The Missing Jesus: When Progressive Christianity Loses Its Way.

Ever noticed how Jesus gets presented these days? Gentle, affirming, and never challenging—a comforting figure who makes us feel good but rarely asks anything of us. This cultural reshaping of Christ deserves our honest attention, because what's at stake isn't just theology—it's transformation itself.

In this deeply reflective episode, we peel back layers of modern interpretations to examine who Jesus truly is beyond Instagram quotes and bumper sticker theology. When Jesus declared "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," he wasn't offering a gentle suggestion. The early church didn't face persecution for following someone with lovely ideas about kindness—they gave their lives because they encountered the risen Son of God who demanded everything.

Progressive Christianity often presents what we might call a "soft gospel"—highlighting inclusion while minimizing sin, repentance, and transformation. But the authentic gospel isn't just about affirming where we are; it's about setting us free through truth that sometimes wounds before it heals. Similarly, biblical love isn't merely affirmation without boundaries. When Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you... go and sin no more," he demonstrated perfect balance between grace and truth.

Perhaps most critically, we've begun elevating personal experience above biblical authority. Scripture becomes something to manage rather than submit to—selecting comfortable passages while avoiding challenging ones. This subtly transforms us from students into editors, from followers into critics. But the Word wasn't given to reflect our preferences; it was given to reshape us into Christ's image.

Are you following the real Jesus or a comfortable echo of yourself? Join us as we explore how to reclaim authentic faith—one that embraces both comfort and challenge, both grace and truth. Because a Jesus who never questions us isn't the Jesus who saves us.

Chapters

• 1:02 Welcome to Compass Chronicles
• 2:13 Who is Jesus Really?
• 6:06 The Real Gospel Message
• 10:28 Love Through Truth, Not Just Affirmation
• 16:30 Scripture's Authority vs Personal Experience
• 23:07 Invitation to Authentic Faith

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:31

Welcome to the Compass Chronicles podcast. Where faith meets fandom, life gets real and every step of your journey reveals a deeper purpose. I'm your host, javier, and, as always, I'm so glad you're here Now. Today's episode is one I've been praying about and sitting with for a while, because what we're going to talk about isn't just a passing trend. It's something that's genuinely stirring hearts, raising questions and, in many ways, shifting the way people understand their faith. It's been showing up in churches, book clubs and social media threads.

Speaker 1: 1:01

Today, we're taking a closer look at progressive Christianity. It's often praised for being compassionate, hopeful and inclusive and there's beauty in that but sometimes it paints a picture of Jesus that feels more like a gentle symbol than the powerful, life-transforming Savior he really is. He's shown as someone who makes us feel good but rarely asks anything of us, someone who comforts but doesn't call us to change. We're not here to blame or scare anyone. We're pausing to ask the tough, honest question Are we still following the Jesus who claimed to be the only path to the Father, or have we settled for something far more comfortable? Today, we're going to explore that question deeply. We'll open the Bible, we'll look at history, we'll examine some modern theology and, most importantly, we'll talk about how to stay rooted in truth when the world around us keeps shifting. So if you're ready for a real conversation, the kind that challenges but also encourages, then let's dive in. You know, before we can talk about what's missing, we've got to talk about who Jesus really is. It sounds like an easy question, right? Something we all probably assume we're on the same page about, but ask a dozen people to define Jesus and you might get a dozen very different answers. So let's peel back the layers, the Instagram quotes, the pop theology reels, the bumper stickers, even the Jesus is my homeboy t-shirts and ask the deeper question who is Jesus?

Speaker 1: 2:04

Because at the heart of all of this, at the core of what causes any belief system to drift, is a quiet, subtle shift in how we view Christ. That's where it begins and that's why it matters so much. You know, in many progressive Christian circles, jesus gets cast as a wise moral guide, a peaceful revolutionary, a fierce advocate for inclusion or a gentle mentor who just wants everyone to be kind, and you know what that compassion is real? He healed the brokenhearted, confronted religious hypocrisy, welcomed outsiders and upended cultural norms wherever he went. All of that is absolutely true. Consider John, chapter 14, verse 6, where Jesus states without hesitation I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. This isn't a gentle option, it's a firm boundary. And, let's be honest, that kind of absolute clarity can feel jarring today, especially in a culture that elevates tolerance as the highest virtue and views any exclusion as unforgivable. A claim that there's only one path. It's a hard truth for a postmodern mindset to accept. So what do we do with that discomfort? In progressive theology, the answer often looks like this we sand off the rough edges, we reshape Jesus into someone easier to digest, we make him a symbol instead of a savior.

