Evaluating Progressivism

     Progressivism is an ideology advocating social progress to keep pace with secular trends and technological change.  Furthermore, proponents of progressivism believe such social progress should be engineered and effected by government intervention.  That school of thought fostered the idea that continual social progress would ultimately result in social perfection.

     When campaigning for president for his first term, Barack Obama’s major campaign issue was ‘fundamental change’ which would transform America into a better place.

     The Bible, however, clearly didn’t support Obama’s grandiose agenda.

     “My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those given to change; for their calamity will rise suddenly…”  Proverbs 24:21-22

     The Bible teaches that God’s standard of righteousness and justice does not change, i.e. they are immutable. 

     Consider the instructions for Israel just prior to entering Canaan.

     “…if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…”  Deuteronomy 28:1

     “So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day to the right or the left…”  Deuteronomy 28:14

     The instructions were to obey all God’s commandments and not turn aside in either direction.

     Throughout the Old Testament God pleads with Israel to return to following His standard of righteousness and justice from which they had strayed and in the last book of the Old Testament He reiterated the basic truth of His immutability.

     “For I am the LORD, I do not change…yet from the days of your fathers you have gone astray from My ordinances and have not kept them.  Return to Me, and I will return to you…”  Malachi 3:6-7

     In the Hebrew language the word ‘return’ is synonymous with ‘repent’ and ‘turn’.  The basic meaning is to go back to the point of departure.

     Perhaps the most well known scripture expressing that thought is:

     “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:13-14

     As would be expected the New Testament confirms the Old Testament teaching of returning to the basics of God’s immutable word. 

     In fact the concept of repentance is not just necessary for the success of a nation; it is required for the individual.

     The initial message of John the Baptist was of repentance.

     “In those days John the Baptist came preaching… ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’”  Matthew 3:1-2

     Likewise, Jesus began His earthly ministry with the same message.

     The consequences of not being willing to repent will result in destruction.

    

     “…but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3

     The hearts of those who choose not to repent will grow colder and colder.  During the approaching great tribulation with its terrible accompanying catastrophes, those not initially killed will cling to their rebellion.

     “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.”  Revelation 9:20

     The non-repentant will continue to cling to their self-appointed gods and subsequently be thrown into the everlasting lake of fire.

     So then, will those who attempt to legislate ‘progress’ by executive order designed to satisfy the desires of the current generation prosper, or will those who ‘turn’ back to the basics fare better?

     Perhaps the wisest man in the world answered that question.

     “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

     Therefore, the concept of progressivism unwittingly attempts to usurp God’s authority.  While man’s logic and technology may change, God’s standard of righteousness and justice does not.

     According to the Bible God will have no tolerance for those who attempt to ‘transform’ His original and immutable instructions in the name of progress to accommodate contemporary special interests.