by Angus Harley

Progressive Christianity has had its feathers ruffled recently here in the States because of President Trump’s so-called Christian Nationalist victory, and because Trump is such an evil guy, they say. So, just the other day, on April 24, 2025, there was published the article, “The Inexpressible Evil of Trump 2.0”.[1] Its subtitle is, “Beyond the chaos of Trump’s authoritarianism”. Authoritarianism is a big no-no for Progressive Christianity, taboo, one of the cardinal sins of humanity. Indeed, Trump was, “More evil than evil”.

Yet, it is not merely Trump and his version of Christian Nationalism that Progressive Christianity destroys, it is Evangelicals, too. There is a new call for evangelism: of Evangelicals! According to the writer, faithgoddess, 80% of Evangelicals voted for “He Who Shall Not Be Named”. What is the gospel to be preached to these Evangelicals who remind Progressives of Germany’s Nazi regime? The article does not say; so, one assumes their ‘gospel’ is to convert from Trumpism to anti-bigotry of all kinds.[2]

Bonhoeffer and his stand against Nazism is routinely cited by Progressives. This is a very good parallel, to be fair. Bonhoeffer had no real Gospel to speak of, denying much of the bible’s supernatural message and most of its miracles. He promoted a religionless Christianity that despised the theology of ‘German tradition’, and wanted a new ‘conversation’ with the world, a dialogue stripped of the pretentious theology of the past and its authoritarianism. Bonhoeffer’s gospel was concerned with transforming this world, removing evil of all kinds, especially the evil of Nazism. Progressives have replaced Hitler with Trump, and Germany with right wingers.

Bonhoeffer and the Progressives do differ in one respect, however. Bonhoeffer, although he utterly dismissed Evangelicals and the traditional Gospel message, did not go after their Gospel message or pursue Evangelicals. He simply critiqued them and ignored them as irrelevant, just as Barth did. It is of the nature of academic arrogance to dismiss those who are fringe or who are irrelevant.

The modern Progressive is not going to merely virtue signal, my Christian friend. He, she, they, them, ze, zum, and all, are coming after you. Even those Progressives who are more aligned with the bible, as Bonhoeffer was, accuse Evangelicals of promoting their diabolical version of salvation, declaring it to be irrelevant to modern man, and not designed to heal the modern person, but to imprison. In pursuing their agenda, the Progressives severely accuse the Evangelical tradition of authoritarianism, all the while imposing their disdain for the bible’s gospel and Evangelical tradition. It seems their form of authoritarianism is okay!

But how does one ultimately determine what is and is not authoritarianism, according to Progressives? It’s the healing results. It’s the journey, the story. It’s got to be about broken people who heal and are healing. They have a story to tell; they’re on a journey. We must listen, support, and lift them up to God. The oppressed are so many. We must come to their aid. Some Progressive do get into the bible, do use theology, but in much the same manner that Bonhoeffer did: as a means to the end of helping the hurting in their journey.

Imagine this scene. An assembly is traditional and Evangelical. It teaches, as the bible does, that homosexuality is sin. Even so, these Evangelicals do reach out with the Gospel to these sinners, but also to all sinners (straight, bi, or whatever flavor). This assembly will be called out by the Progressives, publicly shamed, attacked, and despised. ‘Yes, the Evangelicals are right to use the bible; but, for goodness sake, they ignore the message of love and healing that is throughout the bible. The bible is a witness to doing, to healing, to protest, not to theological authoritarianism.’

Evangelicals must not back down. We believe in a journey: by faith in Christ Jesus (Heb.11). This world is not our home, and there is no salvation in it. The world is not saved by being transformed, but by repenting and believing in the crucified Christ (John 3:16). And then there is that man Jesus. He had a story, called the Gospel. He was on a journey, to the cross. If the Progressives will not accept this, we will not accept them. Read Galatians, friend. If we are considered authoritarian in being Gospel-based Christians, then let us bear the cross, and, as the Savior, call out to those who are in need of a doctor.

[1] Jeffrey Frantz, Progressive Christianity.org, https://progressivechristianity.org/resource/the-inexpressible-evil-of-trump-2-0/.

[2] Faithgoddess, “Can We Cross Intrafaith Boundaries?”, The Interfaith Pastor, n.d., https://intrafaithconversation.com/2016/11/25/can-we-cross-intrafaith-boundaries/.