The Authority For Liberal Theology

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" data-page-type="post" data-content-channel="evangelical" data-blog-name="geneveith" data-dormant-blog="" data-premium-blog="true" data-premium-post="true" data-faiths="evangelical" data-topics="politics and religion" data-is-metered="false" data-info-blog-name="Cranach" data-info-blog-nl-list-id="247" data-info-blog-channel-nl-name="Evangelical" data-info-blog-channel-nl-list-id="46" > <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <script type="text/javascript"> // Check that service workers are supported if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) { // Use the window load event to keep the page load performant window.addEventListener('load', () => { navigator.serviceWorker.register('/pt-cache-sw.min.js'); }); } </script>    <link rel="preload" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/5.15.4/css/all.min.css" as="style" onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'"> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/5.15.4/css/all.min.css"></noscript> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" /><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin /><link rel="preconnect" href="https://wp-media.patheos.com" crossorigin /><link rel="preconnect" href="https://geneveithatpatheos.disqus.com" crossorigin /><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" /><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://wp-media.patheos.com" /><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://geneveithatpatheos.disqus.com" /><link rel="preload" href="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-bg.jpg" as="image" type="image/jpg" fetchpriority="high" media="(min-width: 771px)" /><link rel="preload" href="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-logo.png" as="image" media="(min-width: 771px)" /><link rel="preload" href="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-header-m.png" as="image" media="(max-width: 770px)" /><link rel="preload" href="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg" as="image" /><link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff0GmDuXMR7eS2Ao.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /><link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+Fatface|Montserrat:400,700|Open+Sans+Condensed:300,700|Vollkorn:400,400i,700,700i&display=optional" as="style" type="text/css" crossorigin />  <style type="text/css"> @font-face{font-family:'Open Sans Condensed';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff1GhDuXMQg.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:'Open Sans Condensed';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff0GmDuXMQg.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:'Glyphicons Halflings';font-display:swap;src:url("https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot");src:url("https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot?#iefix") format("embedded-opentype"),url("https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff2") format("woff2"),url("https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff") format("woff"),url("https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.ttf") format("truetype"),url("https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.svg#glyphicons_halflingsregular") format("svg")}@-ms-viewport{width:device-width}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{padding:13px}@media(max-width:999px) and (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{text-align:center}}@media(max-width:999px){.breadcrumbs{flex-direction:column;gap:0}.trending-topics li{display:inline;line-height:30px;line-break:auto}.trending-topics{margin-top:0;max-height:30px;overflow:hidden}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}}.col-lg-9,.col-md-6,.col-md-8,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-12,.col-sm-2{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}@media(max-width:770px){.davearmstrong{background-image:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/davearmstrong/davearmstrong-theme-bg-m.jpg)}.davearmstrong .writer-theme-nav-block{height:70px}.davearmstrong .writer-theme-logo img{width:auto;height:auto;max-height:50px}}@media(min-width:768px){.navbar{border-radius:5px}.navbar-collapse{width:auto;border-top:0;box-shadow:none}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:block !important;height:auto !important;padding-bottom:0;overflow:visible !important}.container-fluid>.navbar-collapse{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.navbar-nav{float:left;margin:0}.navbar-nav>li{float:left}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:9px;padding-bottom:9px}.container{width:750px !important}.container{width:750px}}@media only screen and (min-width:0){nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}nav .navbar-nav>li .dropdown-menu{position:inherit}}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:none}nav .navbar-nav>li .dropdown-menu{position:absolute}}@media(max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{display:none}.buffer-top{margin-top:30px}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;padding:20px 0;min-height:90px}@media(max-width:767px){.visible-xs{display:block !important}.visible-xs-block{display:block !important}.hidden-xs{display:none !important}.btn-xs{letter-spacing:1px}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}.remove-padding-mobile{padding:0 !important}.row{margin:0}.single-post .container .col-sm-10,.single-post .container .col-sm-12{padding-left:0;padding-right:0}.writer-theme{padding:0;background-size:100%;background-repeat:repeat}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo{padding:0;min-height:50px}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo img{width:100%;height:auto;max-height:none}.writer-theme .navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a{color:#777;width:100%}.tagged-with-include-rss{padding:10px}}@media(max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}.wide-heading{padding:0 0 20px}}@media(max-width:767px){.ad{margin:20px 0;padding:0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.by-line .glyphicon{padding:0 6px 0 0}.by-line .divide-byline{content:"";display:block;clear:both}.writer-theme-nav-block{height:70px}}@media(max-width:999px){.navbar-collapse{border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:none !important}.navbar-nav{float:none !important;margin-top:7.5px}.navbar-nav>li{float:none}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}#patheos-nav{height:60px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}.breadcrumbs{flex-direction:column;gap:0}.trending-topics li{display:inline;line-height:30px;line-break:auto}.trending-topics{margin-top:0;max-height:30px;overflow:hidden}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}}@media(max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{font-size:13px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{margin-left:3px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{margin-left:5px}}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}@media(max-width:1299px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:38%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}}.davearmstrong{background-image:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/davearmstrong/davearmstrong-theme-bg.jpg);background-color:#cbcac8;background-repeat:no-repeat}.davearmstrong .writer-theme-nav-block{height:113px}.davearmstrong .writer-theme-logo img{width:483px;height:48px}@media(max-width:770px){.davearmstrong{background-image:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/davearmstrong/davearmstrong-theme-bg-m.jpg)}.davearmstrong .writer-theme-nav-block{height:70px}.davearmstrong .writer-theme-logo img{width:auto;height:auto;max-height:50px}}.davearmstrong .white-solid{box-shadow:0 10px 60px rgba(0,0,0,.25)}a.decorated-link{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(161,37,37,.5)}@media(max-width:420px){.davearmstrong{background-image:none}}.cls-1{fill-rule:evenodd}rad-newsletters-wordpress-collapsable{display:none}html{font-family:sans-serif;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}body{margin:0}nav,section{display:block}a{background-color:transparent}h1{font-size:2em;margin:.67em 0}img{border:0}svg:not(:root){overflow:hidden}input{color:inherit;font:inherit;margin:0}input::-moz-focus-inner{border:0;padding:0}input{line-height:normal}.glyphicon{position:relative;top:1px;display:inline-block;font-family:'Glyphicons Halflings';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}.glyphicon-calendar:before{content:"\e109"}.glyphicon-comment:before{content:"\e111"}*{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}:after,:before{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}html{font-size:10px}body{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:1.6;color:#000;background-color:#fff}input{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}a{color:#000;text-decoration:none}img{vertical-align:middle}h1{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif;font-weight:700;line-height:1.1;color:#000}h1{margin-top:32px;margin-bottom:16px}h1{font-size:48px}ul{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:16px}ul ul{margin-bottom:0}.list-unstyled{padding-left:0;list-style:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.container{width:1030px}}@media(min-width:1300px){.container{width:1330px}}.container-fluid{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.container-fluid:after,.container-fluid:before{content:" ";display:table}.container-fluid:after{clear:both}.row{margin-left:-15px;margin-right:-15px}.row:after,.row:before{content:" ";display:table}.row:after{clear:both}.col-lg-3,.col-lg-9,.col-md-4,.col-md-6,.col-md-8,.col-sm-10,.col-sm-12,.col-sm-2,.col-xs-12{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.col-xs-12{float:left}.col-xs-12{width:100%}@media(min-width:768px){.col-sm-10,.col-sm-12,.col-sm-2{float:left}.col-sm-2{width:16.6666666667%}.col-sm-10{width:83.3333333333%}.col-sm-12{width:100%}}@media(min-width:1000px){.col-md-4,.col-md-6,.col-md-8{float:left}.col-md-4{width:33.3333333333%}.col-md-6{width:50%}.col-md-8{width:66.6666666667%}}@media(min-width:1300px){.col-lg-3,.col-lg-9{float:left}.col-lg-3{width:25%}.col-lg-9{width:75%}}.btn{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:0;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;touch-action:manipulation;background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;white-space:nowrap;padding:6px 20px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.6;border-radius:5px}.btn-xs{padding:2px 7px;font-size:17px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:3px}.collapse{display:none}.caret{display:inline-block;width:0;height:0;margin-left:2px;vertical-align:middle;border-top:4px dashed;border-right:4px solid transparent;border-left:4px solid transparent}.dropdown{position:relative}.dropdown-menu{position:absolute;top:100%;left:0;z-index:1000;display:none;float:left;min-width:160px;padding:5px 0;margin:2px 0 0;list-style:none;font-size:20px;text-align:left;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #ccc;border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.15);border-radius:5px;-webkit-box-shadow:0 6px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.175);box-shadow:0 6px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.175);background-clip:padding-box}.dropdown-menu>li>a{display:block;padding:3px 20px;clear:both;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;color:#8e82b5;white-space:nowrap}.nav{margin-bottom:0;padding-left:0;list-style:none}.nav:after,.nav:before{content:" ";display:table}.nav:after{clear:both}.nav>li{position:relative;display:block}.nav>li>a{position:relative;display:block;padding:10px 15px}.navbar{position:relative;min-height:50px;margin-bottom:32px;border:1px solid transparent}.navbar:after,.navbar:before{content:" ";display:table}.navbar:after{clear:both}.navbar-collapse{overflow-x:visible;padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1);-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}.navbar-collapse:after,.navbar-collapse:before{content:" ";display:table}.navbar-collapse:after{clear:both}.container-fluid>.navbar-collapse{margin-right:-15px;margin-left:-15px}.navbar-nav{margin:4.5px -15px}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;line-height:32px}@media(min-width:768px){.navbar{border-radius:5px}.navbar-collapse{width:auto;border-top:0;box-shadow:none}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:block !important;height:auto !important;padding-bottom:0;overflow:visible !important}.container-fluid>.navbar-collapse{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.navbar-nav{float:left;margin:0}.navbar-nav>li{float:left}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:9px;padding-bottom:9px}.container{width:750px !important}}.navbar-nav>li>.dropdown-menu{margin-top:0;border-top-right-radius:0;border-top-left-radius:0}.navbar-default{background-color:#f8f8f8;border-color:#e7e7e7}.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a{color:#777}.navbar-default .navbar-collapse{border-color:#e7e7e7}.clearfix:after,.clearfix:before{content:" ";display:table}.clearfix:after{clear:both}.pull-left{float:left !important}.hide{display:none !important}.hidden{display:none !important}.visible-xs{display:none !important}.visible-xs-block{display:none !important}@media(max-width:767px){.visible-xs{display:block !important}.visible-xs-block{display:block !important}.hidden-xs{display:none !important}}@media(min-width:768px) and (max-width:999px){.hidden-sm{display:none !important}}@media(min-width:1000px) and (max-width:1299px){.hidden-md{display:none !important}}@media(min-width:1300px){.hidden-lg{display:none !important}}nav.navbar{margin-bottom:0}nav.navbar-default{background:0;border:0}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}nav .navbar-nav>li>a{float:left}nav .navbar-nav>li.dropdown>a{padding-right:0}nav .navbar-nav>li .dropdown-menu{padding-left:0;padding-right:0}@media only screen and (min-width:0){nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}nav .navbar-nav>li .dropdown-menu{position:inherit}}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:none}nav .navbar-nav>li .dropdown-menu{position:absolute}}.navbar-collapse{max-height:initial}body{position:relative}.btn{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:0;font-weight:700;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;touch-action:manipulation;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;white-space:nowrap;padding:6px 20px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.6;border-radius:5px}.btn-prime-3{color:#fff !important;background-color:#96959a;border-color:#89888e}.btn{font-size:14px}.btn-xs{padding:2px 7px;font-size:10px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:3px;font-size:11px}a img{-moz-transform:scale(1);-webkit-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);opacity:1}body,html{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.buffer-top{margin-top:50px}@media(max-width:1299px){.buffer-top{margin-top:30px}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}}@media(max-width:999px){.buffer-top{margin-top:24px}}.white-solid{background-color:#fff}@media(max-width:767px){.btn-xs{letter-spacing:1px}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}.remove-padding-mobile{padding:0 !important}.row{margin:0}.single-post .container .col-sm-10,.single-post .container .col-sm-12{padding-left:0;padding-right:0}}h1{font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-1px}h1{color:#000}.over-dark{color:#fff !important}a{color:#000;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700}a.decorated-link{border-bottom:3px solid #7cb4a6}a:visited{color:#000}p{margin:0 0 16px}.list-unstyled li{margin-bottom:10px;line-height:normal}.container{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.container:after,.container:before{content:" ";display:table}.container:after{clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.container{width:1030px !important}.flex-row{display:flex;flex:1 1 25%}}@media(min-width:1300px){.container{width:1330px !important}}.writer-theme{background-attachment:fixed;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:fixed;padding-bottom:40px}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;padding:20px 0;min-height:90px;position:relative}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo img{max-width:100%}.writer-theme .navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a{border-bottom:4px solid #fff}.writer-theme nav .navbar-nav>li.dropdown>a{padding-right:10px}.tagged-with-include-rss{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;text-align:left;font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;margin:30px auto}.tagged-with-include-rss a{color:#000;opacity:.8}.tagged-with-include-rss li{padding:5px 12px;margin:3px 1px;border:1px solid #96959a}.tagged-with-include-rss li:nth-child(-n+2){background-color:#000;color:#fff;padding:6px 12px;border:0}.tagged-with-include-rss li:nth-child(-n+2) a{color:#fff;opacity:1}@media(max-width:767px){.writer-theme{padding:0;background-size:100%;background-repeat:repeat}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo{padding:0;min-height:50px}.writer-theme .writer-theme-logo img{width:100%;height:auto;max-height:none}.writer-theme .navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a{color:#777;width:100%}.tagged-with-include-rss{padding:10px}}.wide-heading{padding:0 15px 30px}@media(max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}.wide-heading{padding:0 0 20px}}.ad{padding:10px 0}.ad-container{width:100%;position:relative;text-align:center;clear:both}.ad-container.top-ad{border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5f0;padding:20px}@media(max-width:767px){.ad{margin:20px 0;padding:0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}}.by-line{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";font-size:11px;letter-spacing:3px;color:#96959a;text-transform:uppercase;padding:9px 0;font-weight:700}@media(max-width:999px){.by-line{letter-spacing:normal}}.by-line .glyphicon{padding:0 6px}.by-line a{color:#96959a}.by-line .divide-byline{content:"|";display:inline-block}input{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:6px 16px}input{border-radius:4px}.main-post{line-height:1.6em}.main-post img{max-width:100% !important;height:auto;margin:30px auto;display:block}.main-post .alignnone{float:none}.channel-breadcrumb{margin:20px 0 -5px -7px}@media(min-width:1000px){.flex-right-rail{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mtc-rail{flex-grow:1}}.social-sharing{position:relative;width:100%;display:block;text-align:center}.navbar{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:14px;font-weight:700}.navbar.nav-writer-theme .dropdown{background:0}.navbar .nav>li.dropdown{position:relative}.writer-theme-nav-block{border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5f0;border-top:4px solid #fff}@media(max-width:767px){.by-line .glyphicon{padding:0 6px 0 0}.by-line .divide-byline{content:"";display:block;clear:both}.writer-theme-nav-block{height:70px}}.dropdown-menu{font-size:inherit}.dropdown-menu{border-radius:4px}.dropdown-menu>li>a{color:#96959a;font-weight:700}nav.navbar-default{background:#fff;z-index:1}#patheos-nav{height:100px}#patheos-page-content{width:100%;position:relative;top:0;right:0}@media(max-width:999px){.navbar-collapse{border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:none !important}.navbar-nav{float:none !important;margin-top:7.5px}.navbar-nav>li{float:none}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}#patheos-nav{height:60px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}}.breadcrumbs{width:100%;display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:10px;margin-top:5px}.breadcrumbs .breadcrumb-faith,.breadcrumbs .breadcrumb-topic{display:inline-block}.breadcrumbs .breadcrumb-faith .channel-breadcrumb,.breadcrumbs .breadcrumb-topic .channel-breadcrumb{margin:0}.trending-topics{font-size:15px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.trending-topics ul{list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0}.trending-topics li{display:inline-block;padding:6px 10px}.trending-topics li:nth-child(1){background-color:#7cb4a6;color:#fff;font-weight:700}.trending-topics a{font-weight:400}.trending-topics .list-divider{color:#7cb4a6;padding:6px 0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{float:right;margin-top:36px;position:relative}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:none;float:none;text-align:center}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile .footer-social-icons{border-left:0;padding-left:0;margin:auto;display:block;text-align:center}@media(max-width:999px){.breadcrumbs{flex-direction:column;gap:0}.trending-topics li{display:inline;line-height:30px;line-break:auto}.trending-topics{margin-top:0;max-height:30px;overflow:hidden}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile a.subscription-support{bottom:32px;left:auto;display:block}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:-38px;left:281px;color:#cbcbcb}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons{border-left:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding-left:30px;margin-left:30px;display:inline-block;font-size:15px;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:700}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media(max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}#site-footer-2022 a{color:#fff;font-weight:400}#site-footer-2022 a:visited{color:#fff}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{width:100%;height:72px;position:relative;z-index:1000;background-color:#000;background:-webkit-linear-gradient(#000,#262626);background:-o-linear-gradient(#000,#262626);background:linear-gradient(#000,#262626)}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{margin:auto;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;padding-top:17px;width:127px}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav{text-align:center}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{position:relative;z-index:999;background-color:#000;width:100%;padding:15px !important;position:absolute}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{margin:auto !important;text-align:center;font-size:15px;text-decoration:none;position:relative;z-index:1001;top:4px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container a{font-weight:400}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{color:#d4d4d4 !important;margin-left:5px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{content:'|';color:#7ea198;margin-left:10px}@media(max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{font-size:13px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{margin-left:3px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{margin-left:5px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{position:relative;z-index:998;padding:0 6px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:600}@media(max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{padding:0 4px}}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{background:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-menu-icon.svg) center center no-repeat;width:16px;height:12px;background-size:16px 12px;border:0;margin:4px 13px 0 0;display:inline-block;float:left}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{height:20px;width:23px;background-size:20px 23px;margin:1px 13px 0 0}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{width:100%;z-index:998;background:#000;color:#fff;text-align:left;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol" !important;font-size:14px;border-bottom:5px solid #88b2a6;margin:auto !important;position:absolute}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{padding:20px 0;margin:auto;position:relative;top:12px;z-index:999;display:flex}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border-top:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding:20px 0 0;margin-bottom:20px}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{text-align:left;font-size:15px;flex-basis:25%;padding-right:20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:40%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .remove-indent{margin-left:-15px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:10px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li a{text-decoration:none;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-weight:600;margin:15px auto;border-bottom:0;text-align:left;font-size:17px;display:block}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding:36px 0 50px;display:block;top:0;margin-top:40px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right{float:right}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{display:inline-block;position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:absolute;bottom:-24px;left:0;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-left{float:left}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{border-left:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding-left:20px;margin-left:30px;display:inline-block;font-size:15px;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:700}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{padding:13px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media(max-width:1299px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:38%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}@media(max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}}.patheos-search-bar{border-radius:100px;height:36px}.patheos-search-bar.in-header{position:relative;float:right;min-width:42px;top:18px;right:23px}.patheos-search-bar.in-header .searchbar{height:36px;width:260px}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{float:none;margin:auto !important;position:inherit;width:80%;max-width:300px;position:relative}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown .searchbar{text-align:center;height:36px;width:100%;right:0}.patheos-search-bar .searchbar{margin-bottom:auto;margin-top:auto;background-color:transparent;border-radius:30px;padding:10px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;top:1px;background-color:#fff;line-height:1.2;font-size:16px}.patheos-search-bar .search_input{color:#383838;border:0;outline:0;background:0;line-height:18px;position:relative;top:-7px;left:10px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";font-size:15px;font-weight:400;opacity:1;width:100%}.patheos-search-bar .search_icon{position:absolute;top:10px;left:12px;opacity:1}.patheos-search-bar .search_icon svg{width:16px}a.nav-special-action{border-radius:100px;height:36px;background:linear-gradient(to right,#7cb4a6,#95c590);position:relative;font-size:11px;line-height:36px;text-transform:uppercase;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;color:#fff;padding:0 18px;letter-spacing:1px}a.nav-special-action.desktop{float:right;top:18px;right:18px;margin-left:9px}a.nav-special-action.mobile{display:none;text-align:center;width:80%;margin:20px auto 30px;font-size:12px;height:38px;line-height:38px}@media(max-width:999px){.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}a.nav-special-action.desktop{display:none}a.nav-special-action.mobile{display:block}}.pull-left{float:left}.ad__h250{min-height:333.3333333333px}.ad__h250-inner{min-height:250px}.navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a{font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:2px;font-size:14px;font-weight:700}.main-post figcaption{margin:-26px auto 30px auto}h1.entry-title{font-size:2em}.writer-theme .navbar-default .navbar-nav>li>a{font-size:14px}.keithgiles .writer-theme-logo img{width:250px;height:44px} .breadcrumb-wrapper{width:100%;background-color:#f1eff5;padding:12px 0;font-family:"Open Sans Condensed",sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;white-space:nowrap}@media (max-width:767px){.breadcrumb-wrapper{font-size:10px;margin-left:-15px;width:767px;height:40px;overflow-y:hidden}}.breadcrumb-wrapper li{display:inline-block}.breadcrumb-wrapper li>a{transition:none;-webkit-transition:none}.breadcrumb-wrapper li+li:before{content:"";padding:0 9px;background-image:url(https://www.patheos.com/~/media/Patheos%20Images/Images/components/icons/green-arrow-right.svg);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:9px 9px;background-position:center}.breadcrumb-wrapper ul{margin-bottom:0;padding-left:0;overflow:auto;box-sizing:content-box}.breadcrumb-wrapper>.active{color:#dbd8e8}.breadcrumb-wrapper .home-icon{width:14px;height:14px;background-image:url(https://www.patheos.com/~/media/Patheos%20Images/Images/components/icons/icon-home.svg);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:14px 14px;background-position:center;margin-right:8px;float:left} </style>  <title>The Authority For Liberal Theology | Gene Veith</title> <meta name="description" content="As Roger Olson has shown, "the best of modern thought," not the Bible, is the authority for liberal theology. This explains why liberal theology must always change and why it has nothing to offer of its own. But is this mindset infecting evangelical and "conservative" churches?" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The Authority For Liberal Theology" /> <meta property="og:description" content="As Roger Olson has shown, "the best of modern thought," not the Bible, is the authority for liberal theology. This explains why liberal theology must always change and why it has nothing to offer of its own. But is this mindset infecting evangelical and "conservative" churches?" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Cranach" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2025-02-20T11:00:08+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2025-02-17T01:03:54+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1024" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="747" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="Gene Veith" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Gene Veith" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="2 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/","url":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/","name":"The Authority for Liberal Theology","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg","datePublished":"2025-02-20T11:00:08+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-17T01:03:54+00:00","author":{"@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/#/schema/person/f9ca8670bcc51908a78994c0484dbfa1"},"description":"As Roger Olson has shown, \"the best of modern thought,\" not the Bible, is the authority for liberal theology. This explains why liberal theology must always change and why it has nothing to offer of its own. But is this mindset infecting evangelical and \"conservative\" churches?