Speaker 1: 3:10

But the early church didn't give their lives for a symbol. The apostles didn't face beatings, imprisonment and death because Jesus had some lovely ideas about being kind to others. They were willing to suffer because they had seen and walked with the risen Christ, the Son of the living God. Fully God, fully man. Crucified, resurrected, ascended. That's not a soft idea. That's a dangerous truth, one worth living and dying for. And the early church fathers? They knew exactly how high the stakes were.

Speaker 1: 3:36

Let's go back a few centuries Back, when the church was still finding its footing, still defining its core truths. The world around them was filled with confusion, heresies and persecution. One of the most pressing dangers at the time was Gnosticism, a belief system that downplayed or outright denied the physical incarnation and resurrection of Jesus. Gnostics pushed the idea that Jesus was more of a mystical spirit or divine idea than an actual man who walked among us and bled for our sins. Sound familiar it should. There are far too many strains of progressive theology today that treat Christ as a vague cosmic force rather than the crucified king he truly is. But church leaders like Athanasius stood their ground. In his landmark treatise on the incarnation. He argued that our savior had to be both fully human and fully divine to bridge the gaps sin created. As Athanasius famously put it, he became what we are, that we might become what he is. That insight still carries tremendous weight today.

Speaker 1: 4:26

These early defenders of the faith didn't have podcasts, youtube channels or massive conference platforms. What they had was conviction. They understood that if we compromise on the identity of Christ, even just a little, everything else begins to unravel. Now fast forward to our modern moment. Today, in many progressive circles there's a trend called deconstruction and listen, I'm not here to bash that Asking questions isn't wrong. In fact honest wrestling can be part of a healthy growing faith. But the problem is, deconstruction often doesn't lead to reconstruction. It stops at doubt. It leaves believers adrift with nothing solid to rebuild on.

Speaker 1: 4:58

A perfect example is the growing influence of theologians like Richard Rohrer. He's widely respected in progressive Christian spaces and talks a lot about the universal Christ. That idea stretches Christ beyond the historical Jesus into a kind of cosmic force, more spiritual than personal. And while there's a kernel of truth in recognizing Christ's eternal nature, the danger is that this version of Jesus loses the blood, the cross, the bodily resurrection. It's no longer the Jesus who says I am the door, but more of a mystical fog that says you'll find your way eventually. Compare that to someone like CS Lewis. In mere Christianity, lewis lays it out plainly. You must make your choice Either this man was and is the son of God, or else a madman or something worse. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. Lewis isn't having it. He reminds us that Jesus didn't give us the option of neutral admiration. His claims are too wild, too disruptive, too divine, and it's no wonder that culture prefers the soft version.

Speaker 1: 5:52

Our world wants a Jesus who fits, who affirms, who never calls anyone out. We want a Jesus who fits, who affirms, who never calls anyone out. We want a Jesus who heals but never rebukes, a Jesus who joins us at the table but never flips it over. But the Jesus we meet in the Gospels he holds both grace and truth in perfect balance. When he faced a woman caught in adultery, he said with compassion neither do I condemn you. But he didn't stop there. He added go and from now on sin no more. That's from John, chapter 8, verse 11. That's the real Jesus, full of mercy and truth, not one or the other, both. And in a world that loves to pick sides, jesus keeps calling us to a faith that embraces tension. He's the Lamb and the Lion, the Servant and the King, the Savior and the Judge. But when we start reshaping him to fit into cultural preferences, we end up with a Jesus who might be recognizable but who can't change hearts, heal wounds or save souls.

Speaker 1: 6:40

So what do we do we recenter? We return to the real Jesus. We re-anchor our hearts and minds in his word, his character and his authority. That means getting into scripture, not just snippets we see online, but really digging into the gospels, watching how Jesus speaks, how he moves, how he confronts, how he comforts, asking ourselves do I actually know this Jesus, or have I settled for a version that just makes me feel good? It means learning our spiritual history, understanding how believers before us stood strong in their faith even in times of confusion and cultural pressure.

