THE PROGRESSIVE CHURCH
                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                          By W. G. Guy

          Progressive is defines as - advancing forward; improving; developing step by step.  The key to understanding being “progressive” begins with “pro”, which implies being “favorable”.

          Today we have an identifier as the “progressive” church.  This implies that the church is advancing forward and improving.  But is this true?  Currently the term “progressive” is a political term referring to liberal reform and a pretense for loose moral objectives that promote human, fleshly (carnal) lusts of the “I want” and “me too” generation.

          Thus such progression in these churches is not advancement in spiritual quality, morality, righteousness or holiness as demanded by the Lord.  Instead the progressive church is progressing backwards as it embraces the sinful evils that Jesus died for.  A better term of such a church is “regressive”.

          As I have written in the past, the true church of Jesus Christ reflects His holy character and nature known as the “Fruit of the Spirit”; (Galatians 5:22-23 and John 15:1-5).  The work of the true church, and its God called and gifted servants, is to build up believers into the full character and nature of Jesus in each person.

Ephesians 4:11-13 –  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Galatians 4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 

          As we move on toward the return of Jesus Christ, the true church will be conformed to His image and likeness.

1 John 3:1-3 –  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.   Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

          The progressive church is part of the “other church”, or the “man built” church that is conforming to the world and the corruptible carnal nature of man instead of conforming to be like Jesus.  This indicates that the true church is much smaller in number than what most of the church realizes: it is only a remnant of the original.

Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

          So only a remnant will survive in these last days.

Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

          As the Lord spoke to Isaiah in his day regarding conditions, He says a similar word for the church today.  The true church will undergo persecution, but this is not likely to happen to the progressive other church.

Romans 11:3-4 – Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

          We are told in the Bible that this progressive deterioration would happen to much of what is called church; it would progress toward the fleshly lusts of the world.

1Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 

          This regression of the church was becoming evident within the first sixty years of its beginning at Pentecost.  This is clearly indicated in the letters that Jesus told the apostle John to write to the seven churches in Asia Minor back in 90 A.D. as recorded in
Revelation 2 & 3.  Consider what conditions existed in these churches, and what five had need to repent and turn from.

Church of Ephesus – loss of love for Jesus and fellowship with Him.
Church of Smyrna – endure persecution /tribulation.
Church of Pergamos – sexual immorality, false worship (idolatry), personal gain.
Church of Thyatira – false ministers (Jezabeel) and doctrines of idolatry.
Church of Sardis – weak in faith.
Church of Philadelphia – facing opposition and deception.
Church of Laodicea – materialism, prosperity and pride, without Christ’s presence.

          The message of each church in those days was to REPENT and return to what was first laid down for them as sound doctrine
and practice.  The same message applies today, but it is even more urgent as the last days are upon us.

          The churches of the first century were already becoming “progressive” as they progressed toward worldly and fleshly behavior.  The apostle Paul described conditions that he foresaw coming in the progressive church of the last daays.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

          The progressive church does not walk in the power of God and the Holy Spirit; and Paul told us to turn away from such a church.  It is obvious that Paul is talking about this type of church because where do you find “a form of godliness” but in such a church.

          Paul even tried to address such deteriorating conditions back in his day when he wrote to the church in Rome.

Romans 13:11-14 – And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

          If conditions in the church were such back then, how much progressively worse could they be today?  As I stated previously, the true church that Jesus is coming back for is actually much smaller in number than most Christians think it is.  The true church is only a remnant, or a fraction of what it is thought to be.  Therefore make sure you are in a Christ centered, Word of God based, Holy Spirit filled and led church; it is definitely not progressive by today’s standards.  

          For more information regarding this topic, read my latest book: THE OTHER CHURCH, published by Author House; or visit my website: www.victoriouslivingbiblestudy.com, and scroll to and click on the title “The Other Church” to read it online.