The Importance of Humility in the Church

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Many people talk about the imitation of Christ as something distinct from participation in Christ, right? As if he is this example who's out there far off, a standard that's perfect that I need to follow. Mason says, go ahead and try. You're not going to do it. And in fact, if he only presented himself as this example for you, then he's the most unworthy example because he claimed to be far more than that. He claimed to be the son of God who came to redeem you. We participate in his work, in his person, and thereby receive the strength that is necessary for us to be like him.

What’s in a name?

In the past, when Christians talked about Jesus, it was safe to assume we were talking about the son of God become man who conquered death to save the lost. You know, the person the Bible’s about.

But with the rise of liberal theology in the 19th and 20th centuries, that meaning began to change. At least for some people. Christ, liberal theologians said, might be better understood as an idea, a metaphor, or a good example, rather than the sinless supernatural savior who accomplished our redemption in the first century.

This was J. Gresham Machen’s line in the sand in 1923. If we don’t worship the same Christ, Machen said, we don’t have the same religion.

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: G80CW5LAONGBUAXB BYDTC3Y8K96ACYJ2