Speaker 1: 7:09

The early creeds, like the Nicene and Apostles' Creed, weren't religious fluff. They were battle-tested declarations that kept the church grounded in truth. It also means being spiritually discerning. 1 John, chapter 4, verse 1, tells us plainly Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Just because someone quotes the Bible doesn't mean their message is biblical. Not every sermon that goes viral is rooted in the Word.

Speaker 1: 7:32

We've got to ask is this pointing to the Jesus of Scripture or to a repackaged feel-good knockoff? And we need each other real community, not just online comment sections, but people in our lives who love us enough to challenge us, who will pull us back when we start to drift, who will remind us of truth when we forget. And here's the truth. We've got to be okay with not being everyone's favorite. Jesus didn't sugarcoat it when he said If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. That's John, chapter 15, verse 18.

Speaker 1: 8:03

Following the real Jesus might not earn us likes or applause, but he's worth every step. Let me be clear if your idea of Jesus never questions you, never urges you to stretch or change, and always plays by your rules, then you might not be following him at all. You could just be cheering on your own echo. Now don't get me wrong. This isn't about gatekeeping the faith or using theology as a weapon. That's not what we're about on this podcast. This is about reclaiming the real Jesus. The Jesus who isn't just a soft-spoken symbol of love, but the living embodiment of truth. The Jesus who isn't just comforting when we're broken, but holy when we'd rather stay the same. The Jesus who doesn't just pat us on the back but sometimes calls us out flips. The Jesus who doesn't just pat us on the back but sometimes calls us out, flips a few tables and tells us to go and sin no more.

Speaker 1: 8:38

Because here's the thing, clarity matters. The more clearly we see Him, the real Him, the more faithfully we can follow Him. And in a world flooded with filters, fandoms and feel-good knockoffs, clarity isn't just helpful. It's sacred. Now that we've taken a good hard look at who Jesus really is and how progressive Christianity sometimes reshapes him, we've got to go deeper. We've got to talk about the message Jesus came to bring, because when you redefine the messenger, eventually you're going to redefine the message. So here's a question that might seem simple on the surface but actually carries a lot of weight underneath.

Speaker 1: 9:07

When you hear the word gospel, what comes to mind? Maybe what comes to mind is forgiveness or grace, or being accepted just as you are. Maybe it's the cross, or simply the comforting thought that God loves you and all of that is real. It's beautiful, it's true, but is that the whole gospel? That's where we begin to see the distortion start creeping in, because what often gets preached in progressive circles isn't the full gospel.

Speaker 1: 9:29

It's what I'd call a soft gospel. It's a version of the good news that leaves out the bad news, one that highlights love but skips over sin. It talks inclusion but not repentance. It opens the door and welcomes everyone to the table, which is beautiful, but never mentions that the table belongs to a king and that king sets the terms for fellowship. This soft gospel it feels good, it's appealing. It promises inspiration, but rarely transformation. It's more about self-fulfillment than self-denial. It fills auditoriums, it sells books, it gets tons of likes online and, most of all, it doesn't offend anyone. Here's the thing. We're not here to share a message that just makes people comfy in their sin. The gospel isn't about affirming where we're stuck. It's about pulling us out and setting us free.

Speaker 1: 10:10

Let's talk for a minute about the real gospel. The Apostle Paul doesn't sugarcoat it. He lays it out clearly in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 3-4. For I deliver to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. That he was buried. That he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. Did you catch that? Christ died for our sins? Not just to show us what love looks like, not just to make a moral statement. He died because sin is real, because we were separated, because we needed a savior. And that's the core of the gospel not just that Jesus accepts you, but that Jesus saves you. It's not just about comfort, it's about cleansing. Not Jesus saves you. It's not just about comfort. It's about cleansing. Not just community, it's about conversion.

Speaker 1: 10:49

And if we get the gospel wrong, everything else starts to unravel. Now I know some progressive theologians push back on that. They argue that substitutionary atonement, the belief that Jesus died in our place for our sin, is outdated. Some even call it divine child abuse. They want a gentler interpretation of the cross, one that talks about moral influence or cosmic reconciliation, reconciliation but leaves out the blood, leaves out the wrath and definitely leaves out judgment.

