Theological liberalism was born, nurtured and lived as a parasite, using the body, energies, resources and life of ecclesiastical organizations founded and funded by conservatives. Were the first liberal ministers of conservative denominations, although already undermined by the ideas of Unitarism and the Enlightenment?where they made a living and where they gained respectability. Although they changed their beliefs, they did not abandon the body they were feeding on. They’d have nowhere to go.
Liberalism has never founded churches, never increased the number of members or the economic income of the churches. He only managed to replicate other liberals, who in turn also needed to survive. Logical liberalism always had to find a host capable of sucking to death. Today, we are witnessing the agony of the last historical denominations in Europe and the United States that once housed it.
- Liberalism survived the expenses of missionary effort.
- Expansionist zeal.
- And financial sacrifice of biblical Christians.
- Who founded churches.
- Created organizations.
- Raised missionary funds.
- Opened theological schools.
- All of which were then occupied by liberals.
- I know this didn’t happen overnight.
- And that there was a process in which the fundamental principles of historical Christianity were slowly eroded in these denominations.
- In any case.
- Fully developed liberalism has not founded new denominations.
- Opened new churches.
- Opened new mission fields or opened new schools.
- I don’t know of any liberal theology courses in the United States and Europe today that work at a liberal-created university.
- Harvard.
- Union.
- Princeton.
- Yale.
- Amsterdam.
- Oxford? They were all created by curators with the most different lines.
- The denominations that were born as a result of the liberal dissent of conservative bodies are virtually insignificant.
- Except when they win the media due to a sparse Alabama.
The parasitic nature of theological liberalism was because liberals did not believe in evangelism and missions, they believed in social work, teaching people to cultivate land, to organize the earth politically against oppression, to open wells, to organize weaving societies, etc. While these things are laudable, they do not produce new churches, do not increase the number of committed believers, and do not provide financial gains. Liberals have always needed hosts to survive as they continue their agenda. They sucked out the ecclesiastical and financial organization, legacy of Calvin, Luther, Wesley and the Puritans.
Theological liberalism has historically died with the advent of postmodernity and the obvious lack of academic and ecclesiastical results, but, like a mutant virus, it has become neoliberalism. Although different in many aspects of ancient liberalism, neoliberalism retains its parasitic character. Because neoliberals do not know exactly what they believe, they doubt the authority of the Bible, they are a little lost without historical and theological reference, as a result, neoliberal pastors barely manage to establish new churches, bring sinners to Jesus Christ, increase membership, open missionary fronts and improve the income of the church. They need hosts, ecclesiastical bodies to make a living, as they reflect and try to figure out what they believe in, after all.
One of the secrets of the parasite’s ability to survive is mimicry, it can mimic the environment in which it is to go unnoticed, neoliberals can become fundamentalists, conservatives, retirees, Pentecostals and even liberals, depending on the needs of the moment. that’s what makes neoliberals more dangerous than old liberals, as I’ve already suggested in another article.
Due to the difficulty of extracting parasites with mixing powers with the environment, there is little hope if it is not to wait for the death of the host, which will also represent the death of the parasite, but not always. Neoliberal pastors move from the local church to the local church, leaving behind a history of depleted, confused and healed communities.
I know neoliberals aren’t the only type of parasite in the body. Inept retired shepherds can have the same practical effect. And I know that retired pastors in Brazil still have a long way to go before they can implement the Calvinist vision of the mission. However, due to the extraordinary ability to transform into whatever they want depending on the situation, neoliberal parasites are the most difficult to identify and treat.