The Story of J. Gress and Macheons

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Peter Macheons was a professor at Princeton Seminary and ordained in the Presbyterian Church, later called the PCUSA. In 1923 he published Christianity and liberalism as his first foray into the topic. The General Assembly passed what became known as the Auburn Affirmation shortly after that book's publication. It meant all theological viewpoints of the denomination would be welcomed on the seminary board.

Losing is never fun. And it’s even less fun when the New York Times is paying attention. But by 1929 that’s what had happened. J. Gresham Machen had lost the fight against liberalism at Princeton seminary. Even after reading Machen’s warning in Christianity and Liberalism, the Presbyterian church voted to reorganize Princeton to allow liberal theology on faculty.

That would’ve been the perfect time to pack it in. But for Machen the fight had never been about Princeton. True Christian doctrine could never belong to a single organization, no matter how influential. So Machen did what any God fearing independently wealthy bachelor would do. He quit, poached Princeton’s best faculty, and started his own seminary.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: TE3MR2SOLBRPRFDR MWQUIJMABYWNGWYE