Speaker 1: 11:13

But here's the problem. Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 22, says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. That's not an old-fashioned doctrine, it's a reality rooted in divine justice and radical grace. God's wrath and God's love aren't in conflict. They're partners in the work of redemption. Think about it If God saw evil and God's love aren't in conflict. They're partners in the work of redemption. Think about it If God saw evil and injustice and just shrugged his shoulders. That wouldn't be love. But when God so loved the world that he sent his son to absorb that wrath, that's not abuse, that's holy love. That's a love that sacrifices, a love that costs everything.

Speaker 1: 11:42

Now let's rewind again back to the early church. The apostles didn't preach soft sermons. Take Peter's bold message in Acts, chapter 2. Right after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit shows up like fire. People are drawn in by the chaos and wonder. And what does Peter do? He doesn't give them a pep talk or a vague spiritual pick-me-up. He says you crucified the Messiah. Now repent, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. Acts, chapter 2, verse 38. That word repent is all but absent in many progressive pulpits today, but in the early church it was central Over and over.

Speaker 1: 12:15

In the book of Acts we see the apostles calling people to turn from sin and turn toward Christ. The message wasn't about affirmation, it was about transformation. The gospel didn't exist to validate identity, it existed to create a new one. And this is where we've got to be careful, because when the message gets reduced to God loves you just the way you are, we're only telling half the story. Yes, god loves you unconditionally, eternally, but he also loves you too much to leave you where you are. He came to set you free, to restore you, to make you new. That's the gospel. Let's pause right here, because I know for some of you this might be getting real. That's the gospel. Let's pause right here because I know for some of you this might be getting real. Maybe you come from a background where church felt like a list of rules, where every step was watched, where guilt and shame echoed louder than love.

Speaker 1: 12:56

And now, when you hear the word grace, it hits different. It feels like oxygen. And, honestly, that's exactly what grace is. It's the air our souls were made to breathe. But here's something we can't ignore.

Speaker 1: 13:07

Titus, chapter 2, verses 11 through 12, says this For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. Did you catch that? Grace appeared bringing salvation, but it didn't stop there. It also trains us. See, grace doesn't just soothe us when we're hurting. It teaches us how to live differently. It shows us how to say no to the things that drain us and destroy us, and yes to the life we were created for. Grace is not a hall pass for sin. It's the power to walk away from it. So if you're breathing grace today, breathe it in deep, but let it strengthen you too, because grace isn't just the welcome, it's the workout. When we strip grace of its power, we create churches full of people who are forgiven but not free, people who know that God is love but haven't experienced the transforming light of that love.

Speaker 1: 13:51

That's the danger of the soft gospel. It feels nice but it leaves people stuck. Have you ever stopped to notice the slogans shouting at us everywhere? Follow your heart it is what it is or live your truth. They're plastered on billboards all over social media, even popping up in casual conversations. But that's not the freedom Jesus came to give. He didn't say follow your truth. He declared I am the way and the truth and the life.

Speaker 1: 14:12

John, chapter 14, verse 6. And he didn't tell us do whatever feels right. Instead, he promised if you remain in my word, you really are my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John, chapter 8, verses 31 and 32.

Speaker 1: 14:26

You've probably heard that freedom means doing whatever feels good. Jesus turns that idea upside down. True freedom is living exactly as you were designed, loving God with your whole heart and growing more like Him every day. And far from feeling restrictive, that freedom heals and restores from the inside out. Here's the hard but beautiful reality. The real gospel wounds before it heals. It convicts before it comforts. Like a surgeon's knife, it cuts out the cancer of sin to save your life. That's why Paul confidently wrote I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1.16. Conviction isn't condemnation. It's God's loving invitation to be whole. If your version of the gospel never stirs your heart, it may never set you free. So how do we stay anchored in the real thing? Let's be real for a second. Or, as we say in New York City, we are keeping it 100, or this is no cap.

Speaker 1: 15:11

In a world full of curated soundbites and quick encouragements. We have to make a conscious choice to stay rooted in the full truth of scripture, not just the coffee mug verses, not just the ones we highlight and quote on social media. We open the word daily, all of it. We lean into the hard passages, the ones that push us, the ones that challenge what we thought we knew. We allow God's word to stretch us, to sanctify us and to shape who we are becoming. And we don't do it alone. We stay in community. We walk with people who love Jesus and love us enough to tell us the truth. Jesus doesn't need us to be his advertising team. He doesn't need spin. He's not looking for a rebrand or a softer image. So, in a world that prefers a softer gospel, let's be the ones who speak the real gospel, boldly, compassionately and without apology, because only the true gospel can truly save.

