Boundaries in Progressive Christianity: Process vs. Content

Progressive Christianity has given me room to wrestle with my faith without fear—but at what cost? In recent years, I’ve started to wonder: If Christianity has no boundaries, does it still mean anything at all?

Recently, I had a conversation with another Mainline pastor and shared one of my frustrations with Progressive Christianity: in many ways, it seems to have abandoned theological boundaries altogether. I understand that Christianity has a troubling history of using accusations of heresy to isolate, oppress, and even kill those deemed to be on the "wrong side." But does the solution lie in eliminating boundaries entirely?

Several years ago, I discovered a podcast by Jack Shitama, a United Methodist pastor and Family Systems Theory expert. His episodes, typically 10–15 minutes long, explore how FST principles apply to relationships at home, work, and church. One of his core ideas is “Process vs. Content.” He argues that we often fixate on what is being said (content) rather than how it is communicated (process). In other words, it’s not just what you say—it’s how you say it.

I wonder if Progressive Christianity has made a similar mistake, but in reverse: focusing so much on the content of doctrine (or its rejection) that it has neglected the process of faithful theological reflection. Many within it assume that Christianity’s doctrines and theology are the problem and that the future of the church depends on loosening or discarding them. But what if the real issue isn’t what we believe but how we engage with those beliefs? Rather than simply discarding traditional doctrines, what if we examined them with humility, curiosity, and intellectual honesty?

Humility, Curiosity, and Theological Boundaries

When I was deconstructing my faith, what drew me to Mainline and Progressive Christianity wasn’t its lack of doctrine but rather its lack of obsession over believing the “right” thing. There was no judgment for theological misalignment—just a sense of openness. Maybe my experience was unique, but 10–15 years ago, it seemed like what made Progressive Christianity progressive wasn’t that it discarded theology but that it embraced humility, curiosity, and welcome.

Returning to my conversation with this Mainline pastor, he asked: If boundaries are important, how do we avoid repeating the mistakes of the past?

I believe the key lies in humility and curiosity. Boundaries in faith matter—they define what we believe. But humility and curiosity allow us to say, “I may be wrong, and I’m willing to listen.”

The challenge is that without theological boundaries, Christianity risks becoming shapeless and meaningless—which, frankly, is how many struggling Mainline churches feel right now. Methodist pastor Derek Ryan Kubilus captures this well in his book Holy Hell:

“When pluralism becomes a religion all its own, when it is promoted not as a cultural tool but as an overarching ideology, an ultimate truth above all truths, it can lead to cultural arrogance and erasure.” (p. 133)

“Pluralists… inadvertently erase a lot of what makes some religions beautiful in the first place.” (p. 129)

Division within the UMC

In reflecting on the challenges of theological boundaries and unity within the church, I’m reminded of a sermon I preached in 2023 following the split within the United Methodist Church. In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul urges the church:

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Paul emphasizes three key things here:

1. Humility & gentleness (a fruit of the Spirit)

2. Patience (bearing with one another in love)

3. Determination (making every effort)

We understand these virtues in relationships and marriages—why would they not apply to the church?

One thing I want to make clear: I’m not saying convictions, firm beliefs, or dealbreakers don’t matter. They do. And Paul acknowledges that as well. He doesn’t call for unity at the expense of truth. Instead, he reminds us that how we act towards one another trumps those beliefs.

This is the tension I wrestle with in my frustrations with Progressive Christianity. It’s not that theological boundaries don’t matter—it’s that without humility, curiosity, and grace, those boundaries can either become oppressive or meaningless. Paul’s call is not to abandon conviction, but to embody those convictions in a way that fosters unity rather than division.

Recognizing That I May Be Outside of Some Boundaries

Years ago, a good friend from Bible college told me, with deep sorrow, that he “weeps for my soul.” This was in response to my journey toward Progressive Christianity—and as you might imagine, it wasn’t easy to hear. It stung, not just because of the words themselves, but because they came from someone I once walked closely with in faith.

That conversation forced me to recognize something important: theological boundaries work both ways. Just as I wrestle with the shifting contours of faith and belief, others do too—but they may draw their lines in places that exclude me. As much as I value theological humility and curiosity, I have to acknowledge that for some, I now fall outside their definition of Christian faith. And while I may not agree with their boundaries, I understand the conviction behind them.

But here’s what I hold onto: boundaries should be drawn with grace. I refuse to let theological differences sever relationships or turn people into enemies. None of us fully comprehend the mystery of God, and no set of words can capture the fullness of Christ’s redemptive work. If faith is, at its core, a journey of trust, then I choose to trust in a God whose grace is wider than any human-made border.

Faith Boundaries Rooted in Ephesians

Paul’s words in Ephesians 4—"one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all"—form what I see as a foundational framework for faith. Boundaries matter, but they must be held with humility and curiosity.

So, what are my faith boundaries? For me, Christianity is centered on Jesus Christ—his life, death, and resurrection. I believe in the authority of Scripture, though I acknowledge it requires interpretation. I affirm historic Christian creeds, such as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, while also recognizing that faithful Christians hold different theological perspectives. While I believe in embracing a diversity of views within the faith, I do think there are certain core truths—about God, Christ, and redemption—that define Christianity.

At the same time, I hold these convictions with humility, knowing that faith involves mystery and ongoing learning. I also recognize that an obsession with theological intricacies—such as the exact nature of the resurrection (even though I’d likely lean toward a physical resurrection at this moment)—can sometimes miss the larger point. The emphasis of faith, as Paul reminds us, should be on how we live it out, treating others with humility, patience, and love rather than drawing sharp lines between who is in and who is out. As I heard from Chuck DeGroat once, I seek to hold my beliefs with an open hand rather than a closed fist.

Boundaries help define who we are

To be clear, I’m not advocating for rigid fundamentalism. I’m not saying that Christianity is about having all the "right" beliefs. I don’t want to rehash the theological battles of a century ago. But how we handle theological boundaries—with kindness, humility, and compassion—matters.

Boundaries help define who we are. Without them, faith loses its meaning. But how we draw those boundaries—and how we engage with those who disagree—determines whether Christianity remains a community of grace or becomes just another ideological battlefield.

What are your boundaries? Or, how do you hold to your boundaries with humility and curiosity? What does that look like for you?