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Christianity and Liberalism (Paperback)

by J. Gresham Machen (Author) "The purpose of this book is not to decide the religious issue of the present day, but merely to present the issue as sharply and..." (more)
Key Phrases: liberal preacher, supernatural person, universal fatherhood, New Testament, Jesus Himself, Jerusalem Church (more...)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Machen's classic defense of orthodox Christianity establishes the importance of scripural doctrine and contrasts the teachings of liberalism and orthodoxy on God and man, the Bbible, Christ, salvation, and the church. Though originally published nearly seventy years ago, the book maintains its relevance today.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 195 pages
  • Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 1923)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0802811213
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802811219
  • Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,953 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #26 in  Books > Nonfiction > Government > Constitutions
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
The purpose of this book is not to decide the religious issue of the present day, but merely to present the issue as sharply and clearly as possible, in order that the reader may be aided in deciding it for himself. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
liberal preacher, supernatural person, universal fatherhood, modern liberalism, redeeming work, plenary inspiration
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Jesus Himself, Jerusalem Church, Golden Rule, Old Testament, Holy Spirit, Kingdom of God, Christian Church, Jesus of Nazareth, Lord Jesus, Spirit of God, Presbyterian Church, Roman Catholic, Gospel of John, Pauline Epistles, Roman Empire, The Origin of Paul's Religion, Virgin Birth, Lord Himself, New York, Son of God, Synoptic Gospels, God's Spirit, Kingdom of Heaven, Lord's Supper
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26 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Vital Christian Classic, More Relevant By The Day, June 27, 2000
By Rod D. Martin (Valparaiso, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Few books have had as pivotal a role in the battle of ideas as J. Gresham
Machen's Christianity and Liberalism. Machen's classic was written in the
height of the battle for control over the Presbyterian Church USA (the most
prominent of the "mainline denominations"), and defines with brilliance the
battle lines between liberal (so-called) Christianity and the orthodox
faith. Moreover, it points out exactly what is at stake: the true faith, as
opposed to a perverse shadow of that faith, a shadow based on subjectivism
which elevates man's sovereignty over God's and ends in believing nothing at
all.

It is important to understand that the liberalism Machen castigates is not
political but theological (although many if not most of the liberals of the
latter camp fell also in the former, numerous prominent political liberals
-- such as three-time Democrat Presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan
-- fought alongside Machen). This theological liberalism manifests itself in
many ways, but is chiefly characterized by a rejection of Scripture as
infallibly inspired, a denial of the doctrines of the Fall and of Hell, and
a belief in man's evolutionary self-perfection (process theology, with
progress guided by an "enlightened" elite). Machen correctly asserts that
this is not merely a different approach to the Gospel, but is in fact a
different gospel: an exchange of God's sovereignty for man's, God's law-word
for man's, God's eternal, unchanging standards for man's evolving, situation
ethics. For this reason, Machen contends that liberalism and Christianity
are separate things: rival religions, permanently at war.

The one problem with this book (a fault which made good rhetorical sense at
the time, but which is somewhat misleading concerning the true nature of the
struggle) is Machen's choice of categories. Machen deals with theological
conservatives and liberals (legitimate in terms of the Bible's own dichotomy
between saved and lost), but misses the inescapable fact that there was a
third faction at work in the church (a fact which eventually resulted in his
defrocking). That third faction was the great mushy evanjellyfish middle, a
pietistic/mystical majority which was neither willing to accept the liberal
position nor fight for the conservative cause. As Machen had rightly pointed
out two years earlier in his address to incoming students at Princeton (and
again, much later, in the last two years of the struggle), these were the
Christians who said "'Peace, peace', when there was no peace", and elevated
that "peace" over truth. As in all other endeavors, "peace at any price"
resulted in defeat, and in the end, it was that great mushy middle which
delivered the PCUSA to the left (and over the cliff).

Even so, it is important to note when examining this struggle that the
conservatives largely threw the game away. I strongly recommend North's
Crossed Fingers, the only definitive history of this fight and a masterful
analysis of the tactics and mistakes of both sides.

