THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIAN FEMALE INFLUENCERS: A BIBLICAL RESPONSE TO PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY By Alicia W. Garcia A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements of the Degree Doctor of Worship Studies Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA May 12, 2020 THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIAN FEMALE INFLUENCERS: A BIBLICAL RESPONSE TO PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY By Alicia W. Garcia A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements of the Degree Doctor of Worship Studies Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA May 13, 2020 APPROVED BY: Dr. Paul Rumrill, Advisor ____________________________ Dr. Mindy Damon, Reader ____________________________ ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................1 Abstract ...........................................................................................................................2 List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................3 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................4 Background ..........................................................................................................4 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................6 Problem Statement ..............................................................................................9 Purpose Statement ...............................................................................................9 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................10 Research Questions .............................................................................................11 Hypotheses ..........................................................................................................11 Core Concepts ......................................................................................................12 Definition of Terms .............................................................................................12 Chapter Summary ...............................................................................................15 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ..................................................16 Taxonomy ...........................................................................................................16 Section I: The Authority of Scripture .................................................................17 Section II: Biblical and Historical Foundations of Worship ...............................27 Section III: Progressive Christianity and Liberal Philosophy .............................31 Section IV: Statistical Data and Biblical Worldview .........................................36 Section V: Evangelism and Public Leadership ...................................................38 Section VI: Spiritual Formation and Worship ....................................................41 Section VII: Christian Apologetics .....................................................................43 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ...................................................................................45 Introduction .........................................................................................................45 Design .................................................................................................................46 Questions and Hypotheses ..................................................................................46 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH FINDINGS ................................................................47 Introduction .........................................................................................................47 Biblical Implication of True Worship .................................................................50 Section I: Biblical and Hermeneutical Implications of Worship and Spiritual Formation ....................................................................................................51 The Commission of Christ ..........................................................................51 Regeneration ...............................................................................................53 Exclusivity of Jesus Christ in Salvation ......................................................62 Authority of Scripture .................................................................................66 Evangelism ..................................................................................................77 Methodological Systems and Hermeneutical Practices ..............................80 iii Section II: Philosophical Implications of Progressive Christianity and Contemporary Cultural Influences .....................................................................................................85 Ideology of Relativism .................................................................................85 Ideology of Pluralism ...................................................................................96 Ideology of Cultural Tolerance ....................................................................101 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION ...............................................................................120 Summary of Study ...............................................................................................120 Summary of Purpose ...........................................................................................120 Summary of Procedure ........................................................................................120 Summary of Findings and Prior Research ..........................................................121 Limitations ..........................................................................................................121 Recommendations for Future Study ...................................................................122 Conclusion Summary ...........................................................................................123 Recommendations for Christian Female Influencers ..........................................123 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................127 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my thesis advisor, Dr. Paul Rumrill for the countless hours of guiding the thesis from beginning to end. You kept the journey enjoyable and exciting, and helped me bring it to a joyous completion. I am forever grateful. I would like to pay special regards to Dr. Mindy Damon, thesis mentor, and designated reader of this project. Dr. Damon and her staff in the WRSP 880 portion of the thesis helped me develop a strong abstract, research questions and hypotheses that held true throughout the research. I wish to show my gratitude to Dr. Vernon M. Whaley for believing in me and my calling to the ministry of worship. Thank you for inviting me to teach at Liberty University and encouraging me to achieve both the Master and Doctorate in Worship Studies. I wish to thank the office staff in the School of Music at Liberty University. Your professionalism provided invaluable assistance during my study. I am indebted to my beloved husband, Richard Garcia, and my sons, Michael and David Garcia. You sacrificed the most when I had to study, write, and be away from you. Thank you for your patience, understanding hearts, and deep-seated love. It is with whole-hearted appreciation that I acknowledge Kay Arthur and the leaders at Precept Ministries International. Your leadership over the past twenty-five years in inductive Bible methodology served as a rock of assurance as I worked for biblical accuracy within this research. I would like to recognize the ladies who allow me to teach the Scriptures to them. You were the poof that my hypotheses were accurate because I have celebrated His work in your lives as we have come to the knowledge of the truth. Thank you for the invaluable assistance that you all provided during my study.” I wish to express deep regards to the three ladies I pray with weekly. Your prayers and friendship were monumental towards the success of this study. I would like to acknowledge and thank every sponsor of events where I have been invited to speak and lead worship. Your trust in me served as a constant reminder that I am doing exactly what God has called me to do. I am looking forward to future events when I can share this research with you on a more personal level. Because of you, the hypotheses in this thesis have been proven time and time again. I write this thesis in honor of you and your worshipful response to the core concepts of this scholarly documents. And to the highest authority in heaven and on earth, Jesus Christ, the risen Messiah, my highest gratitude and deepest worship. Without You, I can do nothing, but in Your strength, I can do all things. Thank You for the help of Your abiding presence in the making of this report. Through this research, may You be glorified, and Your kingdom increased. 1 ABSTRACT Many Christian female influencers have large followings of Christian women, although many influential Bible study authors, teachers, motivational speakers, musicians, worship leaders, social media, and online influencers may not be instructing Christian women in the core beliefs of Christianity. As a result,