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 Still Relevant Today October 19, 2008
J. Gresham Machen's Christianity and Liberalism is rightly labeled "a classic." Though the book was first published in 1923, its relevance has kept it in print for more than 80 years now. The upcoming challenges to evangelicalism virtually ensure that the book will continue to see popularity well into the next few decades.
Machen breaks ground in Christianity and Liberalism by showing how the liberal, watered-down form of Christianity is actually another religion masquerading under the Christian label. One only needs to read a pluralist like John Hick today - a man who claims to be Christian and yet denies all of the major tenets of traditonal Christianity - to see that most of what Machen warns about is in fact true.
Many terrific reviews of this landmark work have been written before. I will not summarize and critique the book in this space. Instead, I will offer a couple of Machen's points that bear repeating.
Machen reminds us that Christianity is dependent upon history. Our faith does not rest in subjective feelings, important though they may be. We trust in a Savior who was raised bodily from the dead in history.
Machen decries the pulpiteers who preach to "felt needs," though he does not use this terminology. Machen's desire is for bold proclamation that strikes at the heart of our sin problem and then offers us the solution found only in the cross of Christ. In some ways, it seems his critique of preaching is more relevant today in evangelicalism than it was in the early part of the 20th century.
Christianity and Liberalism deserves a place on every thinking Christian's shelf.
Must have for serious Christians March 21, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is an amazing book that precisely outlines the basis of attacks that liberalism makes on Christianity, including the most subtle. Insightful and no holds barred!
A Lucid Explanation of the Difference Between True Christianity and Liberalism September 27, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
J. Gresham Machen's main burden in his book, Christianity and Liberalism, is to make a clear distinction between true Christianity and what had, by that time, been termed as liberalism. It was primarily within the context of the unparalleled advances in industry, technology, and science of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that liberalism began to take form. Contrary to what some may believe today, liberalism did not begin as a bold-faced attempt to undermine Biblical Christianity; rather, it grew out of a growing need to address serious questions confronting Christianity at a time of such cultural upheaval and change: "What is the relation between Christianity and modern culture; may Christianity be maintained in a scientific age (6)?"
Unfortunately, however, liberalism, in its attempt to `rescue' the truths of Christianity in an age where the historical and scientific accounts in Scripture where being heavily questioned and disregarded, actually began to abandon those tenets of the faith that appeared to be in contradiction with modern science. Thus, liberal teachers sought to "rescue certain of the general principles of religion, of which these particularities are thought to be mere temporary symbols, and these general principles he regards as constituting the `essence of Christianity'"(6). For example, if a bodily resurrection seemed incongruous with a modern understanding of science, then liberalism attempted to demonstrate that such teaching in Scripture, though perhaps not historically true, was symbolic of Christ's permanent influence or a "mere spiritual existence of Jesus beyond the grave" (108). As a result, Christianity could maintain its credence within the modern age, while at the same time preserving its religious form.
Consequently, liberalism inserted new content into Christian language and in their endeavor to make Christianity more believable, actually turned away from the historic Christian faith. As such, liberalism, in Machen's mind, cannot be considered merely another denomination of Christianity, or even a weakened system of Christianity, but rather a whole other religion, altogether separate from Christianity.
The need for a lucid demarcation between Biblical Christianity and liberalism is especially important because, as we have already observed, and as Machen substantiates throughout the rest of the book, liberalism makes use of traditional Christian language, yet the content of that language is vastly different than that of historic Christianity. Throughout the main body of the text, Machen deals with seven areas where liberalism has departed from historic Christianity: doctrine and its attendant importance in the life of God's people, God, man, the Bible, Christ, salvation, and the Church. In each section, he examines the subject matter by first accurately presenting the liberal position, and then by contrasting this teaching over against the historic Biblical position.
This is a well-reasoned and powerful treatment of the differences between Christianity and Liberalism. And despite its age, this is a much needed book today. Some questions that we might ask are: is this kind of linguistic slight-of-hand occurring today? Where and in what form? Are there movements today that are, out of good intention, endeavoring to contextualize the gospel, yet are abandoning the faith that they are seeking to proclaim. How can we expose this? And when we do find fault, are we laboring to present the opposing views honestly and accurately so that Christ will not be discredited by our devious proliferation of the truth? I believe this book will help us correctly answer these inquires.
 Same problems - 80 years on May 12, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Very readable and rather amazing that it wasn't written in the past 5 - 10 years. Obviously liberalism and Christianity have been at loggerheads for decades. I think the insight that I appreciate the most is the emphasis on honestly defining ones theological framework and terms. If you are redefining Christian theology, don't call yourself "Christian"; rather demonstrate enough integrity to call yourself something else. Just because you disagree with the major tenants of Christian doctrine doesn't mean you're any brighter or more insightful, necessarily, but it does mean you should call yourself something other than Christian.
Historical church struggles April 11, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Throughout church histroy men have struggled to protect truth. This book is an excellent study of one man's battle to stay true to his fatih. It serves as a reminder to us of how truth is often lost one small step at a time.
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