Yet at the end of the day, 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.
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity & Liberalism: A Modern Classic, May 12, 1998
J. Gresham Machen's magnum opus, Christianity & Liberalism, is a book that everyone concerned about the demise of American Christianity should read. At first one might not find the title of his book all that striking, but in its day (1923), it had a little more punch. Machen was trying to show that Christianity and liberalism were two separate plans of salvation, two separate faiths--in short, two entirely different religious systems. In his day, it was thought that liberalism was a fresh new approach to Christianity, a way of practicing the faith in the modern context. But in Machen's thinking, however, liberalism had "relinquished everything distinctive of Christianity, so that what remains is in essentials only that same indefinite type of religious aspiration which was in the world before Christianity came upon the scene." Machen set out therefore to bring all the issues out into the open and make clear-cut distinctions between the two faiths: "What that message is can be made clear, as is the case with all definition, only by way of exclusion, by way of contrast." But this approach wasn't always well received:

"Presenting an issue sharply is indeed by no means a popular business at the present time....Clear-cut definition of terms in religious matters, bold facing of the logical implications of religious views, is by many persons regarded as an impious proceeding...But with such persons we cannot possibly bring ourselves to agree. Light may seem at times to be an impertinent intruder, but it is always beneficial in the end. The type of religion which rejoices in the pious sound of traditional phrases, regardless of their meanings, or shrinks from "controversial" matters, will never stand amid the shocks of life. In the sphere of religion, as in other spheres, the things about which men are agreed are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are the things about which men will fight."

Machen was an extremely clear writer! and thinker. His insight with regard to the battle of orthodox Christianity in the liberal context of the 20's is of tremendous relevance for modern Christians of all stripes concerned about the loss of substance, meaning, theology, etc, in the contemporary church. After reading Christianity & Liberalism, you'll definately want to order his other classic, What Is Faith (1925).

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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars 20th Century Prophet, December 1, 2000
By James D McClain (Miller, SD United States) - See all my reviews
If you are looking for a book to recommend for someone searching to make sense out of the malaise of the modern (or, post-modern) church, Machen's book is an excellent choice. As was pointed out in other reviews, Christian liberalism is not Christian at all, but is rather a non-Christian religion with Christian tags. Specifically, he highlights liberal beliefs regarding the major doctrines related to God, man, Christ, salvation, and the church. He then refutes these by demonstrating the orthodox Biblical view on each.

For those confused on the nature of faith and salvation, Machen, in chapter VI, makes one of the clearest presentations I have read anywhere. That alone is worth the purchase.

This book is very readable and a 20th century classic on the orthodox Protestant faith. Any basic library should stock it.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read on the Kindle
There are better reviews of this classic in other formats, so I'm not going to try to say all that has been said elsewhere. Read more
Published 29 days ago by David Podley

5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity (or Concervartism) and Liberalism
This was a magnificient read due to the author's scaple like dissection of beliefs on both sides.

It also pointed out that the words 'God,' 'Jesus,' and many others... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rutchmather

5.0 out of 5 stars Contrast the truth with the false
This book was a wonderful read! I quickly read this book over 4 days. I found this book so interesting because I have witnessed in the Southern Baptist Convention the battle... Read more
Published 5 months ago by In Process

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Relevant Today
J. Gresham Machen's Christianity and Liberalism is rightly labeled "a classic." Though the book was first published in 1923, its relevance has kept it in print for more than 80... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Trevin Wax

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for serious Christians
This is an amazing book that precisely outlines the basis of attacks that liberalism makes on Christianity, including the most subtle. Insightful and no holds barred!
Published 16 months ago by J. C. Islam

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lucid Explanation of the Difference Between True Christianity and Liberalism
J. Gresham Machen's main burden in his book, Christianity and Liberalism, is to make a clear distinction between true Christianity and what had, by that time, been termed as... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Derek Brown

4.0 out of 5 stars Same problems - 80 years on
Very readable and rather amazing that it wasn't written in the past 5 - 10 years. Obviously liberalism and Christianity have been at loggerheads for decades. Read more
Published on May 12, 2007 by AJ Roberts

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical church struggles
Throughout church histroy men have struggled to protect truth. This book is an excellent study of one man's battle to stay true to his fatih. Read more
Published on April 10, 2007 by Gary Correll

5.0 out of 5 stars More relevant now than a century ago
The message of this famous classic of the Christian faith is more desperately needed in the 21st century than it was in the early 20th century. Read more
Published on January 19, 2007 by B. C. Richards

5.0 out of 5 stars Liberalism & Theology
J. Gresham Machen clearly did not believe that theology must be changed or altered because of changes in society and/or scientific advancement. Read more
Published on April 15, 2006 by Philip S Roeda

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