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#primaryimage","url":"https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg","contentUrl":"https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg","width":1024,"height":747},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Authority for Liberal Theology"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/#website","url":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/","name":"Cranach","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/#/schema/person/f9ca8670bcc51908a78994c0484dbfa1","name":"Gene Veith","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/#/schema/person/image/","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/054d79faea5d476edd8f99e5f14fb17f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/054d79faea5d476edd8f99e5f14fb17f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Gene Veith"},"description":"I am a retired English professor and college administrator. I have written over 20 books on different facets of Christianity & Culture.","url":"https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/author/geneveith/"}]}</script>  <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cranach » Feed" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cranach » Comments Feed" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/comments/feed/" />  <script src="https://cdn.p-n.io/pushly-sdk.min.js?domain_key=wuaocSunBfjwow8IRkbtgAiZYpxTzpgcwe2W" async></script> <script> window.PushlySDK = window.PushlySDK || []; function pushly() { window.PushlySDK.push(arguments) } pushly('load', { domainKey: 'wuaocSunBfjwow8IRkbtgAiZYpxTzpgcwe2W', sw: '/assets/pushly/pushly-sdk-worker.js', }); // include channel data in profile let html = document.querySelector('html'); if (html.hasAttribute('data-content-channel')) { let channel = html.getAttribute('data-content-channel'); pushly('profile_append', { 'channel': [ channel ] }); } //include faith data in profile if (html.hasAttribute('data-faiths') && html.getAttribute('data-faiths')) { let faiths = html.getAttribute('data-faiths'); pushly('profile_append', { 'faiths': faiths.split(',') }); } //include topic data in profile if (html.hasAttribute('data-topics') && html.getAttribute('data-topics')) { let topics = html.getAttribute('data-topics'); pushly('profile_append', { 'topics': topics.split(',') }); } </script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cranach » The Authority for Liberal Theology Comments Feed" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/feed/" /> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/80390" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.7.1" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/?p=80390' /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Fgeneveith%2F2025%2F02%2Fthe-authority-for-liberal-theology%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Fgeneveith%2F2025%2F02%2Fthe-authority-for-liberal-theology%2F&format=xml" />  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@geneveith" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@geneveith" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Authority for Liberal Theology" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As Roger Olson has shown, "the best of modern thought," not the Bible, is the authority for liberal theology. This explains why liberal theology [...]" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg" />   <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-GW8DPY1968"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GW8DPY1968'); </script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://connect.facebook.net" crossorigin /><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://connect.facebook.net" crossorigin /><link rel="preload" href="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js" as="script" /> <link rel="modulepreload" as="script" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/app/dist/js/chunk-vendors.463729d9.js" /> <link rel="modulepreload" as="script" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/app/dist/js/app.24d68022.js" />  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/android-chrome-192x192.png" sizes="192x192"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="manifest" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/manifest.json"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#5bbad5"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#00aba9"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/images/favicons/mstile-150x150.png?v=00rbb46rd6"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"><meta name="author" content="Cranach"/><meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/cranachblog/"/><meta property="article:author" content="https://www.facebook.com/cranachblog/"/><meta property="og:title" content="The Authority for Liberal Theology"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024-768x560.jpg"/><meta property="og:site_name" content="Cranach"/><meta property="audience" content="Current_Events_News"/> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-6605286-6', 'auto'); var type = null; var metas = document.getElementsByTagName("meta"); for (var i=0; i<metas.length; i++) { if (metas[i].getAttribute("property") == "og:type") { type = metas[i].getAttribute("content"); } } var tag = null; var metas = document.getElementsByTagName("meta"); for (var i=0; i<metas.length; i++) { if (metas[i].getAttribute("property") == "article:section") { tag = metas[i].getAttribute("content"); if (tag != "Uncategorized") { break; } else { tag = null; } } } if(tag == null) { var metas = document.getElementsByTagName("meta"); for (var i=0; i<metas.length; i++) { if (metas[i].getAttribute("property") == "article:tag") { tag = metas[i].getAttribute("content"); break; } } } ga("send", "pageview", { dimension1: "none", dimension2: "none", dimension3: "none", dimension4: "Evangelical", //Channel dimension5: type, //Content Type dimension6: tag, //Keyword dimension7: "Current_Events_News", //Audience dimension8: "Moderate Conservative", //Political dimension9: "", //Content Age Identifier for Willis Blogs dimension10: "active", //Active Status }); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> (function () { /** CONFIGURATION START **/ var _sf_async_config = window._sf_async_config = (window._sf_async_config || {}); _sf_async_config.uid = 21057; // UID IS SAME FOR ALL SITES ON YOUR ACCOUNT _sf_async_config.domain = 'patheos.com'; // DON'T INCLUDE HTTP(S) OR WWW _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; _sf_async_config.useCanonicalDomain = true; _sf_async_config.flickerControl = false; _sf_async_config.sections = 'Evangelical'; //SET PAGE-LEVEL SECTION(S) _sf_async_config.authors = 'Cranach'; //SET PAGE-LEVEL AUTHOR(S) /** CONFIGURATION END **/ function loadChartbeat() { var e = document.createElement('script'); var n = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = '//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'; n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n); } loadChartbeat(); })(); </script> <script async src="//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_mab.js"></script> <style type="text/css"> /* Scss Document */ .geneveith { background-image: url(//media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-bg.jpg); background-color: #000000; background-repeat: no-repeat; } @media (max-width: 420px) { .geneveith { background-image: url(//media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-bg-m.jpg); } } .geneveith .navbar-default .navbar-nav > .active > a, .geneveith .navbar-default .navbar-nav > .active > a:hover, .geneveith .navbar-default .navbar-nav > .active > a:focus { background-color: #ffffff; border-bottom: 4px solid #851e11; } .geneveith .decorated-divider { border-bottom: 2px solid #7c5319; } .geneveith .writer-theme-logo img { width: 361px; height: 60px; } @media (max-width: 770px) { .geneveith .writer-theme-logo img { width: auto; height: 46px; min-height: 46px; } } .geneveith .about-us .blurb { border-top: 4px solid #7c5319; } .geneveith .color-grad { background: #851e11; /* Old browsers */ background: -moz-linear-gradient(left, #851e11 0%, #7c5319 100%); /* FF3.6-15 */ background: -webkit-linear-gradient(left, #851e11 0%, #7c5319 100%); /* Chrome10-25,Safari5.1-6 */ background: linear-gradient(to right, #851e11 0%, #7c5319 100%); /* W3C, IE10+, FF16+, Chrome26+, Opera12+, Safari7+ */ filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient( startColorstr='$geneveith-color-1', endColorstr='#7c5319',GradientType=1 ); /* IE6-9 */ } .geneveith .color-grad.thin-stripe { height: 4px; padding: 0; clear: both; } .geneveith .color-grad .newsletter-su-mod { margin: 0; } h1 a:hover, h2 a:hover, h3 a:hover, h4 a:hover { color: #7c5319; } a.decorated-link { border-bottom: 2px solid rgba(247, 67, 79, 0.4); } a:hover { color: #7c5319; } a.decorated-link { border-bottom: 2px solid rgba(247, 67, 79, 0.4); } .related-content .by-line a { color: #851e11; } .related-content .by-line a:hover { color: #7c5319; } .tag-decorated a { background-color: #851e11; } .tag-decorated a:hover { color: #851e11; border: 2px solid #851e11; } .next-feature time { background-color: #851e11; } .previous-feature time { background-color: #851e11; } .btn-prime-1 { background-color: #851e11; border-color: #6e190e; } .btn-prime-1:hover { background-color: #58140b; border-color: black; } .btn-prime-2 { background-color: #851e11; border-color: #6e190e; } .btn-prime-2:hover { background-color: #58140b; border-color: black; } .btn-accent-1 { background-color: #7c5319; border-color: #674515; } .btn-accent-1:hover { background-color: #523710; border-color: black; } .btn-accent-2 { background-color: #7c5319; border-color: #674515; } .btn-accent-2:hover { background-color: #523710; border-color: black; } .newsletter-su-mod:before { background-image: url(//media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-bg.jpg); } </style> <script> ga('create', 'UA-37546496-1', 'auto', 'clientTracker'); ga('clientTracker.send', 'pageview'); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"The Authority for Liberal Theology","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/geneveith\/2025\/02\/the-authority-for-liberal-theology\/","thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/305\/2025\/02\/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024-768x560.jpg","datePublished":"2025-02-20T06:00:08-05:00","articleSection":"Evangelical","creator":["Gene Veith"," jimmyveith"," todd"],"keywords":["Bible","Church","Religions","Theology","contemporary Christianity","liberal theology"]} </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> window.admiral = window.admiral || function () { (admiral.q = admiral.q || []).push(arguments); }; window.admiral('targeting', 'pause', 5e3); (function() { var html = document.querySelector('html'); console.info('checking premium post'); if (html.getAttribute('data-page-type') == 'post') { console.info('page type is post, checking premium post'); if (html.getAttribute('data-premium-post') == 'true') { console.debug('Calling Admiral to set premium flag'); window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'premium', 'true'); // check if user is logged in and subscribed with an offer id. if so, add to targeting var cookies = document.cookie.split(';'); for (var i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++) { var keyvalues = cookies[i].split('='); var key = keyvalues[0].trim(); if ('offerID' === key) { window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'offerId', keyvalues[1].trim()); // Unhide content document.getElementById('premium-content').classList.remove('blur'); document.getElementById('premium-content').classList.remove('fade-out'); } } console.debug('premium flag set'); } else { console.info('not a premium post.'); } } else { console.info('not a premium post'); } console.debug('checking metered content'); if (html.getAttribute('data-is-metered') == 'true') { window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'metered', 'true'); console.debug('metered content flag set'); } })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">!(function(o,n,t){t=o.createElement(n),o=o.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],t.async=1,t.src="https://enviousshape.com/v2/0/wgwWCDdb2NiW1gz9y7pvfYreSsK5spr2b4pkfdg26e6IIxv4lclET_lRg68kIm2kwgg",o.parentNode.insertBefore(t,o)})(document,"script"),(function(o,n){o[n]=o[n]||function(){(o[n].q=o[n].q||[]).push(arguments)}})(window,"admiral");!(function(n,e,r,t){function o(){if((function o(t){try{return(t=localStorage.getItem("v4ac1eiZr0"))&&0<t.split(",")[4]}catch(n){}return!1})()){var t=n[e].pubads();typeof t.setTargeting===r&&t.setTargeting("admiral-engaged","true")}}(t=n[e]=n[e]||{}).cmd=t.cmd||[],typeof t.pubads===r?o():typeof t.cmd.unshift===r?t.cmd.unshift(o):t.cmd.push(o)})(window,"googletag","function");;;;;</script>  <script src="https://cookie-cdn.cookiepro.com/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="3f93598f-6412-4eae-a452-60ccd114b1eb" ></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function OptanonWrapper() { } </script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/" crossorigin=""/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/"/> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/" crossorigin=""/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/"/> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/" crossorigin=""/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/"/> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://micro.rubiconproject.com/" crossorigin=""/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://micro.rubiconproject.com/"/> <script src="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js" async="true"></script> <script src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js" async="true"></script> <script src="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/patheos/main/main.js?template=blog-article" async="true"></script> <link href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/patheos/main/main.css" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" rel="stylesheet"/> <style type="text/css"> .sticky-ad { position: fixed; bottom: 10px; width: 768px; height: 90px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); z-index: 999; text-align: right; } .sticky-ad-close { position:absolute; cursor: pointer; left: 686px; top: -16px; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); padding: 2px 5px 2px 5px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0 0; color: #ffffff; font-family: serif; font-size: 0.7em; z-index: 999; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { .sticky-ad { visibility: hidden; } } @media (max-width: 420px) { .geneveith { background-image: none; } } </style> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.patheos.com" },{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Religion Category", "item": "https://www.patheos.com/evangelical" },{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topic Category", "item": "https://www.patheos.com/topic/politics-and-religion" },{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Article