As one who has struggled mightily with what to call myself as a post-postmodern Christian – one who takes perspective and context seriously – I realize that I’m not comfortable calling myself a “progressive” Christian, at least not the way that adjective has come to be used and understood. Part of the problem relates to the implicit judgment of those who are not “progressive”. Are they regressive, then, or simply unenlightened? On the other hand Marcus Borg’s attempt to distinguish between “earlier” and “emerging” Christians is not very helpful. In an attempt to be non-judgmental, this sense of “emergence” lacks any implicit definition that might help to draw important distinctions. I do think it’s important to find a way to describe the differences, but in as non-judgmental a way as possible. As well, without further defining “emerging”, this word can easily be confused with what Brian McClaren and others describe as the “emergent church movement.”

 

 

 

    Therefore, when we use the term “progressive” we need to clearly articulate that we mean this in a very precise way – we are those who believe that evolution at all the levels earlier mentioned is Spirit’s modus operandi. We are “progressive”, inasmuch as we are persuaded by science and through personal experience that we are an integral part of an evolutionary cosmos. We are the Spirit-infused evolutionary universe come to conscious awareness – the universe reflecting upon itself. In the human being, natural selection has become “actual” selection – we are now to exercise the incredible power to select our preferred future. We may consciously choose to cooperate with the evolutionary process. To use theological language – it is God’s intention for us to grow and evolve.

 

    Notice the implications for theology, ecclesiology, and liturgy. Revelation is never once and for all time. It is a slow unfolding of the Spirit in space and time. God is known, not merely by looking backward, but by cooperating in the evolutionary capacity to shape the future – “those who put their hand to the plough and look back are not fit for the Kingdom of God”. Scripture was written, therefore, within an evolutionary universe and could only be told and later penned from within the stage of consciousness reflected by the emergent culture of the day and age in which it was written. The universe unfolds through a master pattern of “transcend and include”. Previous structures and processes laid the foundation for emergent processes and structures to transcend, yet include, the former in response to changing life conditions. Therefore, ecclesiologically, the church is meant to follow the same master pattern of transcending, yet including, its traditions, processes and structures. When we refuse to evolve in this way, we are acting out of alignment with the natural grace of the cosmic unfolding.

 

    To be progressive therefore is to refuse to freeze evolution at any single point in human history or to freeze particular beliefs at one stage of development and call that “Truth”. As Ken Wilber says, all of reality is holonic. It is at once a whole in and of itself and as such has agency – it does things. But it is also at the very same time a part of a larger whole – it is in communion with something larger than itself. When theology, the church, and belief systems get frozen, they are actively refusing to be a part of a larger, evolving whole, and therefore not participating in God’s apparent intention for all of life. They become petrified fossils. To live, a thing, a church, a belief system, truth itself needs to grow and develop.

 

    These are just a few quick examples of how a “progressive” Christian faith, intentionally articulated as evolutionary, can help us to self-define without being judgmental. Some cannot embrace a scientific, evolutionary paradigm or find a way to implicate Spirit in that process. But if we are going to stay with the label “progressive”, let us focus positively on what we believe, not reactively on what we are not – not biblical literalists, not salvationist, not believers that Jesus is “the only son of God”.

 

     We believe that God’s very being is revealed in the evolutionary process of transcending and including what has gone before. This dynamic unfolding in a biased direction toward increased complexity, consciousness, and compassion will never come to an end. It is the very nature of Ultimate Reality or Spirit. It is not a rejection of tradition, or a rejection of any particular belief system. Rather it is a positive embrace of a worldview that is grounded in scientific reality.

 

    We don’t need to make any more lists of what it means to be “progressive”. It may be enough to quote Paul who affirmed that we are to “grow with the growth this is from God” – that is, evolutionary growth. When we were children, we thought like children. We reasoned like children. It’s time to become adults and put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13). Truth evolves as perspective and context evolve. Beliefs evolve. Our understanding of Jesus evolves along with the expansion of our own consciousness.