Progressive Conservative? or, Keep an Eye On Tony Jones’ Challenge

Sadly any mention of certain friendships shuts down many a conversation. Over the past ten or more years I have had a few occasions to chat with Tony Jones, in person and on the phone. There are many times I believe Tony gets a bad rap. Other times I am well aware his provocations stir deep passions. Like other of my friends he forces me to think more deeply about issues of life and faith.

Recently Tony offered a challenge to Progressive Christians. This after he and others debated any and all adjectives used to nuance Christian. At the heart of his challenge is another provocateur, Tripp Fuller. Here is another young thinker that will not let us off the hook when thinking about Christianity, and notably God.

Evangelicals, conservatives, and fundamentalists tend to think Liberal Progressives have nothing to say about God because they have made any number of philosophical moves that tend to produce ethics as religion. Tony was struck by the force and confidence with which Tripp talks about God. He decided to extend a challenge to those who self-identify as Liberal Progressive Christians to write a piece wherein each writer says something substantive about God.

I think those of us who tend to be more conservative should read, engage, and not dismiss this project as helpful for our own theological thinking. Who knows, we may discover there are some progressive conservatives. I know, perish the thought.

Here is the link to where those who take up Tony’s challenge will be gathered.

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About the Author
Husband to Patty. Daddy to Kimberly and Tommie. Grandpa Doc to Cohen, Max, Fox, and Marlee. Pastor to Snow Hill Baptist Church. Graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reading. Photography. Golf. Colorado. Jeeping. Friend. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be construed as representing the corporate views of the church I pastor.

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