Title", "item": "https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" } ] } </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Patheos", "url": "https://www.patheos.com", "logo": "https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png", "contactPoint": { "contactType": "Customer Service", "@type": "ContactPoint", "url": "https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos", "availableLanguage": ["English"] }, "sameAs": [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patheos", "https://www.instagram.com/patheosofficial/", "https://www.tiktok.com/@patheospodcasts", "https://twitter.com/patheos", "https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/" ] } </script> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-80390 single-format-standard">  <script> (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-W3V8F2');</script> <script src="https://cdn.debugbear.com/xOy3K6K6k6J8.js" async></script>  <div id="patheos-nav"> <div class="wrapper">  <div id="patheos-page-content">  <div id="patheos-header-bar-mega-nav"> <div class="patheos-logo-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/" class="header-logo"><img src="https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos" width="127" height="38"></a> </div> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/special-offers" class="nav-special-action desktop">Special Offers</a> <div class="patheos-search-bar in-header hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <div class="searchbar "> <form name="search" class="desktop-search-form" method="get" action="/search"> <input class="search_input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Patheos"> <a href="#" class="search_icon" onclick="document.getElementsByClassName('desktop-search-form')[0].submit(); return false;"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32.41 32.19"> <defs> <style> .cls-1 { fill-rule: evenodd; } </style> </defs> <path class="cls-1" d="M32,31.9a2,2,0,0,1-2.9.1l-8.4-8.5A12.38,12.38,0,0,1,13.1,26,12.8,12.8,0,0,1,13.1.4,12.91,12.91,0,0,1,26,13.2a12.42,12.42,0,0,1-2.3,7.3L32.2,29A2.06,2.06,0,0,1,32,31.9ZM13.2,3.5A9.8,9.8,0,1,0,23,13.3,9.82,9.82,0,0,0,13.2,3.5Z" transform="translate(-0.3 -0.4)" /> </svg> </a> </form> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="patheos-channel-mega-nav"> <div class="subnav-bar"></div> <div class="subnav-channels-container container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist" class="channel">Buddhist</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic" class="channel">Catholic</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative" class="channel">Contemplative</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical" class="channel">Evangelical</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian" class="channel">General Christian</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu" class="channel">Hindu</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish" class="channel">Jewish</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint" class="channel">Latter-day Saint</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim" class="channel">Muslim</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions" class="channel">New Visions</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian" class="channel">Progressive Christian</a> <rad-toggle-button target-div="patheos-dropdown-mega-nav" toggle-div="megamenuCollapse" toggle-message="close menu"> <div id="megamenuCollapse" class="megamenuCollapse-container"> <div class="megamenuCollapse-icon"></div> </div> </rad-toggle-button> </div> </div>  <nav id="patheos-dropdown-mega-nav" class="collapse"> <div class="container menu-content first"> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion0ec5a12a-cfe9-4fc7-802b-500541ef1728" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Beliefs</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion0ec5a12a-cfe9-4fc7-802b-500541ef1728" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist">Buddhist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic">Catholic</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative">Contemplative</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical">Evangelical</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian">General Christian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu">Hindu</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish">Jewish</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint">Latter-day Saint</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices">More Voices</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim">Muslim</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions">New Visions</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/pagan">Pagan</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian">Progressive Christian</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordionea16cbae-dc20-4a84-ad60-d7a1f95ab735" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Topics</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordionea16cbae-dc20-4a84-ad60-d7a1f95ab735" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religion-news">Religion News</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/food-and-religion">Food and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/sports-and-religion">Sports and Religion</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-art">Religious Art</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-music-and-entertainment">Religious Music and Entertainment</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-events">Religious Events</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/history-and-religion">History and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/style-and-religion">Style and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/politics-and-religion">Politics and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/women-in-religion">Women in Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/recreation-outdoors-and-religion">Recreation Outdoors and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/business-finance-and-religion">Business Finance and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/careers-workplace-and-religion">Careers Workplace and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/education-and-religion">Education and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/family-parenting-and-religion">Family Parenting and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/health-fitness-and-religion">Health Fitness and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/home-and-religion">Home and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/relationships-and-religion">Relationships and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/technology-and-religion">Technology and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/travel-and-religion">Travel and Religion</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordionb0d1688d-2620-4608-b2fa-df37e429b331" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Columnists</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordionb0d1688d-2620-4608-b2fa-df37e429b331" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist-blogs">Buddhist Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/business-finance-and-religion-blogs">Business Finance and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/careers-workplace-and-religion-blogs">Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic-blogs">Catholic Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative-blogs">Contemplative Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/education-and-religion-blogs">Education and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical-blogs">Evangelists Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/family-parenting-and-religion-blogs">Family Parenting and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian-blogs">General Christian Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/health-fitness-and-religion-blogs">Health Fitness and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu-blogs">Hindu Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/history-and-religion-blogs">History and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/home-and-religion-blogs">Home and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish-blogs">Jewish Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices-blogs">More Voices Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint-blogs">Latter Day Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim-blogs">Muslim Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions-blogs">New Visions Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/nonreligious-blogs">Nonreligious Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/pagan-blogs">Pagan Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/politics-and-religion-blogs">Politics and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian-blogs">Progressive Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/recreation-outdoors-and-religion-blogs">Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/relationships-and-religion-blogs">Relationships and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religion-news-blogs">Religion News Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-art-blogs">Religious Art Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-events-blogs">Religious Events Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-music-and-entertainment-blogs">Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/sports-and-religion-blogs">Sports and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/style-and-religion-blogs">Style and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/technology-and-religion-blogs">Technology and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/travel-and-religion-blogs">Travel and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/women-in-religion-blogs">Women in Religion Columnists</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column wide"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordiond64e15fd-76da-46a0-b911-c2c044bed934" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Resource Library</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordiond64e15fd-76da-46a0-b911-c2c044bed934" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled remove-indent col-md-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/interfaith-calendar/2025?utm_source=footer&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=link&utm_id=nav">2025 Calendar</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library">Library of World Religions</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/sacred-spaces/overview">The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/answers">Patheos Answers</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos/answers">Videos</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/faith-figures-database">Faith Leaders Database</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/anglican">Anglican Episcopalian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai">Bahai</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/baptist">Baptist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/buddhism">Buddhism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/christianity">Christianity</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/confucianism">Confucianism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/eastern-orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/hinduism">Hinduism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/pentecostal">Holiness and Pentecostal</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/iskcon-hare-krishna">ISKCON</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/islam">Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/judaism">Judaism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/lutheran">Lutheran</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/methodist">Methodist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/mormonism">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a></li> </ul> <ul class="list-unstyled remove-indent col-md-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/new-age">New Age</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/pagan">Paganism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/presbyterian">Presbytarian and Reformed</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/protestantism">Protestantism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religion-behind-the-scenes" class="tier-2">Religion Behind the Scenes</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/roman-catholicism">Roman Catholic</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/scientology">Scientology</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/shia-islam">Shia Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sikhism">Sikhism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sufism">Sufism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sunni-islam">Sunni Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/taoism">Taoism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/zen">Zen</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library">See all religions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="container menu-content"> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion6047b3fb-ad58-4fef-9eae-e75a97fdca12" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Research Tools</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion6047b3fb-ad58-4fef-9eae-e75a97fdca12" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/lenses/side-by-side">Comparison Lens</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/preachers">Preacher Resources</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/teachers">Teacher Resources</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos">Video</a></div> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></div> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/articles-and-essays">Thought Readers</a></div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion2433e28b-77d6-4fe1-a6ab-8f0256106d83" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">E-Books and Other Special Offers</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion2433e28b-77d6-4fe1-a6ab-8f0256106d83" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-gods-cheat-sheet-to-finance">God's Cheat Sheet to Finances</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-books-of-bible-signup?track1=HouseNav_BooksBible_P">Books of the Bible Study series</a></li> <li> <a href="https://l.patheos.com/excavating-the-history-of-the-bible-la/">History of the Bible</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-marriage-prayer-challenge-signup?track1=HouseNav_Marriage_P">7 Day Prayer Challenge for Spouses</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-different-christian-signup/?sourceid=101&track1=HouseNav_DKoC_P">A Different Kind of Christian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-jesusislove-signup/?sourceid=97&track1=HouseNav_JIL_P">Jesus is Love</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-devotional-signup?track1=HouseNav_Dev_P&sourceid=176">Prayer Devotional</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-catholic-coloringbook-signup?track1=HouseNav_CCB_P&sourceid=111">The