Speaker 1: 15:57

Let's talk about something that's central to everything we believe, something so powerful and beautiful that it's the heartbeat of the gospel, and that word is love. Love is the greatest commandment. It's the defining trait of what it means to follow Jesus. In fact, jesus himself said in John, chapter 13, verse 35, by this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. That's huge. Love is how the world is supposed to recognize us, not by our buildings or our bumper stickers or our social media bios, but by our love.

Speaker 1: 16:25

But here's where it gets complicated. In today's culture, and especially in many progressive Christian spaces, love has been redefined. It's often disconnected from truth, stripped of correction and boiled down to pure affirmation. In this version, love means you never disagree, never challenge. You just nod along and celebrate every choice, every belief, every path.

Speaker 1: 16:43

Now don't get me wrong kindness and gentleness are non-negotiables. They're fruit of the Spirit, not optional character traits. We're not called to be jerks with Bible verses. But we're also not called to trade truth for comfort, because the second love becomes synonymous with approval. It loses its power to heal, it loses its ability to change lives. It becomes soft, sentimental and safe, but powerless. Here's the thing In Scripture love and truth are never at odds. They're not two competing ideas that we have to balance. They walk together like two sides of the same coin. If you remove one, the other doesn't function. And when we try to separate them, we don't end up with more love. We end up with something hollow, something well-meaning but spiritually empty.

Speaker 1: 17:21

Look at how Jesus loved people. He was tender, he was compassionate, but he was never passive about sin. Remember the story of the rich young ruler in Mark, chapter 10? This guy runs up to Jesus with a pretty solid resume I've kept all the commandments since I was a kid. He's respectful, he's sincere and he's looking for eternal life. And here's what it says. And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him you lack one thing. Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor and come, follow me. Mark, chapter 10, verse 21. Did you catch that? Jesus looked at him and loved him. And because he loved him, he told him the truth, not to shame him, not to embarrass him, but to invite him into something deeper. That's the model we need to recover. Real love doesn't just say you're good where you are. It says I love you where you are, but I see who you could become in Christ. And that's not always a popular message in a world that equates love with unconditional affirmation, but it's the only kind of love that truly transforms.

Speaker 1: 18:14

In many progressive Christian spaces, being nice is often treated as the highest virtue Don't offend anyone, be endlessly empathetic, keep the peace at all costs and, to be fair, there's something admirable about that. Most of us don't want to come across as rude or unkind. We want to be seen as peacemakers. That instinct comes from a good place. But when niceness becomes an idol, it keeps us quiet when we're supposed to speak, it makes us passive when we're supposed to act, and it turns us into people pleasers instead of truth tellers.

Speaker 1: 18:40

Galatians, chapter 1. Verse 10 hits us right between the eyes. Paul writes Am I now seeking the approval of man or of God, or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. That's a hard one to swallow, especially when you know that standing for truth might cost you something. People might misunderstand you, call you judgmental, say you're being unloving, but sometimes loving someone enough to speak the truth is the most Christ-like thing you can do, especially when it's someone you care about, someone close to. We don't want to rock the boat, but here's the deal Peace without truth isn't peace, it's a temporary ceasefire that leaves people in danger. Because real love, real biblical love, it doesn't just comfort, it confronts. And I'm not saying that to be harsh or throw anyone under the bus. I mean it in a spirit-led, loving but honest kind of way.

Speaker 1: 19:27

Think about the prophets in the Old Testament. These weren't smooth talkers trying to win popularity contests. They were truth-tellers, often weeping over the people they were called to confront. They risked everything to say what God had put on their hearts, even when nobody wanted to hear it. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet for a reason. His message wasn't popular, but it was faithful. And in the middle of all his grief he still says this in Lamentations, chapter 3. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to. God's love shines through, even when he's correcting us. Even in judgment, mercy is present. That's the heartbeat of biblical love. It's not love or truth, it's love through truth.

Speaker 1: 20:04

So let's make it practical, because it's one thing to say speak the truth in love and another thing to actually do it. First, speak with both grace and boldness. Colossians, chapter 4, verse 6, says Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. That doesn't mean we lead with shouting or passive aggression. We lead with kindness always. But that kindness doesn't mean we avoid the hard stuff. Sometimes love requires courage. It's grace and boldness. Both matter. If we only bring one, we miss the heart of Jesus.

