--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberal churches don’t regard it as…" description: "\"“Liberal churches don’t regard it as “God’s Word” in any definitive way. They feel free to reject aspects of it if they don’t agree with it. Fundamenta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/gregory-a-boyd-9424_bible_liberal-churches-don-t-regard-it-as-god_925265.jpg" --- # Liberal churches don’t regard it as “God’s Word” in any… ![“Liberal churches don’t regard it as “God’s Word” in any definitive way. They feel free to reject aspects of it if they don’t agree with it. Fundamentalists, at the opposite extreme, are so afraid of anything “liberal” that they tend to read the Bible “ahistorically.” They try to make the Bible…” quote by Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/gregory-a-boyd-9424_bible_liberal-churches-don-t-regard-it-as-god_925265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/gregory-a-boyd-9424_bible_liberal-churches-don-t-regard-it-as-god_925265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/gregory-a-boyd-9424_bible_liberal-churches-don-t-regard-it-as-god_925265.jpg) > ““Liberal churches don’t regard it as “God’s Word” in any definitive way. They feel free to reject aspects of it if they don’t agree with it. Fundamentalists, at the opposite extreme, are so afraid of anything “liberal” that they tend to read the Bible “ahistorically.” They try to make the Bible into a twentieth-century legal document. Then there are the Catholics who see the Bible as but one of several sources of authority—the pope and church tradition being the other two. The Orthodox Church has the same perspective, but it doesn’t accept the pope. And then there are the evangelicals, who, like the fundamentalists, view the Bible as God’s Word, but they nevertheless hold that it should be read in its historical context. It is not a twentieth-century legal document.”” [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage outlines how different Christian groups interpret biblical authority, ranging from liberal flexibility to fundamentalist literalism, highlighting the spectrum of belief and its implications. **In simple terms:** Various Christians view the Bible differently, from flexible to literal. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect diverse theological perspectives. Themes theology interpretation religion authority Mood thoughtful analytical respectful Type theological educational When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - church teaching - personal study - public policy debates Key Concepts biblical hermeneutics ecumenism fundamentalism Questions to Reflect On - How does your tradition shape your reading? - What benefits arise from pluralistic interpretation? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizing can ignore individual nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Ahistorically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-ahistorically-1465182/) [Catholics Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholics-bible-1465180/) [Fundamentalists Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalists-opposite-1465181/) [Fundamentalists View](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalists-view-1465179/) [Liberal Churches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-churches-584862/) [Orthodox church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-church/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of these liberal churches that harbor illegal immigrants who are criminals say they are following the example of Jesus. They are following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/a-lot-of-these-liberal-churches-that-harbor-illegal-immigrants-who/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [A few years ago, the liberal churches complained that the Calvinistic church denied to them the name of Christian. I think the complaint was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-few-years-ago-the-liberal-churches-complained-that-the-calvinistic/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“important to note that the missional church combines the concern for community development normally characterized by the liberal churches and the desire for personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-frost/important-to-note-that-the-missional-church-combines-the-concern-for/) [Michael Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-frost/) > [A church must be more deeply and practically committed to deeds of compassion and social justice than traditional liberal churches and more deeply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/a-church-must-be-more-deeply-and-practically-committed-to-deeds-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Julian recognized that the strength of the orthodox Church rested to a great extent on the imperial discrimination in its favour. According to Ammianus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/julian-recognized-that-the-strength-of-the-orthodox-church-rested-to/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Give any orthodox church the power, and to-day they would punish heresy with whip, and chain, and fire. As long as a church deems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/give-any-orthodox-church-the-power-and-to-day-they-would-punish/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“The train resembles the Soviet type and is quite comfortable, but all socialist structures I have ever encountered have toilets stemming from a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-train-resembles-the-soviet-type-and-is-quite-comfortable-but-all/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass - "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-alexander/all-my-theology-is-reduced-to-this-narrow-compass-jesus-christ-came/) [Archibald Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-alexander/) > [The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail-against-it/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [I really do feel that these people are brothers and sisters in God's family. I am looking to build bridges with the Orthodox Church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/i-really-do-feel-that-these-people-are-brothers-and-sisters-in-god-s/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The brother of my grandfather was the patriarch of the Orthodox Church and revered as a saint. So everything in my childhood