On the 100th anniversary of the publication of Christianity and Liberalism, we consider J. Gresham Machen’s critique of the liberal theological perspective on Jesus Christ, contrasting it with the traditional, orthodox Christian view. Machen argues that liberal theology often misrepresents Christ as a mere teacher of righteousness and neglects his divine aspects and teachings. He counters that Christ is not merely an example, but the very object of Christian faith. He also challenges liberal theologians’ struggle to reconcile Jesus’s sinlessness with their evolutionary worldview and argues against a deistic view of God, advocating instead for theism which allows for both God’s works of creation and providence. Machen discusses the issue of miracles in relation to Christian faith, asserting that one cannot selectively believe in parts of Christ’s life, such as dismissing the virgin birth. Ultimately, Machen invites the reader to believe upon Christ as portrayed in Scripture.
Chapters
- 00:07 Introduction
- 04:15 Reflecting on Machen and the Doctrine of Christ
- 10:47 Machen’s Writing Style
- 19:02 The Messianic Self-Consciousness
- 24:07 Modern Christologoy
- 32:16 Jesus Is Not a Mere Example but the Object of Faith
- 38:23 Miracles and the Supernatural Kingdom
- 44:41 Addressing Perennial Errors
- 48:40 Pastoral Considerations
- 56:34 Conclusion
Participants: Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger, Lane G. Tipton
Christ the Center focuses on Reformed Christian theology. In each episode a group of informed panelists discusses important issues in order to encourage critical thinking and a better understanding of Reformed doctrine with a view toward godly living. Browse more episodes from this program or subscribe to the podcast feed.