Saints We Love</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-conversation-cards?track1=HouseNav_Convo_P">FaithChatter Conversation Cards</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column wide"> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/subscribe/newsletters">Newsletters</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="clearfix"></div>  <a href="https://www.patheos.com/special-offers" class="nav-special-action mobile">Special Offers</a> <div class="patheos-search-bar in-dropdown hidden-md hidden-lg"> <div class="searchbar "> <form name="search" class="desktop-search-form" method="get" action="/search"> <input class="search_input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Patheos"> <a href="#" class="search_icon" onclick="document.getElementsByClassName('desktop-search-form')[0].submit(); return false;"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32.41 32.19"> <defs> <style> .cls-1 { fill-rule: evenodd; } </style> </defs> <path class="cls-1" d="M32,31.9a2,2,0,0,1-2.9.1l-8.4-8.5A12.38,12.38,0,0,1,13.1,26,12.8,12.8,0,0,1,13.1.4,12.91,12.91,0,0,1,26,13.2a12.42,12.42,0,0,1-2.3,7.3L32.2,29A2.06,2.06,0,0,1,32,31.9ZM13.2,3.5A9.8,9.8,0,1,0,23,13.3,9.82,9.82,0,0,0,13.2,3.5Z" transform="translate(-0.3 -0.4)" /> </svg> </a> </form> </div> </div> <div class="ad-free-container hidden-md hidden-lg"> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29" />Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#07747277776875734760627366636a6e75666b2964686a387472656d6264733a5766736f626874275472657464756e77736e68692754727777687573" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="container menu-content menu-footer"> <div class="items-left hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/" class="header-logo"><img src="https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos" width="130" height="39"></a> </div> <div class="items-right"> <div class="foot-item hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29" />Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f0838580809f8284b097958491949d9982919cde939f9dcf8385929a959384cda0918498959f83d0a38592839382998084999f9ed0a38580809f8284" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="foot-item"> <div class="social-icons"> <span>Follow Patheos</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="row "> <div class="container full-width remove-padding-mobile"> <div class="trending-topics"> <ul> <li>Trending:</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/f/forgiveness">Forgiveness</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/r/resurrection">Resurrection</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/v/valentines-day">Valentine's Day</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/t/trump">Trump</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/m/mary">Mary</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/s/social-justice">Social Justice</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="writer-theme geneveith"> <div id="writer-theme-logo" class="container writer-theme-logo"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith"> <picture>  <source media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-logo.png" height="50"> <source srcset="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-header-m.png" height="116" width="828">  <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/wordpress/writer-themes/geneveith/geneveith-theme-logo.png" alt="geneveith" height="50"> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="container white-solid"> <div class="row writer-theme-nav-block"> <style type="text/css">rad-newsletters-wordpress-collapsable { display: none; }</style> <rad-newsletters-wordpress-collapsable blog-name="Cranach" channel-name="Evangelical" source-desc="52" blog-list-id="th" channel-list-id="46" :is-default-channel="false" path-url="https://cr.patheos.com/admiral"> </rad-newsletters-wordpress-collapsable> <nav class="navbar navbar-default nav-writer-theme"> <div class="container-fluid">  <rad-navigation-subnav-button></rad-navigation-subnav-button>  <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="defaultNavbar1"> <div class="menu-menu-1-container"><ul id="menu-menu-1" class="nav navbar-nav"><li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home'><a href='http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/'>Home</a></li><li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href='https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/about/'>About</a></li><li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href='https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/publications/'>Publications</a></li><li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href='https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/who-is-cranach/'>Who is Cranach?</a></li><li class=' menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page'><a href='https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/archives-from-new-site/'>Archives</a></li><li class=" menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/newsletter">FREE NEWSLETTER</a> </li></ul></div> </div>  </div>  </nav> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="ad ad-container hidden-xs above-the-fold-unit-desktop top-ad" id="top-banner" style="height: 320px !important;"></div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="breadcrumb-wrapper"> <div class="container"> <ul> <li> <span class="home-icon"></span><a href="//www.patheos.com/">Home</a> </li> <li> <a href="//www.patheos.com/evangelical">Evangelical</a> </li> <li> <a href="//www.patheos.com/topic/politics-and-religion">Politics and Religion</a> </li> <li class="active"> The Authority for Liberal Theology </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="wide-heading"> <h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">The Authority for Liberal Theology</h1> <div class="by-line clearfix post-meta comments">Last updated on: February 16, 2025 at 8:03 pm</div> <div class="by-line clearfix post-meta"> <div class="pull-left"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-calendar"></i> February 20, 2025 by <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/author/geneveith/"><span itemprop="author">Gene Veith</span></a></div> <div class="comments"> <div class="divide-byline"></div> <i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#comments-section"> <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="80390 https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/?p=80390">0 Comments</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row flex-row"> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-9"> <div class="col-sm-2 hidden-xs"> <div class="social-sharing hidden-xs" data-link="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=share_bar"> <rad-share-v1 page-url="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" twitter-url="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The Authority for Liberal Theology%20-%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Fgeneveith%2F2025%2F02%2Fthe-authority-for-liberal-theology%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dshare_bar" facebook-url="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Fgeneveith%2F2025%2F02%2Fthe-authority-for-liberal-theology%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dshare_bar" data-link="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=share_bar"></rad-share-v1> </div><div class="nativo-thin-container"></div> </div> <section> <div class="col-sm-10"> <div class="main-post" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting"> <span class="hide" itemprop="headline">The Authority for Liberal Theology</span> <span class="hide" itemprop="datePublished dateModified">February 20, 2025</span> <span class="hide" itemprop="author">Gene Veith</span> <link itemprop="mainEntityOfPage" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" /> <div class="hide" itemprop="publisher" itemscope id="patheos" itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"> <a itemprop="url" href="//www.patheos.com/"> <span itemprop="logo" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"> <img itemprop="url" src="//www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="LOGO"> <meta itemprop="width" content="127"> <meta itemprop="height" content="38"> </span> <span itemprop="name">Patheos</span> <span itemprop="description">Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.</span> </a> </div> <div class="story-block"> <div id="main-content" class="entry-content clearfix" itemprop="about"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><p><a href="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg" class=" decorated-link" target="_blank"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-80702" src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/sky-shield-idea-backgrounds-textures-117358-1024.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="474"></a></p> <div class="ad__h250"> <div class="ad__h250-inner" id="incontent1"> </div> </div> <p>Roger Olson is an evangelical theologian who is far from being a fundamentalist and is really not all that conservative. But he has written a book entitled <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theologicalapologetics/2025/02/the-gods-of-left-and-right-the-left-wing-god/" class=" decorated-link" target="_blank">Against Liberal Theology: Putting the Brakes on Progressive Christianity.</a></p> <p>He has been discussing it at his <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/" class=" decorated-link" target="_blank">Patheos blog</a>, and in my opinion he cuts to the heart of the matter in defining the various manifestations of liberal theology. In his post <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2025/02/liberal-theologys-sources-and-norms/" class=" decorated-link" target="_blank">Liberal Theology’s Sources and Norms</a>, he says of the liberal theologians he has studied,</p> <div id="premium-content"> <blockquote><p>They all say, in one way or another, and I quote them, that the best of modern thought is the controlling authority for what they believe and what Christians should believe in order to be relevant to modern men and women. . . .</p> <p>In all of the liberal theologians, traditional Christian sources and norms such as the Bible and Christian tradition, take a back seat to modern thought in terms of what can be believed by people enlightened by modernity.</p> <p>The outcome in liberal theology is a belief system radically accommodated and altered, so much that it is unrecognizable as Christian.</p></blockquote> <p>What about the Bible? What do liberal theologians believe about Scripture, the traditional source and norm for Christian belief?</p> <p>In another post, <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2025/02/the-liberal-view-of-the-bible/" class=" decorated-link" target="_blank">The Liberal View of the Bible</a>, he gives an answer:</p> <blockquote><p>Most liberal theologians of the 20th century, anyway, view the Bible as a collection of sacred, transforming symbols. In the chapter I call this “symbolic realism,” a phrase I borrow from Catholic theologian Michael Novak. Symbolic realism is Paul Tillich’s theory that real symbols, as opposed to signs, have power to transform which makes them revelatory. However, they do not have to be intrinsically connected to real historical events. Tillich even said that IF it should turn out the Jesus never existed, that would not affect Christian faith.</p> <p>Liberal theologian Delwin Brown wrote that “To summarize my view, the Bible is not the criterion of truth” and “The Bible does not ‘norm’ us, it does form us.” (63) John Shelby Spong wrote that the Gospels are “treasured biblical tales” and “history…interpreted in rather dramatic and fanciful ways.” He knows this because “the way life is now understood” and”the light of contemporary understandings of the world.” What is that “way” and what is that “contemporary understanding?” It is, I argue, a naturalistic worldview in which nothing happens that cannot be explained by natural laws. Except in the “inner life” of the individual. But, of course, most philosophical naturalists would not even allow that exception.</p></blockquote> <p>So “the best of modern thought,” not the Bible, is the authority for liberal theology. This brings several thoughts to mind. . . .</p> <p>(1) Modern thought, of course, includes many different sets of ideas–existentialism, Marxism, feminism, postmodernism, critical theory, queer theory, and on and on–and of course there are indeed different brands of liberal theology for all of them. Furthermore, modern thought, being defined in temporal terms, is always changing, so liberal theology must always change in accord with the latest moment, “the way life is now understood.” So liberal theology lacks any ontological grounding, any truth.</p> <p>(2) This explains why liberal churches are shrinking. The assumption had been that accommodating modern thought would be a way to make Christianity relevant. But contemporary people already have contemporary thought. Liberal theology, in accepting modern thought and eliminating what is distinctly Christian, adds nothing to that!</p> <p>(3) What if, in the ebb and flow of secular thought, ideas that we might now classify as “conservative”–such as libertarianism, nationalism, or even strict morality–would come into vogue? Then we would have a liberal theology whose source and norm is conservative but still not Biblical. Is this happening?</p> <p>(4) We have already been hearing in some evangelical churches that we should change our worship practices in accord with modern tastes. Some are even saying that churches should change their teachings about sexual morality in line with “the way life is now understood.” Isn’t this the impulse of liberal theology?