is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/the-brother-of-my-grandfather-was-the-patriarch-of-the-orthodox/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [In the emerging culture, darkness represents spirituality. We see this in Buddhist temples, as well as Catholic and orthodox churches. Darkness indicates that something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kimball/in-the-emerging-culture-darkness-represents-spirituality-we-see-this/) [Dan Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-kimball/) > [“In the Russian Orthodox Church there is the concept of the Holy Fool. It means someone who is a fool to the ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-worth/in-the-russian-orthodox-church-there-is-the-concept-of-the-holy-fool/) [Jennifer Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-worth/) > [The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, “the Church which presides in charity”, is communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-one-thing-that-the-catholic-church-desires-and-that-i-seek-as/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sorokin/orthodox-churches-autocracy-and-national-traditions-are-supposed-to/) [Vladimir Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sorokin/) ## More by Gregory A. Boyd > [“Consider these questions: Did Jesus ever suggest by word of example that we should aspire to acquire, let alone take over, the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/consider-these-questions-did-jesus-ever-suggest-by-word-of-example/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God as a radical alternative to all versions of the kingdom of the world, whether they declare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-came-to-establish-the-kingdom-of-god-as-a-radical-alternative/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“God took on our humanity, our sin, and the just punishment that sin deserves, dying a God-forsaken, hellish death on the cross, because only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/god-took-on-our-humanity-our-sin-and-the-just-punishment-that-sin/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [The holiness of the kingdom of God must be preserved. If Jesus refused to acknowledge and fight for Israel as God's favored nation- even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-holiness-of-the-kingdom-of-god-must-be-preserved-if-jesus-refused/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Coming under others has a power to do what laws and bullets and bombs can never do—namely, bring about transformation in an enemy’s heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/coming-under-others-has-a-power-to-do-what-laws-and-bullets-and-bombs/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Jesus’ life and ministry consistently reveal the humble character of a servant. Though he rightfully owned the entire cosmos, he, by choice, had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-life-and-ministry-consistently-reveal-the-humble-character-of-a/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Why would these people do this for us?” This is the question the church ought to be continually raising in people’s minds by its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/why-would-these-people-do-this-for-us-this-is-the-question-the-church/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“The question that wins the world is not, how can we get our “morally superior” way enforced in the world? The question that wins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-question-that-wins-the-world-is-not-how-can-we-get-our-morally/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Accommodation is a central aspect of the cross-centered interpretation of violent portraits of God that I'm advocating. Like everything else in Cross Vision, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/accommodation-is-a-central-aspect-of-the-cross-centered/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Second, if you disbelieve in the reality of good and evil spirit agents, you fundamentally change the narrative of Scripture. The motif of spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/second-if-you-disbelieve-in-the-reality-of-good-and-evil-spirit/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“many people have trouble passionately loving and living for God because they have a mental picture of him that inspires anything but passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/many-people-have-trouble-passionately-loving-and-living-for-god/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“I believe a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry. To a frightful degree, I think, evangelicals fuse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/i-believe-a-significant-segment-of-american-evangelicalism-is-guilty/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Our central job is not to solve the world’s problems. Our job is to draw our entire life from Christ and manifest that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/our-central-job-is-not-to-solve-the-world-s-problems-our-job-is-to/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“So too, since Christ has in principle defeated the fallen "gods" (principalities and powers) who have for ages inspired injustice, cruelty and apathy toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/so-too-since-christ-has-in-principle-defeated-the-fallen-gods/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“the reason God now calls kingdom people to remain separate from the ways of the kingdom-of-the-world is not to isolate them from their culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-reason-god-now-calls-kingdom-people-to-remain-separate-from-the/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) [Explore all 73 Gregory A. Boyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . 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They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Liberal churches don’t regard it as “God’s Word” in any definitive way. They feel free to reject aspects of it if they don’t agree with it. Fundamentalists, at the opposite extreme, are so afraid of anything “liberal” that they tend to read the Bible “ahistorically.” They try to make the Bible into a twentieth-century legal document. Then there are the Catholics who see the Bible as but one of several sources of authority—the pope and church tradition being the other two. The Orthodox Church has the same perspective, but it doesn’t accept the pope. 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