Speaker 1: 20:31

Second, ask more questions. Jesus was a master at this. Who do you say I am? Do you want to be healed? Why are you afraid? He didn't just declare truth, he invited people into it through questions. In a culture that's quick to argue and slow to listen, asking questions might be one of the most Christ-like things we can do. It disarms, it softens, it opens the door to real dialogue instead of defensive reactions. Third, stay rooted in relationship.

Speaker 1: 20:54

Fourth, don't confuse unity with uniformity. We don't all have to agree on everything to be unified in Christ. We do need to stay grounded in the essentials, like who Jesus is, what the gospel teaches and the truth of scripture. But outside of that there's room for nuance, there's room for difference. Unity doesn't mean clones. It means connection despite differences. The world is constantly shifting. Opinions rise and fall with every headline, but truth real truth stays firm. Love built on that kind of truth doesn't break under pressure or change to blend in. It stays solid. And in a culture that keeps redrawing the lines, that kind of grounded love is unmistakable. We're not forced to pick between truth and compassion. We're called to hold both. We're becoming people who speak truth with boldness and show kindness without hesitation, people who face the tough parts of scripture with courage but never lose sight of the heartbeat behind it all, for God so loved the world.

Speaker 1: 21:43

Here's one way to look at it. Truth without love isn't Christ-like, but love without truth isn't truly love. And if you've ever been on the receiving end of graceless truth, if you've been hurt by people who use theology like a club, I just want to say I'm sorry. That's not the way of Jesus, but don't let that pain push you so far that you land in a version of Christianity that values niceness over truth, that settles for a kind of love that soothes but never sanctifies. Because the love of Jesus, it meets you where you are, but it doesn't leave you there. It moves you, it carries you, it calls you to more, it rewrites your story. So let's be that kind of church. Let's be those kinds of people Full of conviction, full of compassion, willing to be misunderstood, not to win arguments, but to help people meet the real Jesus, not a reflection of their preferences, not a cultural mascot, but the risen, living, life-changing Savior. Because in the end, truth isn't just an idea, it's a person, and his name is Jesus.

Speaker 1: 22:36

Now let me start this next part with a question who gets the final word, god or us? I know that might come across as a little intense, maybe even a little dramatic, but stay with me, because when we talk about how we read the Bible, how we interpret it and how we live it out, this question matters deeply. And here's where things get a little complicated. In a lot of modern conversations, especially within progressive Christian circles, there's this growing trend where personal experience, emotional connection and cultural relevance are often placed above biblical authority. God knows your experiences matter and that your emotions matter. He cares deeply about what you've been through and how you feel. But here's the thing they're not meant to define how we interpret the Word of God. They're not the lens we use to decide what Scripture means. Instead, scripture is meant to define how we interpret the Word of God. They're not the lens we use to decide what Scripture means. Instead, scripture is meant to shape how we view our experiences and how we respond to our emotions.

Speaker 1: 23:22

The Bible isn't there just to reflect what we already think or feel. It's there to reveal truth. It's the foundation, not the mirror, and I say this with love. When we elevate personal truth above God's truth, when we start editing or twisting Scripture to make it feel more comfortable or culturally acceptable, we lose something vital. We lose the power of conviction, the strength of correction and the depth of transformation. So here we are again back to the core question who gets the final word, god or us? Because how we answer that changes everything.

Speaker 1: 23:48

But this is where things start to unravel in progressive theology. Instead of coming to scripture with open hands and a surrendered heart, it flips the approach. The Bible becomes something to be managed instead of something to be submitted to. It gets treated more like a buffet pick what feels inspiring, skip what feels offensive and reframe anything that sounds too exclusive or challenging. But here's the real danger. When we do that, we stop placing ourselves under the authority of God's word and instead we start standing over it. We become the editors, not the students, the critics not the followers.

Speaker 1: 24:18

And when that shift happens, it's subtle. It doesn't always look like full-blown rebellion. Sometimes it just looks like constant rephrasing, endless justifications, a soft reimagining of hard truth. And the moment we start reshaping God's word to fit our lives, instead of reshaping our lives to fit God's word, we begin to lose our footing. Slowly but surely, we step off the solid foundation of truth and we start building on something that cannot carry the weight of real life. So maybe this is the right moment to stop and ask a real question, one that cuts through the noise Are we truly letting scripture shape us, or are we only giving it room to speak when it echoes what we already believe? Because here's the thing God's word isn't a mirror meant to reflect our preferences. It's a lamp meant to guide our steps. It was never meant to be edited, filtered or bent to fit cultural trends or personal comfort. It's meant to reshape us into the image of Christ.