</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Illustration via PICRYL, Creative Commons CC0 1.0 </em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p></div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="social-sharing mobile-share visible-xs buffer-top" data-link="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=share_bar"> <rad-share-v1 page-url="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/" twitter-url="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The Authority for Liberal Theology%20-%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Fgeneveith%2F2025%2F02%2Fthe-authority-for-liberal-theology%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dshare_bar" facebook-url="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Fgeneveith%2F2025%2F02%2Fthe-authority-for-liberal-theology%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dshare_bar" data-link="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=share_bar"></rad-share-v1> </div> <div class="post-meta"> <div class="row"> <div class="tagged-with-include-rss hidden"> <rad-tagged-with channel-name=Evangelical channel-link=https://www.patheos.com/Evangelical> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/category/bible">Bible</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/category/church">Church</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/category/religions">Religions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/category/theology">Theology</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/tag/contemporary-christianity">contemporary Christianity</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/tag/liberal-theology">liberal theology</a></li> </rad-tagged-with> </div> </div> </div> <rad-newsletters-wordpress-narrow blog-name="Cranach" channel-name="Evangelical" blog-list-id="th" channel-list-id="46" source-desc="52" :is-default-channel="false" path-url="https://cr.patheos.com/admiral" ></rad-newsletters-wordpress-narrow> <div class="row"> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="row">  <div class="previous-next clearfix"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/wilsonian-expertise-vs-political-democracy/" class="less-spacing col-sm-6"> <div class="btn-prime-2 arrow-box text-left"> <i class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-left pull-left"></i> Previous Post </div> <div class="previous-feature clearfix"> <div class="image-container pull-left"> <img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/540px-President_Woodrow_Wilson_in_1914_Harris__Ewing_3x4_cropped_b-150x150.jpg" alt=""/></div> <div> <time datetime="2025-02-19 06:00">February 19, 2025</time> <div>Wilsonian Expertise vs. Political Democracy</div> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/discuss-should-the-u-s-government-buy-tiktok/" class="col-sm-6 less-spacing "> <div class="btn-prime-2 arrow-box text-right"> <i class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right pull-right"></i> Next Post </div> <div class="next-feature clearfix"> <div class="image-container pull-right add-left-margin"> <img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2022/03/cranach1-150x150.jpg" alt=""/> </div> <div> <time datetime="2025-02-21 05:55">February 21, 2025</time> DISCUSS: Should the U.S. Government Buy TikTok? </div> </div> </a> </div>  </div> </div> <div class="by-line clearfix pull-left wide-decorated"> <div class="pull-left">Recent Comments</div> <div class="comments"> <i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-authority-for-liberal-theology/#comments-section"> <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="80390 https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/?p=80390">0</span> | Leave a Comment </a> </div> </div> <div class="recent-comments"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 comment"> <div>"I don't want to side track this thread, but....I actually read the article in question ..."</div> <a href="https://disqus.com/by/charming_billy/" class="by-line"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i> Charming Billy</a> <hr> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/#comment-6656514492" class="post-title">The Four Strands of America’s Christian ..."</a> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 comment"> <div>"Are you saying that you can't imagine praying for him, but instead can only imagine ..."</div> <a href="https://disqus.com/by/disqus_dKzG1lOLEB/" class="by-line"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i> DakotaLutheran</a> <hr> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/#comment-6656508037" class="post-title">The Four Strands of America’s Christian ..."</a> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 comment"> <div>"Perhaps I don't know who "evangelicals" are. Perhaps those who claim to be so are ..."</div> <a href="https://disqus.com/by/disqus_dKzG1lOLEB/" class="by-line"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i> DakotaLutheran</a> <hr> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/#comment-6656496906" class="post-title">The Four Strands of America’s Christian ..."</a> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 comment"> <div>"What is particularly troubling to me is that the man is making it very difficult, ..."</div> <a href="https://disqus.com/by/disqus_34xnMKRom7/" class="by-line"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-comment"></i> reg</a> <hr> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/#comment-6656494003" class="post-title">The Four Strands of America’s Christian ..."</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=""> <hr> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-3"></div> <div class="section-title lined-title text-center type-color-prime-1"><span>Browse Our Archives</span></div> <div class="col-sm-3"></div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 add-padding clearfix less-spacing"> <select name="cat" class="col-xs-12 type-color-prime-1 browse-archives" onChange="document.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;"> <option selected disabled>Select a Category</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=4">America</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=5">Apologetics</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=6">Art</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=7">baseball</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=8">Bible</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=9">Blog</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=10">Christ</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=11">Church</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=600">crime</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=12">Culture</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=13">Economics</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=14">Education</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=15">Ethics</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=16">Family</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=17">Food</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=18">Football</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=19">Government</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=20">History</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=21">Holidays</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=8257">Holy Week</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=22">Humor</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=23">International</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=24">Islam</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=25">Language</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=26">Law</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=27">Life Issues</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=28">Literature</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=29">Media</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=30">Medicine</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=31">Movies</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=32">Music</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=33">Nature</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=5684">News</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=34">Personal</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=35">Philosophy</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=36">Politics</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=37">psychology</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=38">Reformation</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=39">Religions</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=8254">Sacraments</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=40">Science</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=41">sex</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=42">Social Science</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=43">Sports</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=44">technology</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=45">television</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=46">terrorism</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=47">Theology</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=1">Uncategorized</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=48">Vocation</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith?cat=49">war</option> </select> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 add-padding clearfix less-spacing"> <select class="col-xs-12 type-color-prime-1 browse-archives" onChange="document.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;"> <option selected disabled>Select a Month</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/">February 2025</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/01/">January 2025</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/12/">December 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/11/">November 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/10/">October 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/09/">September 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/08/">August 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/07/">July 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/06/">June 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/05/">May 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/04/">April 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/03/">March 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/02/">February 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2024/01/">January 2024</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/12/">December 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/11/">November 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/10/">October 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/09/">September 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/08/">August 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/07/">July 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/06/">June 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/05/">May 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/04/">April 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/03/">March 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/02/">February 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2023/01/">January 2023</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/12/">December 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/11/">November 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/10/">October 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/09/">September 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/08/">August 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/07/">July 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/06/">June 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/05/">May 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/04/">April 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/03/">March 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/02/">February 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2022/01/">January 2022</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/12/">December 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/11/">November 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/10/">October 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/09/">September 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/08/">August 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/07/">July 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/06/">June 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/05/">May 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/04/">April 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/03/">March 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/02/">February 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/01/">January 2021</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/12/">December 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/11/">November 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/10/">October 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/09/">September 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/08/">August 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/07/">July 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/06/">June 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/05/">May 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/04/">April 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/03/">March 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/02/">February 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2020/01/">January 2020</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/12/">December 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/11/">November 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/10/">October 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/09/">September 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/08/">August 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/07/">July 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/06/">June 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/05/">May 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/04/">April 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/03/">March 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/02/">February 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2019/01/">January 2019</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/12/">December 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/11/">November 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/10/">October 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/09/">September 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/08/">August 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/07/">July 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/06/">June 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/05/">May 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/04/">April 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/03/">March 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/02/">February 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2018/01/">January 2018</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/12/">December 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/11/">November 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/10/">October 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/09/">September 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/08/">August 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/07/">July 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/06/">June 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/05/">May 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/04/">April 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/03/">March 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/02/">February 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2017/01/">January 2017</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/12/">December 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/11/">November 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/10/">October 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/09/">September 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/08/">August 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/07/">July 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/06/">June 