Liberalism: what's that?

I made a comment on facebook that I identify as a liberal. A non-Ethiopian (or rather more distantly removed Ethiopian because we are all from the Horn of Africa) lover of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido faith facebook-friend of mine ,who I am sure was baffled by my comment (given my faith tradition and the proclivity of progressivism, which is commonly mislabeled liberalism, to be aligned with secular humanism or outright negative atheism), asked if he may ask why. I value directness, forthrightness, and plainspokenness.

His question was rewarded with a swift, terse, and blunt answer.

You may indeed ask. "the truth has nothing to fear from investigation" is the motto of my alma mater and I hold on to this motto dearly. 

I am what is called a Classical Liberal, but I think the prefix classical should be jettisoned because the only definitional and etymological sense-making usage of the word liberal is in reference to classical liberalism and you could also say that I support voluntary and consensual governance over compulsory, coercive and rapey governance. 

But, most people don't get that... so i go back-and-forth on whether to use the word classic. Liberalism supports the community by standing with the afflicted individual over the oppressive State apparatus - which is always to be viewed with healthy skepticism, is safest when non-existant and is 2nd safest when bound by heavy chains (a constitution with strictly enumerated and respected authority). Liberalism is what I am convinced the Holy Bible preaches and teaches. 

Huge themes of the Bible are anti-institutionalism from within the institution, shepherdism, and an eternal critique of human power over and behavior toward the neighbor.

Furthermore, we must love each other.

tewahidobiblestudy.com

Post Scriptum:

See Fr. Paul Nadim Tarazi, The Rise of Scripture, to learn about shepherdism. Did I say see? Instead, hear with ears that hear, unlike the statues of gods and goddesses that have ears that don't hear, and like God's ability to hear even without an ear. Be functional. Be of the Spirit.