Progressive Christianity is not simply inviting folks to come in shorts and sandals, providing Starbucks coffee, or having a band that plays Christian rock music. It is not church-as-usual with a few candles and incense. It isn't a bait and switch method that pretentiously brings into the church secular practices only to appear hip enough to attract or keep the youth. Nor is it faux-denominationalism - holding membership in a church organization despite not accepting their creed - defecting in place. It is not the same as Liberal Christianity.
Some simply, and wrongly, assume that a Progressive Christian is the same as 'one of those non-denominational types'. Actually, non-denominational Christian churches run the gamut from fundamentalism right up to the edge of being post-Christian.
The adjective, progressive, is defined by Webster as being open to new ideas, moving forward, and making progress. The word includes suggestions of relevance, maturing, expectation, and even anticipation of new and deeper insights. To be progressive is to assume there is something better if one is just willing to imagine it. Shouldn't Christianity always be progressive if one believes in an infinite, all-knowing God who must accommodate ‘truth’ to finite, naturally biased human beings?
The second part of the term is the noun, Christian. While the adjective progressive describes how, the noun Christian designates the parameters in which the adjective is to be applied. In other words, there is a progressiveness within the context of being a believer in Christ. Christ, Jesus, is the Way, the Truth, and Life, yet the Spirit is invited to show us an ever-increasing understanding as to what that means.
Progressive Christianity provides a broader context for thinking about the Christian life. In contrast, progressiveness within a particular creedal formulation, such as calling oneself a Progressive Baptist, means experimenting with new expressions for being a Baptist, yet always within the parameters of Baptist doctrine. This is, by necessity, a more limited sphere.
So, the question is, are you a progressive? Could you reasonably consider yourself a progressive Christian? Or, would you be more accurately defined as a progressive within a denominational context? Maybe you just aren't really a progressive at all.
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Bill Colburn