Progressive vs. Evangelical: A Dialogue for Clarity 

Colby essentially said he's uncertain whether Jesus rose from the dead. That's a core tenet of the gospel, for if Jesus didn't resurrect it means He didn't defeat death nor atoned for our sins, leaving us without a hope of salvation. There is no point in being a Christian if you don't believe in the resurrection of Jesus.

What’s missing amongst us conservative Christians is grace. Sean displays grace here and so did his father to him. If people are questioning, be gracious and trust God for clarity. When we’re not being gracious, we respond in fear. That’s very destructive.

As someone who was raised evangelical, became a part of the progressive movement, then had my eyes opened and turned away from progressive Christianity, I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit’s prompting. I am so thankful for the solid truth in scripture. The “no boundaries” approach of progressive Christianity brought only confusion and unrest for me; not freedom.

I wish more people could have honest and respectful conversations such as these 2 men. This was refreshing. Thanks for posting!

I just want to give Colby a big hug after watching this. I was a progressive for 20 years and by the grace of God he brought me back to a historic Christian faith 2 years ago. 20 years of self idolatry and making God into an image I deemed worthy in regards to the worlds ever changing standards. It was exhausting and I have so much peace now that I’m back home. Praying that whatever you are seeking Colby - which ultimately is THE truth- you will find it. Good work Sean- always appreciate your approach and respect to those you may not agree with 👊🏾

Colby, THE LORD, taught us , "the way is narrow ...

This is what it looks like to dialogue with someone that you disagree with, with grace - Great stuff Sean

Confusion is of the enemy. Pray for those who are deceived 🙏🏼 “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭14:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Thank you for this! I appreciate you Colby for coming on with Sean to discuss your ideas and beliefs. Thank you Sean for modeling what it looks like to have a respectful conversation with someone who does not agree with you. We need more of this! ❤️

I am truly grateful for Mr. Martin being willing to come on here and speak! Mr. Martin, you said yourself that you miss the personal connection you had with God before you became progressive . . . that speaks volumes brother! Mr. McDowell wasn't just saying nice things, he was really speaking truth and I believe in my heart you heard it and were grabbed by it . . . let Jesus be your personal savior, Lord and friend again! You won't regret it.

Colby struggles answering simple questions with simple answers. That alone is a big sign

My heart hurts for Colby. He wants to hold on to Jesus... but he is trying to hold on to the wrong Jesus. He’s clearly been hurt by people but still wants to hold on to his identity as a “Christian”. He is in this place of confusion and murkiness because he stumbles on his own idea of who God should be rather than believing Who God reveals Himself to be in both the OT and NT. He is trying to God in a box in a way that his mind and emotions can process. Pray for him. So appreciate how Sean navigated this interview with so much grace and reason.

I think what sums it up for me in this video is that Colby couldn’t confidently affirm the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ

I really enjoyed this open and honest conversation. Good to see two people actually listening to each other and being respectful.

As I watch Colby speak, his words and delivery come from his heart purely. He feels tons.

Thank you for this, Sean. This is a masterful example of how to dialogue with someone you disagree with.

It's not the "data between our ears" it's the condition of our hearts ♥ that God is concerned with.

Colby has abandoned scripture and is just leaning on what he thinks.

This is why it's important we read our bibles brothers and sisters so we cannot be misled and test the spirits, but as Sean fantastically demonstrated we must listen with patience and grace. This means more than winning any intellectual argument with someone or showing how much you know theology. Most testimonies I've listened to when they've come to Christ is because of a particular Christians actions rather than their words. We should all pray for Colby that he finds his trust in Jesus again.

I love both of these men. I see hurt and confusion in Colbys heart and eyes. I pray he continues his journey and doesn't give up on the true living Jesus . Truth does exist.

I am grateful to Sean McDowell for the invite of Colby Martin. Appreciate it. I lean in between liberal and Conservative Christianity so I love a balanced conversation that takes into consideration all points of view as I explore my relationship with Christ. In other words I love an honest conversation.

This is heartbreaking. Bart Compolo nailed it when he said progressive Christians are one step away from secular humanism.

