it mean to be liberal or conservative?”
Liberal means to be “open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.” To be a theological liberal is to regard “many traditional beliefs as dispensable, invalidated by modern thought, or liable to change.” In the early 20th century, a theological liberal denied the divine inspiration of Scripture, the virginal conception and birth of Jesus, and the deity of Christ. In the 21st century, postmodern theological liberals view the Bible with skepticism and give priority to the social sciences.
Conservative means to be “averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values.” To be a theological conservative means to hold to the traditional creeds and values of the ancient faith. In the 21st century, a conservative theologian dares to believe in the divine inspiration and authority of ancient Scriptures and that the Scriptures are words of truth, wisdom, and salvation. Pentecostals give priority to divine encounter over human wisdom and experience.
Ironically, the lines between liberal and conservative are not as clear as one might think. For example, the Episcopal Church in the USA tends to be theologically liberal and liturgically conservative. They are willing to disregard traditional values regarding human sexuality even as they continue to embrace traditional norms of worship. Many Pentecostal churches are theologically conservative, but are willing to disregard traditional forms of worship in favor of more liberal (open to newness), even secular norms of worship. In fact, some Pentecostals in pulpit and pew have adopted liberal methodology that is detrimental to conservative values.
As a Pentecostal I am both liberal and conservative. I am conservative in that I hold to the divine inspiration and authority of Holy Scripture, I confess the ancient creeds of the Faith, and I embrace the traditional view of human sexuality – one man and one woman for life. I am liberal in that I am open to new ideas, new moves of the Holy Spirit, and willing to disregard traditions that are not faithful to the mission of God (such as racism and sexism). As a conservative I strive to preserve the ancient Faith; as a liberal I anticipate visions and dreams that challenge the status quo, provoke disruptive innovation, and guide us to New Creation.
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- The inclusion of uncircumcised Gentiles challenged the traditional status quo of the apostolic church (Acts 15). Racial equality remains an issue in the church in our day.
- Paul’s exhortation to Philemon to accept the slave, Onesimus, as a brother disrupted the conservative socio-political foundations of the Roman world (Philemon 16). This might inform a more liberal view on immigration.
- Christian views on human sexuality have always challenged the licentiousness of liberals and conservatives alike. While liberals embrace homosexuality, conservatives have embraced divorce and remarriage.
- The view of the mutual submission of husband and wife in Christ is a radical re-ordering of family life and suggests male/female equality (Ephesians 5:21 ff).
- The confession that “Jesus is Lord” was an offense to the religious liberalism of the ancient world that embraced polytheism, and remains an offense to the religious sensibilities of our postmodern age.
The real issue before us is not whether we are conservative or liberal, but that we are faithful. Being conservative or liberal is not a fruit of the Spirit, but faithfulness is (Galatians 5:22). We must remain faithful to the biblical texts, faithful to the moving of the Holy Spirit, faithful to the biblically inspired theological traditions of the Church, and faithful to the mission of God.
