Baptist
definitions of Progressive, Liberal and Conservative in 1889
Dr.
Koot van Wyk
Baptist Geistweit takes the "eminent Dr.
Gunsauius of Chicago" to task with powerful rhetorical questions.
On June 24, 1889, Geistweit pens,
"Progressive--Liberal--Conservative""
He describes the theological situation and then
he goes into the three classes of preachers:
"Here, then, are three classes of
preachers: Progressives, who accept the newer teaching
of evolution as principle, but modify its deductions; they maintain an attitude
of inquiry; in the language of one of our own strong men, they are constantly
going forward, never necessarily settling a point definitely, but only
tentatively--still hoping for more light; they are "liberal,"
friendly to everything that scholars declare to be the latest light. It is but
natural that such men should be hesitant, and frequently lack force, because
they lack positive convictions. If I have overstated them, I am sorry; I do not
think I have."
"Conservatives: not ignorant men, as is sometimes supposed,
the supposition being created by such bumptious critics as Dr. Briggs, who said
in my hearing that no man who had any respect for his standing would differ
with him in his [Briggs' ] conclusions! But the conservative has settled some
things; he accepts as his theology practically the common view I have above
mentioned as the natural teachings of the New Testament; he does not feel that
he could consistently question the authority or the knowledge of Jesus.
Whatever else he does he bows before the sayings of Jesus as recorded in the
gospels, and accepts them in the face of every teaching to the contrary. He
does not belittle Paul; he believes that Paul's teachings are of equal authority
with those of Jesus, claiming that they come from the same source. He does not
feel that he possesses all the light; that there is much more to stream from
the sacred page; but his attitude is reverent, prayerful, always submitting
finally to the truth or teaching of the Book that requires no fine line of
reasoning to discover; he believes that the great truths of the Bible lie on
its surface; that he who wishes can find the light without the aid of any man
or men; the book, Spirit--applied, will reach the heart of mankind when nothing
else will. He is also keen, alert to the movements of the world, accepts every
new truth, or fresh light upon the old truth; but he has moorings; he has a
place of anchor. It is evident that this man is decided in his preaching; he
has some settled convictions; he believes things, believes them intensely. It
may be safely said that he is the evangelist of the church; it is difficult to
conceive what the church would do for converts if he should die out of the
land.
"The other class: the liberal men, who occupy pulpits of no special denomination; they are the
free lances in things theological. They say that they are loyal to Christ, with
the modifications of the progressive, yet without the limitations of the
progressive in regular harness. In one breath they throw out the Bible, in the
next they embrace it; they use it when it suits their purpose, and on the same
ground reject it. They are generally men of strong personality and many gifts;
their following is often a personal one, the work ceasing when they change
pulpits or platforms. They attract many who want some sort of religious
service, but who are not willing to accept the yoke of Jesus Christ in
wholehearted following; they are not missionary in their spirit; know nothing
of what is called "prayer-meeting life." It would do no violence to
say that often these institutions provide intellectual food with a sacred
flavor, for most men must feed on something besides business food. They ignore
the ordinances, make no efforts at conversions, and have little concern about
the ordinary affairs at church life. To say they have no influence on the
religious life of a community would, perhaps, do them an injustice; to say that
they are positive religious forces would greatly overestimate them.
"What is the relation of the conservative
to the growing grist of Satan? I will attempt to answer in the next note.“
Source:
https://sharperiron.org/forum/thread-standard-and-baptist-history