A Parable of the Progressive Christian

How can you tell the difference between someone who loves you and someone who pretends to love you?

Suppose there were some people on a large raft heading down a wide river. The water is calm, the flow is easy and the weather is nice. It is a very large square wooden raft made of planks. And on this raft there are people sitting on couches. There's a large TV and satellite dish. Some are painting, others just sitting silently. There are a couple wash tubs filled with ice cold beer. There's a table with pizza and snacks on it. They are engaging in conversation about God and what He is like. They’re watching TV and playing video games and texting and talking on their cell phones. Every once in a while another raft comes alongside theirs. Not as nice as theirs, even a little beat up. The person or people on the other raft have no food or drink. So the people on the larger raft give them some pizza and some beer, some planks, nails and hammer, even an oar and send them on their way. They feel good about themselves. Sometimes a raft like this comes by and they do nothing. So they continue on their journey down the river having their conversations. But they do not realize that not too distant down the river is a 200 foot waterfall.

On the left bank of the river there are people speaking to them. These voices are telling them that all is well. That they're asking the right questions. They are doing the hard work. That they can re-imagine anything they want. They are adding to the conversation of life. That God has blessed them on this journey of life. And if they continue to do what they are doing God will write a wonderful story for them.

On the right bank of the river there are people speaking to them. These voices are telling them that not all is well. That if they don't steer their raft to the right side of the river bank before it's too late, because there's a 200ft waterfall in front of them and they will plunge to their death. The people on this side of the river had ropes that they could toss them in order to pull them to safety. That God's blessing is to rescue them from their present danger on there journey of life. And if they continue to do what they are doing they will miss the wonderful story that God wants to write for them.

But the people on the left bank of the river are telling the people on the larger raft to ignore the waterfall. That it isn't real. That death does not await you at the bottom of the waterfall. The people on the raft shouted back to the people on the right bank, “That’s your truth not ours.”

But the people on the right bank of the river are telling them that death does await them unless they change their course immediately.

So here's the question. Which people are showing true love? The people on the right bank or the people on the left bank? Who's telling the truth and who's telling the lies? Who's truly loving the people on the raft and who is pretending to love the people on the raft?