Speaker 1: 25:05

Let's not settle for a faith built on opinion or emotion. Let's return to what's solid. Let's open the Bible and actually listen to what God says, not just what we wish he'd say, because truth isn't something we get to redefine. It's something we return to, it's something we come home to. And if we really believe that, then 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, becomes more than just familiar words. It becomes the standard we build our lives on. All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. That's the kind of truth that shapes people, that shapes churches, that shapes legacies. So let's not water it down, let's dig deeper into it. And here's why this really matters, because how we view scripture will always shape how we view Jesus. You can't separate the two.

Speaker 1: 25:52

If we start treating the Bible as optional or outdated, it won't be long before we start doing the same thing, with Jesus cutting out the parts we don't like, softening His words, reshaping His message to fit our comfort zones. But Jesus never asked us to follow a version of Him we're comfortable with. He asked us to follow Him fully truth and grace, mercy and justice, savior and Lord. Cs Lewis once said that what we believe about something matters far less than what that something truly is, and that got me thinking. The way we see the Bible says a lot about how seriously we take God Himself. Because if we treat Scripture like just another book of good advice, we'll approach it casually. But if we believe it's the voice of the living God, we'll come to it with humility, with hunger and with reverence. Because if we believe the Bible is just a book of inspirational stories, then sure, it makes sense to highlight the gentle moments and ignore the hard truths. But if we believe like Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12, tells us that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, then we've got to stop treating it like a suggestion box. The truth is, the Word of God wasn't written to reflect culture. It was written to reflect God's heart. And the more we anchor ourselves in that word, the clearer Jesus becomes, not the version we wish for, not the one culture paints, but the real Jesus, the one who came full of grace and truth, the one who confronted sin with love and spoke life. That still echoes today. So if you're struggling to see Jesus clearly, maybe the first step isn't trying harder, it's opening your Bible with a willing heart and letting him speak.

Speaker 1: 27:12

Now here's another way. Progressive Christianity can take a turn. That seems harmless, even helpful, at first. But if we're not paying close attention it can slowly start to shift the very foundation of our faith without us even realizing it. There's this growing idea that we should interpret everything in the Bible through the lens of love, and at first glance that sounds great. After all, god is love. Right, jesus told us, the greatest command is to love God and love others. So using love as a lens sounds like a faithful, even beautiful idea.

Speaker 1: 27:38

But here's the problem it depends entirely on how we define love. If love is defined by scripture, by the character of God, by the example of Jesus, then yes, it becomes the lens that brings everything into focus. Love like that is sacrificial, holy, courageous and committed to truth. It's not afraid to confront sin. It doesn't look the other way. When something's wrong, it speaks up not to shame but to rescue. But here's the problem it depends entirely on how we define love. If love is defined by scripture, by the character of God, by the example of Jesus, then yes, it becomes the lens that brings everything into focus. Love like that is sacrificial, holy, courageous and committed to truth. It's not afraid to confront sin. It doesn't look the other way. When something's wrong, it speaks up not to shame but to rescue.

Speaker 1: 28:19

But if love is defined by culture, if it's just unconditional affirmation, if it never challenges, if it never says no, then that lens isn't really a lens at all. It's a filter. And filters don't bring clarity. They mute it, they soften the message until what's left is a vague, feel-good version of faith that looks kind but lacks power. That kind of love doesn't heal because it doesn't deal with what actually needs healing. And once we start filtering scripture through that cultural definition of love, we stop letting God speak. We start trimming the truth to fit our preferences, we reduce the gospel to inspiration instead of transformation. We end up with a version of Christianity that's more about avoiding discomfort than pursuing holiness. That may sound loving on the surface, but it's hollow underneath, because real love doesn't just accept us where we are. It invites us into something better, something deeper, something more true.

Speaker 1: 29:05

Love tells the truth, even when it's hard to hear, because it wants what is good and lasting and eternal for us. Jesus didn't redefine love, he revealed it. So if we're serious about following Him, our understanding of love has to come from Him, from His Word, from the cross, from the way he spoke, the way he lived, the way he died and rose again. Because love that comes from God will always lead us closer to Him, not further into ourselves. And here's where it really gets practical. How do we live this kind of love? Not just believe in it, but actually practice it?

