“And what does one find? Alas, too often, one finds only the turmoil of the world. The preacher comes forward, not out of a secret place of meditation and power, not with the authority of God’s Word permeating his message, not with human wisdom pushed far into the background by the glory of the Cross, but with human opinions about the social problems of the hour or easy solutions of the vast problem of sin. Such is the sermon. And then perhaps the service is closed by one of those hymns breathing out the angry passions of 1861, which are to be found in the back part of the hymnals. Thus the warfare of the world has entered even into the house of God, And sad indeed is the heart of the man who has come seeking peace.” – J. Gresham Machen
What was the immediate result of J. Gresham Machen’s definitive stand against the modern, liberal movement in the church that prompted him to write Christianity and Liberalism? Was he lauded by his colleagues and the administration of Princeton? Did the Presbyterian Church USA praise him for his insightful and prophetic work? Unfortunately, no.
“Machen’s book was hated by theological liberals and scathed by them in reviews. Curiously enough, the intellectual moderns, such as Walter Lippmann and H.L. Mencken, respected the book and recognized the validity of Machen’s arguments. For fundamentalists, the book added steel to their spine as they continued the fight for the faith,’ explains Dr. Stephen J. Nichols.
What happened to Machen after his book? Providentially, Machen was scorned and rejected. Personally and professionally he lost much, but the Lord caused all these things he experienced to work together for good.
“In 1929, Princeton Theological Seminary reorganized the board and took a turn directly toward liberalism, effectively forcing Machen out. He crossed the Delaware River and opened Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia,” states Nichols.
“When Machen organized a new mission board because the denomination’s mission board had shifted the focus from gospel proclamation to social transformation, he was defrocked. In 1936, he led in the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.”
By the end of 1936, Machen was an exhausted man. He colleagues at Westminster urged him to take a well-earned rest. Machen, with no wife or other mentors, refused to do so. He traveled to North Dakota to speak at a church that was part of the fledging denomination. While there, Machen became ill and hospitalized with pneumonia. On January 1, 1937, Machen died.
His last written communication was to his Westminster colleague John Murray. Machen wrote, “I am so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.”
Why is it important for the evangelical church to remember the life and ministry of J. Gresham Machen? Why is Christianity and Liberalism as relevant today as it was when first published?
It is because the battle with the modernist, liberal movement within the church in the early part of the 20th century is the same battle being fought in the early part of the 21st century. The postmodern culture is presently seeking to persuade churches, and para-church ministries such as Christian colleges and theological seminaries, to strategically change and adapt their biblical vision and mission of ministry in order to remain culturally relevant and financially solvent. It is this spirit of fear of being out of touch with the times that ironically resulted, and will result, in evangelicalism losing its churches and academic institutions they misguidedly seek to keep. As Princeton Seminary and the Presbyterian Church USA died, so will other academic institutions, denominations and churches that follow this same path.
How may we fight this growing trend today? We must do what Machen did and what the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to do.
24 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26 ESV)
Secondly, instead of solely focusing on strategic planning, let’s resolve to strategically pray. Pray that the Lord will keep us faithful to His Word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Pray that evangelicals will not conform to this world and the culture (Romans 12:1-2). Pray that that we will not be weak and fearful, but rather be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:1-9). Finally, pray that we heed the example and wisdom of a valiant 20th century warrior who fulfilled the words of 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
“Is there no refuge from strife? Is there no place of refreshing where a man can prepare for the battle of life? Is there no place where two or three can gather in Jesus’ name, to forget for the moment all those things that divide nation from nation and race from race, to forget human pride, to forget the passions of war, to forget the puzzling problems of industrial strife, and to unite in overflowing gratitude at the foot of the Cross? If there be such a place, then that is the house of God and that the gate of heaven. And from under the threshold of that house will go forth a river that will revive the weary world.” – J. Gresham Machen
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 