J.D. Greear Claims ‘The Crucifixion was a Project Between Those on the Left and the Right’
In a recent interview for the Gospel Coalition (purveyors of the infamous Taylor Swift article), Collin Hansen talks with former SBC President J. D. Greear about his new book, ‘Essential Christianity.’ Winding things down, Hansen asks what Greear would change if he had the power to change anything in the SBC, and J.D responds:
“My political answer is, I just feel like there’s tendency in literally every generation to turn things besides the gospel into the central thing. And that happens to good people. Southern Baptists, our defining narrative is resisting liberalism. And praise God for that…Then there’s other leaven Jesus talks about. Jesus’ crucifixion was a joint project between, you know, those on the left and those on the right.
And to say, can we be like the Gospel Coalition’s audience, like evangelicals at large? Can we be a people defined by the gospel and not by secondary political alignments? And I’m not trying to back off there with pro-life or the importance of gender and marriage. I mean, yes to all that, proclaim that loudly. But can we be defined as a missionary people who are big on the gospel and not build our identity on these other things?”
In an extended commentary offered by Jordan Smith of Enemies Within the Church, he explains:
In addition to misquoting the Lord, Greear also seems to be contradicting himself. On the one hand, he states that liberalism is something he is grateful Christians pushed back on historically. But on the other hand, he states that being on the political left is a “secondary political alignment” and should not be placed above the gospel. In the context of the quote, Greear is making a distinction between theological and political liberalism. Theological liberalism refers to people who deny the inerrancy of the Bible and the deity of Christ, whereas political liberalism is being aligned with the policy prescriptions of the Democratic Party. It seems that Greear is okay with vigorously opposing theological liberalism, but opposition to political liberalism should be done secondarily, while the gospel is elevated to the forefront, so that both political conservatives and liberals can worship together in the same church.
Smith concludes by noting:
Greear is correct that political issues are not the gospel, nor should they take priority above the gospel message. If someone does not repent and believe in the God-man Jesus Christ who died for their sins, their soul is damned regardless of political affiliation. The error here is that Greear is misapplying the correct response to the gospel: repentance. One who hears the gospel must turn from their sin by faith alone in Christ. Allowing someone who believes in the Democratic Party’s platform is to give them a gospel that does not require repentance. This is because issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and racial partiality are sin issues to be repented of. Making political affiliation a secondary issue denies liberals the repentance they so desperately need, as well as the liberating effect of the gospel.
For more on Greear
Irony Alert! J.D. Greear Chastises Congregants for Treating Church like a Production: ‘You’re the Problem!’
SBC Prez Says Comparing Kamala Harris to ‘Jezebel’ is Sinful and Racist
J.D. Greear Uses Epic Bible Twist to Explain why Parable is Actually about ‘Social Justice’ and ‘Older Brother Privilege’
SBC Prez Church Pastor Ties Ethnic Diversity in Church to Gomer Being Sex-Trafficked
Former SBC Prez. J.D. Greear Condemns ‘Law Amendment’ After Threats From Black Baptists
Greear Brags about His Church’s Affirmative Action Program ‘Two-Thirds of Them are Either Women or POC’
SBC Prez Decries Abortion in Recent Sermon Yet Supports Blocking Abolitionist Bill
SBC President J. D. Greear Compares Conservative Critics to Pharisees and Terrorists
About Author
In truth, there is a direct connection between theological liberalism and political liberalism that we cannot dispense with. They go hand in hand. Politics always boils down to ideology.
Absolutely true.
The spiritual (or the lack / perservion thereof) impacts culture and politics is downstream from culture so …
Huh? What are you trying to say here? This is such a poorly written article. Greer said nothing wrong. What is wrong with you?