Thank you, Sean, for talking to Colby. I honestly had never heard of him up until this video. I appreciated your conversation with him. I personally like how honestly open he is, yes it takes him a while to get an answer out but he's using wisdom to discern what the Gospel means to him. A lot of critics here I feel want the simple cut and dry, bumper sticker answers when we should allow room for grace.

THANK YOU for having this conversation. It is sorely needed these days!!

Sean, your questions are excellent!

Great interview & discussion, Sean. You always show such respect for your guests & yet stand firm in your beliefs, which honors Christ. You always end with an open invitation for your guests to return & continue the dialogue. Looking forward for more conversations with Colby Martin & you. Blessings.

Tremendous dialogue brother. It takes a great faith in God's sovereignty to have a graceful conversation like this ♡

Jesus himself said the wheat and the tares would grow together. I pray that colby becomes a true wheat and only by Jesus can this happen. Salvation belongs to the Lord🙏🏼✝️

Sean, your clarity explaining the truth is phenomenal! ✝️ My faith was built up just listening to you!✝️

I'm really thankful for this conversation. So often in this digital world we talk past each other rather than talking to each other. Dialogue and relationship are so important so that we can remember the humanity we share rather than just the arguments we differ on. I watched it with my kids because I desire to have the same attitude toward their questions and doubts as your dad did toward yours, Sean, and I want them to feel free and safe to express those things. It's not always easy.

This was a good conversation. I greatly appreciate the respect and genuine communication these two gentlemen displayed. This is what dialectic looks like!

You're doing amazing work, Sean. Keep it up. You're an extremely underrated apologist. Much of us greatly appreciate your work :)

I enjoyed this soooo much! Please make a part 2! I think there is so much more to cover and it's really interesting and helpful to listen to both sides :)

It's the "answers" as Colby says, that is the issue. It's not so much that the answers are wrong, but more so that people just don't like them. The message of Christ is offensive

I most say, I love the fact that the two of you can sit down and talk about these issues. Even more how you are doing it. I am learning so much, both from your differences of opinion as wall as about the conduct in which you are engaging. Thank you both.

Sean, you are such a great example of being so gracious and accommodating. You listened to him with your heart, you did not judge, you were extremely forbearing. I kept saying to myself all through this, "I sure need to work on these qualities!" I do! I want to be a safe person, one with whom others can be safe to share without being judged. Thank you for modeling this, it gives me hope! 🙂

It must be hard and confusing being a progressive. Sean great questions. May The Lord bless the progressives and open their eyes, so that they can see the beauty of The Word of God even when we don't understand everything in it! The Wrath of God is JUST! Thank you guys God bless u both!!

Thank you both ! Sean, I appreciate your ministry.

Sean, I loved this interview. I have some friends walking through these same questions and you’re an incredible help with showing how to lovingly approach those conversations. Would love to see a part 2 someday.

Colby I respect your honesty in expressing your thoughts and ideas. I’m thinking the point of this is not to be happy or unhappy with your answers but to better understand your point of view. I appreciate your humility to express your thoughts with people that may not interpret Christianity in the same way. I value this honest dialogue between the two of you. I am so appreciative that Sean did this video. It is enlightening for all by the sharing of your ideas and beliefs. Much respect for the two of you to discover and ask questions distinctions between your basic beliefs.

Thanks Sean for being so kind and respectful but still bringing truth to this much needed conversation 🙏

Highly appreciate this open conversation!!! May the name of our Lord Jesus continue prevailing!!! I’m thankful for this man to be brought to my attention so that I can pray for him.

Thank you for the civil conversation. It was great for Colby to say yes and to join the discussion. It has really shown some real distinctions between the view of Scripture, the person of Christ, and whether or not we have a need for a Savior. We can all pray for our nation, and the leaders in our churches, and our government. Wow.

There's nothing wrong with not having the exact right answer nor is there anything wrong with not understanding the Bible fully but there is an enormous amount of wrong when that person that confesses their ignorance of Scriprure and their unclear interpretation of its teachings becomes the leader of a church. If you're unsure what you believe then you should probably be a part of the flock and not try and be a shepherd.

This is a wonderful interview. Thank you Sean for asking such wonderful questions and being a great example of Christ for us all!

Returning to an abusive spouse is a good analogy. The spiritual abuse that is real needs to be acknowledge in today’s church and Christian communities. It’s a huge issue in need of repentance. Christians who are shaken up about the “church” never being the same need to realize, this . is . Why!!!