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/05/">May 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/04/">April 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/03/">March 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/02/">February 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/01/">January 2016</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/12/">December 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/11/">November 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/10/">October 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/09/">September 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/08/">August 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/07/">July 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/06/">June 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/05/">May 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/04/">April 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/03/">March 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/02/">February 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2015/01/">January 2015</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/12/">December 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/11/">November 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/10/">October 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/09/">September 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/08/">August 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/07/">July 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/06/">June 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/05/">May 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/04/">April 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/03/">March 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/02/">February 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/01/">January 2014</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/12/">December 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/11/">November 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/10/">October 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/09/">September 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/08/">August 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/07/">July 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/06/">June 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/05/">May 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/04/">April 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/03/">March 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/02/">February 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2013/01/">January 2013</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/12/">December 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/11/">November 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/10/">October 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/09/">September 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/08/">August 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/07/">July 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/06/">June 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/05/">May 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/04/">April 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/03/">March 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/02/">February 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2012/01/">January 2012</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/12/">December 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/11/">November 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/10/">October 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/09/">September 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/08/">August 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/07/">July 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/06/">June 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/05/">May 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/04/">April 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/03/">March 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/02/">February 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2011/01/">January 2011</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/12/">December 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/11/">November 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/10/">October 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/09/">September 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/08/">August 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/07/">July 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/06/">June 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/05/">May 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/04/">April 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/03/">March 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/02/">February 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2010/01/">January 2010</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/12/">December 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/11/">November 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/10/">October 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/09/">September 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/08/">August 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/07/">July 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/06/">June 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/05/">May 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/04/">April 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/03/">March 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/02/">February 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2009/01/">January 2009</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/12/">December 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/11/">November 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/10/">October 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/09/">September 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/08/">August 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/07/">July 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/06/">June 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/05/">May 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/04/">April 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/03/">March 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/02/">February 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2008/01/">January 2008</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2007/12/">December 2007</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2007/11/">November 2007</option> <option value="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2007/10/">October 2007</option> </select> </div> </div> <hr> </div> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script> // Add event listener to the document body document.body.addEventListener('click', function(event) { // Get the target of the click event var target = event.target; // Check if the clicked element is a select box or its descendant var isSelectBox = target.closest('.browse-archives'); // Check if the select box is already open var isOpen = document.querySelector('.browse-archives').classList.contains('open'); // If the clicked element is not a select box or its descendant and the select box is open, close it if (!isSelectBox && isOpen) { var selectBoxes = document.querySelectorAll('.browse-archives'); selectBoxes.forEach(function(selectBox) { selectBox.selectedIndex = 0; // Reset the selected index to the default option selectBox.classList.remove('open'); // Remove the 'open' class }); } // If the clicked element is a select box or its descendant, toggle the 'open' class if (isSelectBox) { var selectBox = target.closest('.browse-archives'); selectBox.classList.toggle('open'); } }); </script> </div> </section> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-4 col-lg-3 flex-right-rail"> <div id="mtc-rail" class="mtc-rail"></div> <div > <div class="rail-nl-signup"> <rad-newsletters-wordpress-simple blog-name="Cranach" channel-name="Evangelical" blog-list-id="th" channel-list-id="46" source-desc="52" :is-default-channel="false" path-url="https://cr.patheos.com/admiral"> </rad-newsletters-wordpress-simple> </div><div class="widget-wrap simple-follow add-top-margin add-bottom-margin"> <div class="title fc-preview-contextmenu">Follow Us!</div> <div class="socialmedia-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cranachblog/" rel="nofollow external" title="" class="ext-link" target="_blank"><img width="32" height="32" src="//media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/social/facebook.png" alt="Follow Us on Facebook" title="Follow Us on Facebook" style="opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8;" class="fade"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/geneveith" rel="nofollow external" title="" class="ext-link" target="_blank"><img width="32" height="32" src="//media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/social/twitter.png" alt="Follow Us on Twitter" title="Follow Us on Twitter" style="opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8;" class="fade"></a> </div> </div> <hr> <form action="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/" method="get"> <div class="input-group"> <input type="text" name="s" class="form-control" placeholder="Search this blog..."> <span class="input-group-btn"> <input type="submit" value="Go!" class="btn btn-lg btn-prime-1" /> </span> </div> </form> <hr> <div class="related-content most-popular-container"> <div class="bold-section-title-smaller"> <span>OTHER</span> RELATED CONTENT </div> <div class="row col-sm-6 col-xs-12 col-md-12"> <div class="related-content clearfix most-pop"> <div class="frame"> <div class="circle">1</div> <div class="image-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/closetohome/2025/02/the-religion-of-kendrick-lamar-christianity-or-tartuffery/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/2027/2025/02/1280px-Kendrick-lamar-1360479601-350x350.jpg" alt=""/></a> </div> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/closetohome/2025/02/the-religion-of-kendrick-lamar-christianity-or-tartuffery/">The Religion of Kendrick Lamar: Christianity...</a> </div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/closetohome/2025/02/the-religion-of-kendrick-lamar-christianity-or-tartuffery/">Close to Home</a> </div> </div> <div class="related-content clearfix most-pop"> <div class="frame"> <div class="circle">2</div> <div class="image-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/myjourney/2025/01/jesus-warns-against-false-prophets-do-not-go-after-them/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/1540/2025/01/enguerrand-blanchy-U_NvMREIZbU-unsplash-2-350x350.jpg" alt=""/></a> </div> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/myjourney/2025/01/jesus-warns-against-false-prophets-do-not-go-after-them/">Jesus Warns Against False Prophets: "Do...</a> </div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/myjourney/2025/01/jesus-warns-against-false-prophets-do-not-go-after-them/">My Journey</a> </div> </div> </div><div class="row col-sm-6 col-xs-12 col-md-12"> <div class="related-content clearfix most-pop"> <div class="frame"> <div class="circle">3</div> <div class="image-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/determinetruth/2025/02/immigration-they-arent-just-coming-we-drove-them-here/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/1298/2025/01/statue-of-liberty-350x350.jpeg" alt=""/></a> </div> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/determinetruth/2025/02/immigration-they-arent-just-coming-we-drove-them-here/">Immigration: They Aren’t Just Coming—We Drove...</a> </div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/determinetruth/2025/02/immigration-they-arent-just-coming-we-drove-them-here/">Determinetruth</a> </div> </div> <div class="related-content clearfix most-pop"> <div class="frame"> <div class="circle">4</div> <div class="image-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/myjourney/2025/01/my-favorite-bible-passage-here-are-7/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/1540/2025/01/aaron-burden-TNlHf4m4gpI-unsplash-2-350x350.jpg" alt=""/></a> </div> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/myjourney/2025/01/my-favorite-bible-passage-here-are-7/">My Favorite Bible Passages? Here Are...</a> </div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/myjourney/2025/01/my-favorite-bible-passage-here-are-7/">My Journey</a> </div> </div> </div></div> <aside id="secondary" class="sidebar widget-area" role="complementary"> <div class="widget-area"> <div class="related-content clearfix decorated add-padding"> <div class="bold-section-title"> <span>Books by This Author</span> Books by Gene Veith </div>  <rad-carousel-book :number-of-slides="3"> <rad-carousel-book-card book-title="Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture" book-image="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2020/04/post-christrian.jpg" book-url="https://amzn.to/2Vh8nv9"> </rad-carousel-book-card> <rad-carousel-book-card book-title="Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals " book-image="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/files/2017/11/spirituality.jpg" book-url="https://www.amazon.com/Spirituality-Cross-Revised-Edward-Veith/dp/0758613032/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1504136161&sr=8-3&keywords=gene+veith&linkCode=ll1&tag=cranach00-20&linkId=b689a074252ed22b20b75cdd931ea873"> </rad-carousel-book-card> <rad-carousel-book-card book-title="God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life " book-image="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/files/2017/11/god-at-work.jpg" book-url="https://www.amazon.com/God-Work-Redesign-Christian-Vocation/dp/1433524473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1504136161&sr=8-1&keywords=gene+veith&linkCode=ll1&tag=cranach00-20&linkId=2c6e049f5007b63ff53398b05c41a1fc"> </rad-carousel-book-card> </rad-carousel-book> <div> <div class="pull-right add-top-margin"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/publications/">See All Titles »</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="col-xs-12 visible-xs-block"> </div>  <div class="row buffer-top"> <section> <div class="bold-section-title clearfix"> <span>Related posts from</span> Cranach </div> <div class="clearfix"> <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-3"> <div class="related-content clearfix default"> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/13125.jpg-350x350.webp" alt=""></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/Evangelical">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/">The Four Strands of America's Christian Revival</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith">Cranach</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-3"> <div class="related-content clearfix default"> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-esvs-updated-translation/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/1024px-English_Standard_Version_Holy_Bible-350x350.jpeg" alt=""></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/Evangelical">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-esvs-updated-translation/">The ESV's Updated Translation</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith">Cranach</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-3"> <div class="related-content clearfix default"> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/maga-targeting-lutherans/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/Lutheran-Family-Services-2-350x350.png" alt=""></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/Evangelical">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/maga-targeting-lutherans/">MAGA Targeting Lutherans?