Speaker 1: 29:33

First, we have to know the Word, because if love is shaped by truth, we can't walk in love unless we're walking in the truth of Scripture. Not just the verses that comfort us, but the ones that confront us. Not just the promises but the commands. Knowing the Bible isn't about having ammo for debates. It's about aligning our hearts with the heart of God. Second, we need to love people enough to tell the truth. That doesn't mean being harsh. It means being honest. It means being more concerned with someone's eternity than with their immediate comfort. It means asking God to help us speak with both courage and compassion to love like Jesus, who never shied away from truth and never withheld grace. And third, we need to stay humble, because it's easy to point fingers, it's easy to say look at what that church is preaching or that influencer is off the rails. But the truth is we all need correction, we all drift sometimes. That's why we stay in the Word, that's why we stay in community. That's why we keep asking God to search our hearts.

Speaker 1: 30:24

Love and truth are not enemies, they're partners, and when we hold them together we reflect the heart of Jesus more clearly. Because, in the end, love without truth isn't love and truth without love isn't truth. But when both are present, that's where lives change, that's where freedom is found and that's where the real Jesus shows up, not just to affirm us but to transform us. So if you're listening right now and feeling a little challenged, good, that means you're listening with a heart that wants to grow. Maybe you're realizing you've leaned more into comfort than conviction, or maybe you've been quiet when love called you to speak up. Maybe you've avoided truth out of fear that it might offend someone. But here's the beautiful thing about the love of Jesus it doesn't just reveal where we are. It invites us to something higher, something better.

Speaker 1: 31:05

So what does that next step look like for you? Maybe it's opening your Bible this week and spending time in passages you've usually skipped. Maybe it's having a hard conversation with someone you love, not to condemn but to speak life. Maybe it's asking God to realign your heart with his definition of love, not the world's. Whatever it is, do it with prayer, do it with humility, do it in community and, above all, do it in love, because, in the end, the most loving thing we can do is point people to the truth that actually saves them, and his name is Jesus.

Speaker 1: 31:32

Let me take a moment to speak directly to you, especially if something deep inside you has been stirred today. Maybe for the first time, you're realizing that you've been following a version of Jesus shaped by culture or comfort, but not by scripture. Or maybe you've been walking through the motions, but something's missing. And today your heart is crying out for something real, something solid, something true. If that's you, I want to invite you to take a step of faith.

Speaker 1: 31:54

Jesus isn't just a great teacher. He isn't just a symbol of hope. He is the son of God, who gave his life on the cross to save you from sin and bring you back into relationship with him. He sees you, he knows you and he loves you completely. So if you're ready to stop running and start surrendering, you can do that right now, not with perfect words, but with a real heart.

Speaker 1: 32:16

Pray this with me, jesus I need you. I've tried doing things my way and it's left me empty. I believe you are who you say. You are the son of God. I believe you died for my sins and rose again to give me new life. Today I surrender. I give you my past, my pain, my future. Lead me, save me, be Lord of my life, I'm yours. In your name I pray, amen.

Speaker 1: 32:32

If you prayed that prayer today, I want to say welcome to the family. You just made the most important decision of your life and you don't have to walk this journey alone. Please reach out to us at jm, at thecrossroadscollectiveorg, or visit our website at thecrossroadscollectiveorg. We would love to connect with you, pray for you and help you take your next steps. I want to thank you for spending this time with me today.

Speaker 1: 32:55

I know this wasn't a light episode. We went deep, we asked hard questions, but I'm so grateful you stayed with me through it, because clarity matters and the more clearly we see Jesus, the more faithfully we can follow him. If today challenged you, encouraged you or helped you see something in a new way, would you share this episode, send it to a friend, talk about it with your small group, post your thoughts online and tag us, because the conversation doesn't end here. Make sure to subscribe to the Compass Chronicles wherever you listen to podcasts, we've got more truth-filled, grace-grounded episodes coming your way, and I can't wait to keep walking this journey with you. Until next time, stay rooted in the Word, stay humble in heart and stay bold in your faith. This is Javier, and I'll see you on the next episode of the Compass Chronicles podcast. Grace and peace to you.