Such a great conversation! So beautiful to see two people discussing serious topics so respectfully and intelligently - thank you so much!

Sean, you are such an example of patience and kindness. You listen without interrupting. Your example is something I can take with me in all conversations, even those not relating to theological topics. This was such a good video. Colby was great too.

So well done. I had no fear in my stomach. That never happens for me when I listen to people who disagree.

I really enjoyed listening to this discussion. I probably will listen to it again in order to better understand some of Colby's views. I went through my own "questioning of God" in my life and I went in some dark areas in my life. I am very thankful that my father always thought me that God is big enough for my questions and doubts. Now I am very much an evangelical Christian and do not agree with Colby's views I really appreciate his opinions and his willingness to have this discussion knowing that many would not agree with him. We need more of these cordial conversations where we can have respectful conversations. Thank you both for this interview.

Clarity comes in glimpses sometimes. I appreciate both of you having this conversation.

Thanks to both of you for having this conversation. It certainly opened my eyes to the different kinds of people around me.

Both genuinely great to listen to , enjoyed the open and honest discussion. 👌

I needed this tonight. Sean, your conversation with Colby was a kinder version of the conversations I have in my head almost constantly, from both perspectives almost equally. I need to hear these conversations from other Christ-followers, other members of the body and bride of Christ, outside my own head. You're both great minds. Keep it up.

I reeeeally appreciate this video! Thank you both for so beautifully representing your views so that things are clear.

Echo Sean: Thank you Colby for your openness and willingness to engage in the conversation. I think this was a respectful conversation about trying to understand the perspective.

Thank you both so much for this conversation!

I think when we take our eyes off of Jesus and look more unto the world, it can greatly affect our walk with God! People will disappoint, hurt, and may destroy...BUT our precious Lord and Savior is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Keep your eyes on Him, and Him only!

Sean McDowell, you are truly a special person. These shows and conversations have become a great help to me as I come back to the LORD, repent, and find grace in the cross and the word of GOD. You ask great questions of experts on relevant topics facing the Church. Often involving battle zone topics and the modern assault on the Church, on the Faith. You have gift. God bless you, you seem to have been given some special wisdom and love on top of all your hard work snd great learning. Love and widom....on top of great learning...generosity to share all of it.....courage to face the most difficult topics with people of opposing views....I don't know Sean, what would you say to a man like that? God bless you kiddo, much love and admiration.

Huge kudos to both of you-- I'm sure this was not an easy conversation for either of you to navigate, and you did it beautifully.

The difficulty with Colby is that he answers everything with "for me" . I can't just place my whole faith on someone's " "for me".

Great conversation Sean. I hope you do commentary soon.

Great conversation. Thanks Sean for how you handled this and how you magnified our Christian beliefs/truths. Kudos to Colby Martin for his openness to expound on what he believes. Bravo to both for showing we can have healthy conversation even if we differ on Major Issues.

Thank you Sean - this helps so much. You are gifted in the way you ask questions.

Colby is right about belonging. How can a believer grow in an environment of "it's my way or the highway "? I've experienced some of what Colby went through but I'm not a progressive. I ask God for help in loving others, I let go of things that are less important, and trust that God will work things out on HIS timing. I think Sean was a good example of being gentle. Thanks!

I’d like to see more conversations like these important ones. My concern for Colby is that he seems to have a hard time accepting that the Creator does not look like us and it appears to me he is trying to construct one that looks far to human to be God.

I needed this. Thank you so much, Colby and Sean!!!

Thank you both for this conversation!

Thank you for having a differing voice on in such a respectful way. As an ex-Evangelical but still Christian, I really appreciate this.

You cannot genuinely be saved if you are questioning the validity of Jesus Resurrection. It's literally a requirement for salvation.

Oh Jesus please give me the grace and love Shawn has....the patience kindness and goodness I now clearly see I am impatient and intolerable because it hurts ME when people seem to hurt YOU with their hearts and tongues...but YOU LORD dnt need MY sympathy ... I need more of YOU!!! AMEN AND AMEN!!!

If Jesus "didn't care about life after death" as Colby says, then why did Jesus bother dying on the cross for our sins!??

