A Biblical Divide: Progressive vs. Conservative Christianity

A Biblical Divide: Progressive vs. Conservative Christianity

BY Julie Taylor

How we interpret the Bible doesn’t just inform our beliefs—it forms them. It shapes how we understand God, ourselves, and the world around us.

A literal lens might focus more on obedience. This lens defends that truth isn’t subjective, and personal opinion doesn’t override divine authority. It affirms that Scripture is trustworthy in revealing God’s character, grace, and the path to salvation.

A more progressive lens might be viewed more metaphorically or contextually, in that it highlights love, justice, and spiritual transformation. It prioritizes holiness and salvation through inclusion, advocacy, and relational grace. It focuses on the scriptures transformative power over their technical accuracy.

The question is, can we see through both of these lenses together, should we, and what would that look like?

How do we hold truth and grace together?

Admitting that the Bible’s authority was designed to contain human limitations doesn’t diminish its spiritual power—it actually enhances it. As one theologian put it, “The authority of Scripture is in its capacity to speak God’s truth through imperfect vessels.”

Patriarchal systems, slavery, and tribal warfare were part of the ancient world. Some biblical laws reflect those realities—not because they’re divine ideals, but because they were steps toward justice within those systems. Understanding that helps us discern what’s timeless (like love and justice) versus what was time-bound.

Repentance is important, and understanding the value and authority of the scriptures is foundational but allows for space for mystery, nuance, growth and transformation as we change. We can honor the Bible’s authority while embracing its transformative power.

Core doctrine doesn't change because we believe people should be able to live out their convictions and commitments as diverse individuals. We can live faithfully in a changing world because of the transformative power of divinely inspired scriptures. Faith, commitment, self-control, and responsibility to our faith doesn’t change because family structures look different. Faith is about how we love, serve, and trust God and one another—not the configuration of our household. Commitment to Christ is lived out in daily choices, in how we care for those around us, and in how we embody grace, not in conforming to a specific societal structure.

The Bible is not a rigid cage for God’s voice—it’s a cathedral where we learn to listen.

The authority of the scriptures can bring clarity and confidence without turning a relational faith into rigid dogma, or a moral and chaotic free for all, because the Bible as a living text that shapes hearts, not just minds. Cross-utilization in faith reflects the integrated nature of spiritual life—where the structure and foundation of our faith isn’t siloed but woven into every aspect of being.

Truth doesn’t change, everyone’s need for repentance doesn’t change, salvation through Jesus Christ doesn’t change, our inner transformation through submission to the Holy Spirit doesn’t change. True and authentic faith shouldn’t replace the Spirit’s inward transformation with outward conformity.

The strength of the foundation of our faith should never get tangled in performance, elitism, or fear. Though family structure and societal and cultural norms change through time, the core beliefs and the foundation of our faith remain the same. We are accepted into God’s Grace, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who Christ is.

It’s important to remember that Jesus didn’t draw tighter circles—He widened the table. Whether it was embracing the outcast, healing on the Sabbath, or speaking to those who society shunned, His actions consistently prioritized people over religious propriety. Modern culture doesn't change doctrine but allows flexibility and inclusion. In this framework, Cross-utilization in faith becomes less about rigid precision and more about faithful reliability.

This tension between personal morality and societal transformation isn't a fracture; it can be a source of energy and strength when approached with humility and grace. It echoes the early church wrestling with Jewish and Gentile inclusion, and even Paul’s letters balancing law and grace.

The appointment of deacons like Stephen in Acts 6:1–6 wasn’t just administrative—it was a justice response to neglected widows, showing how evangelism and equity were intertwined. Francis of Assisi embraced radical poverty and preached to lepers and outcasts, renewing the church’s witness through justice and compassion. Methodist circuit riders spread the gospel while advocating for education and care for the poor, especially in frontier communities. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister, fused evangelistic preaching with a call for racial justice. His sermons echoed biblical tradition while renewing its application in a segregated society. Churches became hubs for organizing peaceful protests, showing how spiritual renewal can catalyze systemic change.

When Christians of different convictions seek not to convince, but to understand each other, it opens pathways for transformation.