Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Last updated on: September 17, 2011 at 10:20 pm by Fr. Charles Erlandson

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen 2011-09-17T22:20:25-05:00 Fr. Charles Erlandson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Clear Diagnosis of What Liberal Christianity Is

Even though J. Gresham Machen’s “Christianity and Liberalism” was first written in 1923, it’s still a relevant and important analysis of liberal Christianity. Machen writes with great clarity and as one who engaged with liberal Christianity (or “Liberalism”) in his own denomination (Presbyterian). In fact, he was one of the leading defenders of orthodox Christianity in the early 20th century. “Christianity and Liberalism” remains an excellent introduction to the crucial differences between orthodox Christianity and liberal Christianity. It’s a book I still recommend to readers.

In his Introduction, Machen diagnoses liberal Christianity as not an alternative form of Christianity but as a different religion than Christianity. By showing what Christianity is not, he desires to show in “Christianity and Liberalism” what Christianity is. In the remainder of the book Machen supports his thesis about the nature of liberal Christianity in 6 chapters.

In Chapter 2 on “Doctrine,” Machen addresses the fact that Christianity is a doctrine. This is in contrast to Liberalism which asserts that Christianity is a life but not a doctrine with certain required beliefs. Not so, says Machen, and he capably demonstrates his point from the Bible and the early Church. In Chapter 3 Machen deals with “God and Man.” Liberalism believes in a God without a moral quality and a God who is not truly transcendent. This in contrast to the orthodox and biblical view where there is a sharp distinction between God and man. The heart of Liberalism, Machen argues, is that there is no such thing as sin.

Machen continues to clearly differentiate Liberalism from Christianity in his remaining chapters. These deal with the Bible, Christ, Salvation, and the Church. In every case, Liberalism is found to have a different basis than Christianity. As you might expect, the Bible is not truly the Word of God in Liberalism, Christ is not truly God, and salvation is a light matter because sin does not really exist and man is basically good. Machen also offers some instructive observations about how Liberalism has, in the guise of orthodox Christianity, taken over seminaries and universities, a process that continues in the 21st century.

If you’ve ever wondered why Christianity can seem so vastly different, not only between denominations but even within denominations or how someone can claim to be a Christian without holding any of the historic and Bible bases for Christianity, “Christianity and Liberalism” will help you understand these issues. Regardless of your religious affiliation, “Christianity and Liberalism” makes clear to its readers the critical differences between two very different approaches to religion: Christianity and Liberalism.

Book Reviews

Christianity and Liberalism

Previous Post

September 17, 2011

A Place for Truth - edited by Dallas Willard

Next Post

September 17, 2011 Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Featured Give Us This Day Give Us This Day Devotional love me love my wife Love My Wife Reformed Catholicism Blog Spirit-Reality Take This Cup Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 September 2018 July 2018 March 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Hebrews say is living and active?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faith The church The word of God Prayer