What is progressive?

"...although I must preface that I only have a vague idea of what I'm talking about, doesn't the very term "progressive theology" describe a t...heology which is unbiblical? Since when did the meaning of the Bible change so quickly that we had to run to keep up? A Biblical theology will always be stationary, not "progressing" in whatever direction the current culture is pulling it. The very barest description of biblical theology possible is simply that it does not progress; it's like a stone pillar in the middle of a vegetable soup of ideas and feelings. It is what I (a Lutheran) can agree on with my grandmother (a Presbyterian), my friend (a Catholic priest), my other grandparents (Assemblies of God), my aunt (a Baptist) and any number of other christians, both in the present and going back through

history. (Melissa Anne Tregilgas)

The Church’s one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord,

She is His new creation

By water and the Word.

From Heav’n He came and sought her

To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her

And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,

Yet one o’er all the earth;

Her charter of salvation,

One Lord, one faith, one birth;

One holy Name she blesses,

Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses,

With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish!

Her dear Lord to defend,

To guide, sustain, and cherish,

Is with her to the end:

Though there be those who hate her,

And false sons in her pale,

Against both foe or traitor

She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder

Men see her sore oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder,

By heresies distressed:

Yet saints their watch are keeping,

Their cry goes up, “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping

Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation,

And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation

Of peace forevermore;

Till, with the vision glorious,

Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great Church victorious

Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union

With God the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion

With those whose rest is won,

With all her sons and daughters

Who, by the Master’s hand

Led through the deathly waters,

Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!

Lord, give us grace that we

Like them, the meek and lowly,

On high may dwell with Thee:

There, past the border mountains,

Where in sweet vales the Bride

With Thee by living fountains

Forever shall abide!