I appreciate this conversation and Colby’s honesty with being unsure and confused on much of his beliefs. It sounds like he’s trying to figure it out. The area that confuses me is why he still attaches himself to Christianity. There is very little of what he said that could be considered Christian. He could just start his own religion? Maybe call it something else and just take Christianity out of it. One of the most beautiful aspects of Christianity is that it is unchanging like God is. Colby is teaching people of thoughts he’s trying to flush out himself. Perhaps he could take a few years off social media and figure things out before public teaching?

I am disturbed in my spirit that the term “Christian” is applied to broadly to cover those that are very unchristian. Being in a EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP with our God is very different from a religion!

Great to be able to join from South Africa! Appreciate your ministry. 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Thank you Colby! Appreciate your clarity and manner.

I appreciated Colby coming on knowing the potential questioning by evangelicals. I loved this open conversation. I would say, particularly at points, I felt Colby’s resentment of Evangelical beliefs. I’m not saying he doesn’t have reasons for that, I’m just saying I can sense it. I’ve been hurt in my own church family, and I can see where that protectiveness, that guardedness, comes from. What I realized is that people are going to fail us because they’re just people. God is the one we put our faith and hope in. I pray for the absolute best for Colby. Sean, you do a great job asking, and deciphering, the questions. I also would agree that evangelicals have been too cut and dry when people have any doubts which makes it difficult to be able to go to our leaders and voice those questions.

Great job, Sean! I appreciate your willingness to engage others who differ in their beliefs. I wish my progressive Christian friends understood the wisdom of the old saying, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." 2 Thess. 2:10, "... because they refused to love the truth."

Sean, I loved this type of discussion! A conversation with an atheist or agnostic would be so interesting as well!

Wow I am halfway through this.. and it’s very enlightening. I did not have understand these two types til now.

For me personally progressive Christianity comes off as patronizing. As a woman, who is mixed, grew up dirt poor, daughter of an immigrant, the qualification of my “pain” being assigned more meaning than a straight, white male resounds as hollow and superficial. The world has and always has been filled with evil and pain regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality. I don’t need someone to qualify my pain. Interesting enough the pervasiveness of progressive theology that I can look back on a recognize at churches I attended throughout life is what almost drove me from church.

This is amazing. So respectful and enlightening.

Thank you for this great civil conversation. :)

Great watch and listen. I truly appreciate Sean's non judgmental way and also Colby being honest at where he's at. As the son of missionary parents brought up heavily in a very conservative theology which sadly was more hinged on the condemning side then the forgiving side I spent the vast majority of my life struggling hard with my faith in God and this left many doors of attack for the forces of evil to lay waste to what God had intended not to be so. We can all quote scriptures and throw stones but whats hard is to put them down and see truthfully that its all Gods grace and pray for others to be impacted by that grace. The same prison God allowed me to enter on trafficking charges was the same prison I got to share my love of Jesus to others in. Its been an up and down battle which keeps getting stronger in my faith to and with him personally. Before you reflect on others...make sure you're reflecting honestly on yourself and then ask am I being a reflection of Jesus Christ. Colby and Sean both need our love and prayers as we all do and may we all search our selves daily to flush out the poisons that continually creep into out temples. Just a sinner saved by grace. Thanks for you both sharing. Alot of the so called bride of Christ would do well to go to an AA meeting to learn the definition of sympathy and empathy and compassion. To do a honest step four daily before speaking as James says the toungue what great fires it sets ablaze. Theres a program out there called Celebrate Recovery that I highly suggest and I enjoy. Keep in mind the ones Jesus took greatest issue with was those that thought they had all the answers and pointed out those that weren't quite up to there standards. And yes I firmly beleive that Jesus was God's unique divine son that he lay down his life for me not just on the cross but for all of it and rose literally from the dead and is in God's presence on high and one day after my life here is done ill see him face to face...I dont beleive ill ever see God face to face however as the omniscient spiritual being he is not will I ever see the Holy Spirit face to face as both are entities without physical bodies as scripture is abundantly clear. The sermon on the mount needs to be preached alot more in the church for us to reflect on...not what length of hair a woman needs to have or whether the person sitting beside you in church has a gossiping tongue or is gay...which does scripture say is worse? Keep your stones where they need be and may we all in some small way be just a little more like Christ each day. Love to you all.

