White Horse Inn Compromise and Resistance: Theology's Battle with Liberalism in the 20th-Century
Nov 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, theologian Michael Horton shares insights on neo-orthodoxy and its clash with 20th-century liberalism. He examines how World War I reshaped theology, revealing the cracks in liberal optimism. The conversation explores key figures in the Black church and the complex responses to modernism, highlighting the distinct theological paths taken by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. Horton also discusses the legacy of Karl Barth and his impact on reformed thought, weaving together historical context and modern implications.
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Barth's Revolt Against Liberal Optimism
- Karl Barth redirected theology from subjective experience back to revelation and God's otherness.
- His Romerbrief emphasized divine judgment and grace over liberal optimism about progress.
Vertical Revelation Over Historical Progress
- Barth shifted from overemphasizing history to insisting revelation breaks into history vertically.
- This created a theology that prized crisis events of revelation over continuous historical development.
Barth's Late Discovery Of Calvin
- Barth confessed he had never studied Calvin's Institutes before taking a Reformed chair.
- Reading Calvin felt exotic and plunged him into the 'realm of the church.'
