by Angus Harley

There are ‘Evangelicals’, there are ‘Progressive Christians’, and then there is the hybrid of ‘Progressive Evangelicals’. So says Rich Atherton, self-professing and lamenting Progressive Evangelical.[1]

Atherton’s appeal

Atherton calls himself an Evangelical because he says he believes in the four pillars of Evangelicalism: 1) a high regard for Scripture (not biblical inerrancy); 2) centering on the cross (not on violence or on any form of a transaction); 3) conversion (but not coercion or “boundary policing”); 4) activism to bring justice (not the separation of both). 

Atherton wants Progressive Christianity to take seriously his own group of Progressive Evangelicals, for they aim at the same goals. Atherton, in typical Progressive style, tells us about his story and his journey, and appeals to all to take him seriously in his journey.

In the blurb on Atherton, it is said that he is the chair of the Association of School and College Leaders, of the UK, and that in this role he is a strong advocate for LGBT+ rights. Atherton is also a theologian writing a Systematic Theology for Progressive Christianity.

Relearn history and the bible

Atherton needs to go back to school and learn some ‘church history’. What he is following was called back in the day ‘Christian Liberalism’, the type of theology opposed by Gresham Machen. It opposed all things ‘Evangelical’, as does Atherton’s reading. For, it is a gross misrepresentation of Evangelicalism to reduce it down to Atherton’s four vague and broad categories.

1. The Liberals of Machen’s day and afterward had a ‘high view of Scripture’. For example, William Barclay had a ‘high view of Scripture’, but denied much of the bible’s history, miracles, and doctrines. He said Jesus was not God, etc.. Mormons have a ‘high view of Scripture’, as do JWs and Roman Catholics. In fact, even Muslims have a high view of the bible- if you ask them! Having a ‘high view of Scripture’ is about as useful as having a ‘high view of God’, for all that is meant is that Scripture is taken seriously in some way, shape, or form, and that the God of the bible is, too.

The bible, however, is far, far more precise, pedantic, and demanding as to why we must take it seriously as God’s actual redemptive word and revelation to fallen man. For it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:25; 15:7; Col.1:5; 1 Thess.1:5). The word of God, the bible, is inerrant, infallible, etc.. These things are foundation to Evangelicalism.

2. Atherton’s vague, ill-defined, concept of centering on the cross is just as absurd. There are men who go around with crosses on their necks, kissing them, saying ‘holy’ phrases, and this is done in confession to God, or in a prayer appeal, after having murdered someone! Some of the hybrids of Christianity and local pagan religions love to use a cross. JWs and Mormons also heartily ‘confess’ that Jesus died on the cross. Even the Jews who hated him ‘believed’ he died on the cross- after all, they put him on it!

Atherton’s view is so completely absurd that he even asserts we must remove violence from the cross! What- Jesus lay down on the cross and fell asleep and at peace? No pain, persecution, no nails or hurling of insults? Just…bliss?

Because Atherton does not take the word of God seriously, he rejects its God-testimony to Jesus’ death as sacrificial propitiation for sins. I’ll stick with the testimony of God’s word, “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor.5:21).

3. Conversion, according to Atherton, “names an ongoing reorientation of life toward love, truth, and the way of Jesus. It is about becoming, not conforming.”

What gut-rot! This language is modern virtue-signaling, pseudo-therapeutic religious claptrap!

Of course, because Atherton- an inveterate whiner- cannot accept God’s word, he has no room for biblical repentance vocab: sin, repentance, justification, faith, etc., etc., etc..

4. Atherton the social the social-justice warrior again finds no basis in God’s word. To Atherton, the Christian is “becoming” a SJW, who spends his time defending those oppressed by…true Evangelicals!!! Also, the Christian, to Atherton, is “becoming” by walking his path, telling the world about his story and how he is a broken toy, accompanied, of course, by eternal and incessant whining, and filled to the brim with virtue signaling about how he’s truly devoted to the Progressive agenda as an activist. The Progressive Evangelical has to tell you all about their problems and how Jesus helps them through them…you know, like a therapist!

If Jesus was an SJW, why did he not become king, or set up shop on earth to bring justice to one and all. Why didn’t he just settle down to start a therapy center? Why were his miracles restricted mainly to Jews. Why did he never tackle ‘the machine’? Why does he respect those in authority- including his murderer, Pontius Pilate? Why does Jesus never instruct his disciples to become SJW?

Jesus’ kindness and compassion, even his miracles, were demonstrations of the power and authority of the next world and its salvation. Thus, his main goal was always to preach the forgiveness of sins to enter into that world where there will be no hunger, sadness, tears, or sin.

The real scary thing is just how Evangelicalism proper adapts and adopts many of the above concepts and practices of Progressive Evangelicalism. The language of a journey, a walk, a path, is the same. How one has a story is a story is the same. The focus upon the personal hardship, trials, and dilemmas of one’s journey, and Jesus as one’s personal therapist, is the same. A general and vague understanding of the basics of Evangelicalism is the same. Calling out those who are theology-thumpers is the same. Being unwilling to say anything negative about the LGBT community and its practices is the same. Veering away from hell, sin, repentance, the cross and its ‘violence’ is the same. Being all about plans, and steps, and methods, and goals is the same.

[1] Rich Atherton, “There’s No Place Like Home….For Progressive Evangelicals,” Progressive Christianity, January 12, 2026, https://progressivechristianity.org/resource/theres-no-place-like-home-for-progressive-evangelicals/.