</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith">Cranach</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-3"> <div class="related-content clearfix default"> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/vocation-and-the-order-of-love/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/40032860925_76a95b16e1_c-350x350.jpg" alt=""></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/Evangelical">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/vocation-and-the-order-of-love/">Vocation and the Order of Love</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith">Cranach</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section></div>  <div class="row visible-xs-block"> </div>  <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-2 hidden-xs"> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-10"> <section> <div class="row"> <div class="section-title decorated">TRENDING AT PATHEOS Evangelical</div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="related-content related-content-md"> <div class="image-container"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theimaginativechurch/2025/02/make-like-your-maker-a-look-at-creation-for-creatives/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/2211/2025/02/make-like-your-maker-150x150.jpg" alt=""></a></div> <div class="title"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theimaginativechurch/2025/02/make-like-your-maker-a-look-at-creation-for-creatives/">Make Like Your Maker: A Look at Creation...</a></div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theimaginativechurch/2025/02/make-like-your-maker-a-look-at-creation-for-creatives/" class="no-effect">I am currently in the early stages of writing a book called...</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="related-content related-content-md"> <div class="image-container"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2025/02/13125.jpg-150x150.webp" alt=""></a></div> <div class="title"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/">The Four Strands of America's Christian Revival</a></div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/the-four-strands-of-americas-christian-revival/" class="no-effect">Spencer Klavan describes four strains of American Christianity that date from colonial...</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="related-content related-content-md"> <div class="image-container"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/discuss-should-the-u-s-government-buy-tiktok/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/305/2022/03/cranach1-150x150.jpg" alt=""></a></div> <div class="title"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/discuss-should-the-u-s-government-buy-tiktok/">DISCUSS: Should the U.S. Government Buy TikTok?</a></div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2025/02/discuss-should-the-u-s-government-buy-tiktok/" class="no-effect">Should the United States start a sovereign wealth fund to invest money...</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="related-content related-content-md"> <div class="image-container"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2025/02/21/wrights-into-the-heart-of-romans-part-eight/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/55/2025/01/61mwmPhcjML._SL1500_-150x150.jpg" alt=""></a></div> <div class="title"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2025/02/21/wrights-into-the-heart-of-romans-part-eight/">Wright's Into the Heart of Romans-- Part Eight</a></div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2025/02/21/wrights-into-the-heart-of-romans-part-eight/" class="no-effect">We have already mentioned how awkward a literal translation of Rom. 8.28...</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="related-content related-content-md"> <div class="image-container"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2025/02/good-do-what-want/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/644/2025/01/worship-good-do-want-150x150.jpg" alt=""></a></div> <div class="title"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2025/02/good-do-what-want/">God Is Just as Good When He Doesn’t...</a></div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2025/02/good-do-what-want/" class="no-effect">There is a great phrase many say: “God is good.“ That is...</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="related-content related-content-md"> <div class="image-container"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theologicalapologetics/2025/02/political-gods-the-right-wing-god/"><img src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/1412/2024/11/Shutterstock_2455396913-150x150.jpg" alt=""></a></div> <div class="title"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theologicalapologetics/2025/02/political-gods-the-right-wing-god/">Political "Gods": The Right-Wing God</a></div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theologicalapologetics/2025/02/political-gods-the-right-wing-god/" class="no-effect">In my previous post, The 'Gods' of Left and Right, I started...</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row col-sm-12"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/Evangelical" class="btn btn-sm btn-prime-2">view all Evangelical blogs</a> </div> </section>  <div class="buffer-top"> <div class="bold-section-title"> What Are Your Thoughts?<span>leave a comment</span> </div> <section class="buffer-top" id="comments-section"> <div id="disqus_thread"></div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div id="mtc-footer"></div> </div> <div class="row"> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> window.bnm = window.bnm || {}; window.bnm.performance = window.bnm.performance || {}; window.bnm.performance.domReady = new Date(); </script> <div id="site-footer-2022"> <div class="container"> <div class="extras-block mobile"> <div class="footer-social-icons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon"></a> </div> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9eedebeeeef1eceadef9fbeafffaf3f7ecfff2b0fdf1f3a1edebfcf4fbfdeaa3ceffeaf6fbf1edbecdebfcedfdecf7eeeaf7f1f0becdebeeeef1ecea" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="footer-nav-links"> <ul> <li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos">About Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos">Videos</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/library">Library of World Religions</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos/advertising">Advertise With Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/write-for-us">Write for Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Service</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://privacyportal.cookiepro.com/webform/8becd7f7-c923-4cd4-814a-e08c34baf60b/draft/f9dd159d-d007-43b0-a267-2b05605a52c3">Do Not Sell My Data</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos">Contact Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.radiantdigital.com/">Radiant Digital</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/subscribe/preference-center">Manage Newsletter Subscriptions</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/push-notifications">Unsubscribe From Notifications</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/sitemaps">Sitemap</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="logo-block"> <div class="footer-logo"></div> Copyright 2008-2023, Patheos. All rights reserved. </div> <div class="extras-block"> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90e3e5e0e0ffe2e4d0f7f5e4f1f4fdf9e2f1fcbef3fffdafe3e5f2faf5f3e4adc0f1e4f8f5ffe3b0c3e5f2e3f3e2f9e0e4f9fffeb0c3e5e0e0ffe2e4" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <div class="footer-social-icons"> <span>Follow Patheos</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+Fatface|Montserrat:400,700|Open+Sans+Condensed:300,700|Vollkorn:400,400i,700,700i&display=optional" crossorigin />   <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> bnm = bnm || {}; bnm.ready = bnm.ready || false; if(bnm.ready === false) { // Set value to true bnm.ready = true; // Create the event var event = new CustomEvent("patheos.documentready"); // Dispatch/Trigger/Fire the event document.dispatchEvent(event); } </script>  <script> window.addEventListener('load', function() { function checkForVideoEmbeds() { // Check for YouTube iframes var youtubeEmbeds = document.querySelectorAll('iframe[src*="youtube.com"]'); // Check for JW Player iframes var jwPlayerEmbeds = document.querySelectorAll('iframe[src*="jwplayer"]'); // check for video tags var videoTags = document.getElementsByTagName("video"); // check for mp4 or m4v extensions var mp4Tags = document.querySelectorAll('video[src$=".mp4"]'); var m4vTags = document.querySelectorAll('video[src$=".m4v"]'); return youtubeEmbeds.length === 0 && jwPlayerEmbeds.length === 0 && videoTags.length === 0 && mp4Tags.length === 0 && m4vTags.length === 0; } // Only load Meta Pixel if no video embeds are found if (checkForVideoEmbeds()) { console.log("No video embeds found, loading Meta Pixel"); // Add script tag var script = document.createElement('script'); script.innerHTML = "!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)" + "{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?" + "n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};" + "if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';" + "n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;" + "t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];" + "s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script'," + "'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');" + "fbq('init', '1510929182549648');" + "fbq('track', 'PageView', { fbc: '', fbp: ''}, { eventID: '67b8e538d6c70' });"; document.head.appendChild(script); // Add noscript tag var noscript = document.createElement('noscript'); var img = document.createElement('img'); img.height = "1"; img.width = "1"; img.style.display = "none"; img.src = "https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1510929182549648&ev=PageView&eid=67b8e538d6c70&ud[fbp]=&ud[fbc]=&noscript=1"; noscript.appendChild(img); document.body.appendChild(noscript); } else { console.log("Video embeds found, not loading Meta Pixel"); } }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.open("POST", "https://www.patheos.com/ptapi/pageload/event", true); xmlHttp.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8"); xmlHttp.send(JSON.stringify({ "Referer": window.location.href, "EventID": "67b8e538d6c70" })); </script> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/css/main.min.css?v=53c62a2f89c4534fad1816330a2da2e3" as="style" onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'"> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/css/main.min.css?v=53c62a2f89c4534fad1816330a2da2e3"></noscript> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/css/fontawesome.min.css" as="style" onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'"> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/css/fontawesome.min.css"></noscript> <link rel='stylesheet' id='popular-posts-css-css' href='https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-content/plugins/patheos-info/assets/css/popular-posts.css?ver=6.7.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" id="disqus_count-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var countVars = {"disqusShortname":"geneveithatpatheos"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-content/plugins/disqus-comment-system/public/js/comment_count.js?ver=3.0.17" id="disqus_count-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="disqus_embed-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var embedVars = {"disqusConfig":{"integration":"wordpress 3.0.17"},"disqusIdentifier":"80390 https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/geneveith\/?p=80390","disqusShortname":"geneveithatpatheos","disqusTitle":"The Authority for Liberal Theology","disqusUrl":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/geneveith\/2025\/02\/the-authority-for-liberal-theology\/","postId":"80390"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/wp-content/plugins/disqus-comment-system/public/js/comment_embed.js?ver=3.0.17" id="disqus_embed-js"></script> <script type="module" src="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/app/dist/js/chunk-vendors.463729d9.js"></script> <script type="module" src="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20TwentySeventeen/assets/app/dist/js/app.24d68022.js"></script>  <script src="" nomodule></script> <script src="" nomodule></script> <script type='text/javascript'> window.rad = window.rad || {}; window.rad.ads = window.rad.ads || {}; window.rad.ads.preload = {"pageConfig":{"hierarchy":"\/29966721\/PATH\/evangelical\/cranach","tags":["Bible","Church","Religions","Theology","contemporary Christianity","liberal theology"],"contentid":"305X0390","title":"The Authority for Liberal Theology","type":"other","channel":"Evangelical","audience":[],"ministry":null,"political":"","category":"","disabled":false,"enableHeaderBidding":true,"enableAdmiral":true,"enableOptimera":true,"admiralAdFreeOfferIds":["5d3f6796da6fa95e8589a652","5e45c46f0cb01b0d8a4a3a1a","5d3f66970cb01b379f35f8df","5e45c42d5c443b73b53cc7a5","623b4296cf541f46827b865d"],"cookieConsentDomainId":"3f93598f-6412-4eae-a452-60ccd114b1eb","creativeConfigInsertLocationIds":["writer-theme-logo","patheos-main-nav"],"creativeConfigNavId":"patheos-main-nav","creativeConfigEnableScrollingNav":false,"analyticsTrackingId":"UA-6605286-6","customTargeting":[{"key":"p_channel","value":"Evangelical"},{"key":"faiths","value":[]},{"key":"topics","value":["Politics and Religion"]}],"prebidAdapters":{"pubmatic":{"publisherId":"159758","pubmaticAdSlots":[{"id":"3214316","size":[300,250],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214317","size":[728,90],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214318","size":[300,600],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214319","size":[970,250],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214320","size":[300,100],"mobile":true},{"id":"3214321","size":[320,50],"mobile":true},{"id":"3214322","size":[300,250],"mobile":true}]},"appnexus":{"placementId":26373425,"adSizes":[[970,250],[300,600],[300,250],[320,50],[160,600],[728,90],[300,100],[468,60]]},"rubicon":{"accountId":24710,"siteId":432530,"zoneId":2474518}},"ipApiKey":"oQJeoTOiJjO6efS"}}; </script> <script id="parsely-cfg" src="//cdn.parsely.com/keys/patheos.com/p.js" async></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

The Authority For Liberal Theology | Gene Veith