Christianity and Liberalism

First published in 1923, “Christianity and Liberalism” was one of the first — and, to many, still the best — critique of liberal Christianity from an orthodox Christian perspective. Written at the height of the battle for control over the Presbyterian Church USA, “Christianity and Liberalism” brilliantly defines — and definitively refutes — the theological liberalism that manifests itself chiefly in the rejection of Scripture as infallibly inspired, the denial of the doctrines of the Fall and of Hell, and the mistaken belief in man’s “evolutionary” self-perfection. Machen contrasts these errors with the basic foundational truths of Biblical Christianity on God, man, the Bible, Christ, Salvation, and the Church.

As Machen explains, the battle is not merely one between two varieties of the same religion, but between Christianity and an impostor — one that would exchange God’s sovereignty for man’s, and God’s eternal law for man’s evolving, “situation” ethics. For this reason, Machen contends, liberalism and Christianity are permanently at war. Machen also — prophetically – warns that as the Church departs from its supernatural mission, a spiritual void is created that is filled by the state, leading ultimately to a loss of individual liberty.

“Great and prophetic”

“You must read Machen. This book is vital for Christians defending their churches and denominations against increasing liberal encroachment, and indeed more so by the day. It is as groundbreaking as it is timeless.” —Rod D. Martin, Founder and Chairman of Vanguard PAC

“Great and prophetic. . . . [an] accurate depiction of liberal Protestantism as a different religion from biblical Christianity.” —World Magazine Blog

Tags: Christianity and Liberalism, Gresham Machen