ISSUE #14 // APRIL 2025
MOMENT OF TRUTH
A false gospel has kept the church asleep under a dangerous spell. But Gandalf is on his way…
Another Gospel?
In this newsletter I would like to wrap up our foray into the troubling issue of ‘Progressive Christianity’, which is at the root of many societal ills plaguing our culture today.
In previous newsletters we examined the claims of progressive Christianity against its actual beliefs and practices, and we put all of this up against our spiritual and moral plumbline which is the Bible, which revealed the ideology’s drastic failure to justify any true association with Christ.
We recognised how this worldview has confused and weakened the church, leading many astray with its false doctrines rooted in a Marxist way of thinking that not only attacks the fundamentals of the faith, but also the ultimate authority of the Bible, as the holy and inspired Word of God.
We determined that the remedy for this malady is the bold and unashamed proclamation of the truth in love, seeking to help back onto the path of life those who have been deceived by this agenda, ‘snatching them from the fire’ as Jude put it (Jude 1:23). For this issue is indeed a matter of life and death. By condoning sin and trying to redefine redemption to fit their secular, humanistic worldview, ‘progressive leaders’ are preaching another Gospel – the very thing which the apostles repeatedly warned us against in their New Testament letters.
This false gospel leads people to believe lies about God and the Bible, putting them on a path that ends in God’s righteous judgement.
‘Who is preaching this other gospel?’ you might be wondering. Unfortunately, the problem reaches to the very top:
About a year ago Pope Francis (who died during the authoring of this newsletter) decreed that catholic priests could bless same-sex unions, after nearly 2000 years of the church recognising this as grievous sin. The pope also suggested that the Ten Commandments aren’t really commandments, but more a set of guidelines for living a good life. And that we shouldn’t cling too tightly to them (on which of them, I wonder, should we loosen our hold; adultery, idols, murder?). He also said that we should beware of ‘rigid ideological positions’ and that holding to such positions ‘separates us from reality and prevents us from moving forward.’ The pope’s ridiculous position divided the catholic church as – thankfully – many of its priests chose not to follow the Vatican’s descent into apostasy.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
‘Perhaps, at times, I write with a sharp blade that can cut. Progressives write much softer, but some quills have been dipped in poison. You can always heal from a cut.’
KEITH GUINTA
Now, in order to lighten the mood a bit, I thought we might conclude this series by taking some encouragement from our heroes in Middle Earth, who faced similar difficulties.
Theoden bewitched
When we first meet King Theoden in The Two Towers, he’s a shadow of himself. His eyes are clouded, his voice is weak. He’s passive, disengaged, and letting evil run unchecked through his kingdom. And he’s under the influence of Wormtongue—a servant of Saruman the sorcerer—who whispers lies in his ear, keeping him sedated and afraid.
This is a picture of the compromised Church – not outright evil, but sedated, numbed, and misled by false counsel. Wormtongue is the voice of progressive ideology, cultural compromise and soft-serve Christianity – soothing, persuasive, but poisonous. And Theoden, who is meant to lead and protect, sits idly while his people suffer.
Theoden recovers
Gandalf – a Christlike figure – arrives and breaks the spell. He casts Wormtongue out and calls Theoden back to his true identity: “Too long have you sat in the shadows…”. Theoden is transformed before our eyes. He stands taller. His strength returns. His eyes clear. And he grabs his sword.
This is what happens when the Spirit of God awakens the Church – when His Word cuts through the fog of cultural lies and compromise, and we remember who we are.
Theoden responds
The king doesn’t just wake up – he acts. He leads. He reclaims his calling as a protector of his people. He doesn’t pretend evil isn’t real. He doesn’t sit back and hope for peace. He rides into battle, leading the charge against the darkness.
And when the battle comes at Helm’s Deep, and all seems lost, he still doesn’t retreat into fear. “So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?” Aragorn responds: “Ride out with me!” And they do.
How should we respond?
- We must cast out Wormtongue – reject the voices that whisper compromise, comfort, and soft theology.
- We must let the Spirit of God and the Word of God awaken us. We’ve been passive too long.
- Those of us who believe must remember our identity – we are the Bride of Christ, not a fading institution.
- We must ride out. Boldly. Even with the odds against us. Even though hope seems thin. Because when we rise up – just like in the great stories – help comes. Dawn breaks and the tide begins to turn.
So then take heart! The true church is waking up and recognising the false Gospel of progressive Christianity. There is good news, in fact, there is the good news! And no matter how much opposition comes against it or how deep the darkness in the world becomes, the Truth will continue to shine out, beckoning those weary of battle and the chaos in the world onto the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14) – for as John 1:5 says ‘the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
Gandalf: “Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.”
‘For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.’
2 CORINTHIANS 11:13-14 (NIV)
FACT OF THE WEEK
According to a 2022 study by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, only 6% of Americans hold a biblical worldview, while over 60% identify as “Christian.”