This was truly painful to watch, I can see the anguish Colby is going through. It makes me so sad that he can't seem to have any certainty about God, Jesus, the Bible, or really anything.

I find it interesting how people respond to pain/suffering and hurt in different ways.

I think this is a very good conversation, and the 'for me' from Colby was somthing I think is very good, he speaks for himself and his own beliefs.

I was hugely impressed by Sean's questions and responses. I have been having these same questions regarding progressive views, since several of my family members are progressives. I also appreciated Colby's honest and humble answers. If we could have more of these dialogues as believers, that would be helpful.

Colby Martin if you preaching ,you are to preach the Gospel.if you do not understand a chapter in the bible,reread til you understand ,not to question.

I can sense deep heartbreak in this man. His face shows distrust, and I’m so sad he’s decided to turn into progressivism to find his “belonging”. I hope more dialogues like this change his mind and the minds of people who have bought progressivism “hook line and sinker”, as he put it...because they are selling something. And he’s bought it. Sean, you’re showing such grace and love toward him. So good. For all the talk of love in the progressive theology, you’re actually showing biblical love from the heart of Christ.

Loving it so far. A real conversation.

good conversation Sean, you are a good interviewer! May God bless you

We have a huge battle in engaging the world with our historical faith.

Hey Sean, thanks for modeling what it looks like to have a civil conversation, especially with someone we disagree with. I found it very challenging when Colby spoke because while his beliefs seem to be under the Christian umbrella, when he explained them I hard a real hard time grasping that his beliefs are Christian. I ask God we can all continue to learn how to hold conversations to seek to better understand people and love them as God loves them, and also hope we can receive God’s love through the people in our lives who love us too.

Sean, keep up the good work. You have a very important ministry that comes across well in these videos.

Would love to see more conversations like this! Appreciate the willingness of both of you to discuss and it was refreshing that the goal was more to clarify beliefs than to debate. I hold mostly orthodox Christian views but I can understand many of the critiques progressives have of evangelicalism, particularly failures in how the church has approached race, sexuality, and doubt. I have a relative who now considers herself an exvangelical and progressive. We've had many conversations since she deconstructed a few years ago and one of the frustrations she's expressed is that evangelicals don't seem to understand progressive beliefs. I get her frustration. Almost all the articles, podcasts, and videos I've seen from evangelicals addressing progressive Christianity have lacked input and firsthand accounts from progressives. I know I wouldn't want progressives to only rely on assumptions or information from exvangelicals when seeking to understand evangelicals. Or to take only bad examples such as disgraced leaders and make them the whole. If we want any chance of having fruitful discussions with those who have deconstructed, we must at least have an accurate understanding of their beliefs and be able to articulate them in a way they see as fair and complete. I think learning about progressive Christianity from progressives themselves would surely help prevent misunderstandings and open the door for more conversation.

A great discussion. I disagree with Colby, but a great conversation. Thank you Sean for being willing to have an open door.

On the question of life after death and a real hell Colby says “Jesus cared about life before death”. And there it is. The new gospel is decisively about improving this life and not eternal life. Oh Lord please preserve Your Gospel which saves souls for eternity AND fills us with Your Spirit which causes us to love others, have mercy, and results in us feeding, clothing and loving others this side of heaven.

Thank you for having this conversation Sean. It really helped me to have a deeper understanding of what Progressive Christians believe. Unfortunately, if I never hear the word affirm again, it will be too soon. Lol

Colby, I appreciate your genuine character and personality. You seem like a genuinely nice person. I liked the push back and clarifying rather than just nodding your head and not wanting to stand out as different. Sean didn't have to pull it out of you as if you were afraid or embarrassed to express it. Lots of courage and maturity man! "The word is on the page. Say It! and we're stuck listening to!" Hilarious!!! (Not to mention begrudged listening.) I played that like several times! Despite not fully being able to thoroughly explain all your views, you did a great enough job at being enlightening--so many ways of seeing things that many evangelicals have never thought of. The only question that I would have liked to have asked, but i wasn't here, was: "Is there a point at which a person is not a Christian?" I know you are not a gatekeeper, but I would have liked to hear what you'd have to say.