Christianity and Liberalism: Christ

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