Stephen Nichols, president of Reformation Bible College and host of 5 Minutes in Church History, delves into J. Gresham Machen's steadfast defense of biblical Christianity during the rise of liberalism. He discusses Machen’s mentorship relationship with Warfield and the founding of Westminster Theological Seminary in response to changing theological tides. Nichols also explores the lasting impact of Machen's advocacy for orthodoxy during contentious debates, revealing his profound commitment to faith amid the challenges of his time.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Machen's Wartime Revelation
J. Gresham Machen, a New Testament scholar, served in World War I.
He gained a deeper understanding of Romans 8 amidst the harsh realities of war.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Passing the Mantle
After the war, Machen returned to Princeton and was mentored by Benjamin Warfield.
Warfield's death in 1921 marked a turning point for Machen, passing the mantle of defending orthodoxy to him.
insights INSIGHT
Christianity vs. Liberalism
Machen's book, Christianity and Liberalism, challenged liberal Christianity.
He argued that liberalism isn't a version of Christianity, but a different religion altogether.
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In this book, Machen presents a robust defense of Christian orthodoxy and a strong critique of theological liberalism. He argues that liberalism, grounded in naturalism, rejects the supernatural elements of Christianity and reinterprets traditional doctrinal beliefs in metaphorical categories. Machen examines key doctrines such as the Bible, Christ, salvation, and the church, highlighting the antithetical nature of liberalism to historic Christianity. He emphasizes that liberalism is not merely a different interpretation of Christianity but a distinct and non-Christian system of thought[2][3][4].
As theological liberalism infiltrated the church, J. Gresham Machen emerged as an uncompromising defender of biblical Christianity. Today, Stephen Nichols considers how Machen pursued faithfulness to God’s Word amid controversy.
For your donation of any amount, request J. Gresham Machen’s classic book, Christianity and Liberalism. You’ll also receive Stephen Nichols’ teaching series on DVD, plus lifetime digital access to the messages and study guide: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3976/donate Live outside the U.S. and Canada? You can get Christianity and Liberalism as an ebook, plus lifetime digital access to the teaching series and study guide, for a donation of any amount: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Join us on May 15 for Renewing Your Mind Live, a free event in Katy, TX. Learn more and register: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/katy Gather with Christians around God’s Word at one of Ligonier’s other events: https://www.ligonier.org/events Meet Today’s Teacher: Stephen Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College, chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. He is host of the podcasts 5 Minutes in Church History and Open Book. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast.
Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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