QUESTION: Some of our brethren use words such as liberalism, conservatism, anti(ism), millennial, and premillennialism. What do these words mean?
ANSWER: These words often mean different things to different people, depending upon in which category they place themselves. For example, a person who believes he is a “liberal” will often refer to one who is “conservative” as an “anti,” while an “anti” will often refer to a “conservative” as a “liberal.” However, generally speaking, a “liberal” is one who ignores the authority of Scripture by loosening (undoing) those things that God has bound (enjoined) upon us. For example: they loosen (undo) God’s commands to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) by using instrumental music in worship instead of (or in addition to) vocal music. This amounts to changing the gospel of Christ, which is sinful (Galatians 1:6-9)! An “anti” is one who does the opposite, i.e., he binds (enjoins) things upon others which God has not bound (enjoined). For example: some of these demand the use of only one cup (the same cup) by everyone in the congregation when partaking of the fruit of the vine, while forbidding the use of multiple cups. This too, changes (perverts) the gospel that Paul preached!
The word “conservative”, as applied to an individual, describes one who “preserves established institutions and methods, and one who resists and opposes any changes to these” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). When the word “conservative” is used in this way it may scripturally apply to one who is walking in the light of God’s Word (I John 1:7), and one who earnestly contends for the established institutions and methods set forth therein, i.e., the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
The word “premillennialism” is defined as follows: “pre” means “before;” “millennial” means “a thousand years;” “ism” refers to a system of belief. This particular system of belief holds that Christ will return “before” the establishment of His Kingdom, over which He will physically and literally reign for “a thousand years.” Since the Kingdom was established on the first Pentecost Day after the death of Christ (Acts 2), this premillenial doctrine, therefore, is entirely false and has no foundation in the Word of God. Because it derives from the doctrines and commandments of men (Matthew 15:9), it must be totally rejected by the faithful child of God!