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southern_librarian's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Ended up being much more approachable than I feared! It definitely helped to read this in a group this semester so that we could discuss and dig deeper. The Christian liberalism Machen addresses here, in 1920, is still super relevant today. I liked how the chapters were organized thematically; it was unusual amongst books that I typically read for the chapters to be completely unbroken and of varying lengths.
kpbrubaker's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Even though Christianity and Liberalism was written a century ago, J. Gresham Machen still has something to say today for Christians. He presents the stark contrast between Christianity and Liberalism of his day. The same could also be said if Liberalism’s heir Progressive Christianity. A must read for Christians.
sofer_mahir's review against another edition
4.0
It's unfortunately the case that even in conservative churches people are advocating more and more against "divisive doctrine." It's unfortunately the case that liberalism hasn't died out over the last hundred years, and that its adherents do still resort to dishonesty in order to gain positions in Christian schools and churches. It's unfortunately the case that the religion put forward by liberalism is completely devoid of hope, and it's leading people to eternal deaths. Machen's arguments are as important now as they were when he wrote them.
As far as the prose itself, Machen is very clear and untechnical. However, the book is, at times, meandering and repetitive. If I were his editor, I'd have shaved about fifty pages off the top. Chapters 1, 3, and 4, are exceptions to this trend.
As far as the prose itself, Machen is very clear and untechnical. However, the book is, at times, meandering and repetitive. If I were his editor, I'd have shaved about fifty pages off the top. Chapters 1, 3, and 4, are exceptions to this trend.
samluce's review against another edition
5.0
Such a good book. Written in 1923 still speaking to us in 2016. This is a must read especially if you are a Pastor.
notwithoutwitness's review against another edition
5.0
This little book has not lost it's punch! At 95 years old, J. Gresham Machen's Christianity and Liberalism remains as relevant today as it was in the mid-twenties.
Fuller review to follow...
Fuller review to follow...
fdes_817's review against another edition
2.0
A very reactionary piece against Protestant Liberalism. Protestant Liberalism has a lot to be brought to task for, but Machen presents an equally fallow conservatism. While many liberals were too quick and radical with their conclusions regarding scripture, they did produce significant challenges to how the church should understand scripture. Machen digs his heels in and produces an argument that lacks muster in our current era. Furthermore, he shares many presuppositions with his liberal counterparts that I think bog down his argument, disallowing him from truly articulating traditional faith. Also, though sadly this is not uncommon from writers of his era, his thinking privileges "Anglo-Saxons" and certainly shows racial insensitivity.
hoey's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved how Machen broke down the essence of the Christian faith, explains the core tenants of it, and shows how they are completely contradictory to this once new Christianity that liberals claim to profess. The book is broken up into seven chapters, each highlighting the differences between Christianity and Liberalism on the following six main sections:
1. Doctrine
2. God and man
3. The Bible
4. Christ
5. Salvation
6. The Church
Machen does an amazing job at explaining not only what Liberalism is, but also does a wonderful job at explaining Christianity, which brought me to tears and have to confront parts of my sinful nature that I didn't even realize.
The whole book is worth a read, but the one chapter that stands above the rest is the final chapter, The Church . He gives great insight, areas for growth, and encouragement for the church of the early 20th century that still rings true today.
New edition info
I read the new publication of this book from Canon Press featuring an introduction by Doug Wilson and a brand new cover design that is absolutely beautiful. It was published in November 23, 2020
This edition is 178 pages:
- 7 are the table of contents, publication info, etc
- 8 are Wilson's intro
- 163 are Machen's original words
1. Doctrine
2. God and man
3. The Bible
4. Christ
5. Salvation
6. The Church
Machen does an amazing job at explaining not only what Liberalism is, but also does a wonderful job at explaining Christianity, which brought me to tears and have to confront parts of my sinful nature that I didn't even realize.
The whole book is worth a read, but the one chapter that stands above the rest is the final chapter, The Church . He gives great insight, areas for growth, and encouragement for the church of the early 20th century that still rings true today.
New edition info
I read the new publication of this book from Canon Press featuring an introduction by Doug Wilson and a brand new cover design that is absolutely beautiful. It was published in November 23, 2020
This edition is 178 pages:
- 7 are the table of contents, publication info, etc
- 8 are Wilson's intro
- 163 are Machen's original words
petersont4's review against another edition
4.0
Throughout this book I kept forgetting that the author was talking about liberalism instead of progressive Christianity since the two have become so close in concept. This book was definitely written in another time, but also hits very close to this time. We are just further along the same path the author is talking about.
I like how Machen discusses the idea of churches not wanted to discuss certain topics since it is an issue I see very prevalently in today’s churches. Liberal churches no longer want to discuss theology and doctrine, but only their versions of the Gospel. One of my favorite quotes from this book is “Modern preachers are trying to bring men into church without requiring them to relinquish their pride; they are trying to help men avoid the conviction of sin.” This is being brought out through self love culture even more so today.
This book was a little difficult to read because it was written in older English and formatted like a research paper, but it had really good points and ideas discussed. I would recommend this to anyone looking into why theology and doctrine are important.
I like how Machen discusses the idea of churches not wanted to discuss certain topics since it is an issue I see very prevalently in today’s churches. Liberal churches no longer want to discuss theology and doctrine, but only their versions of the Gospel. One of my favorite quotes from this book is “Modern preachers are trying to bring men into church without requiring them to relinquish their pride; they are trying to help men avoid the conviction of sin.” This is being brought out through self love culture even more so today.
This book was a little difficult to read because it was written in older English and formatted like a research paper, but it had really good points and ideas discussed. I would recommend this to anyone looking into why theology and doctrine are important.
johnmarkstow's review against another edition
4.0
a MUST read!
my highlighter ran out of ink by the time i got to the end! this book is full of so much truth and God-inspired teaching. definitely recommend to every Christian, even if you are not personally dealing with liberalism.
Machen clearly explains liberalism and its teachings and he refutes everything very clearly and intentionally. read this book for a class but sincerely enjoyed it! very easy to understand, unlike some other doctrinal books.
the book’s clear, seven-chapter layout makes it extremely easy to read and digestible. Machen has perfect pace. He doesn’t go to fast or too slow. 10/10
highly highly highly recommend to any Christian!!!
my highlighter ran out of ink by the time i got to the end! this book is full of so much truth and God-inspired teaching. definitely recommend to every Christian, even if you are not personally dealing with liberalism.
Machen clearly explains liberalism and its teachings and he refutes everything very clearly and intentionally. read this book for a class but sincerely enjoyed it! very easy to understand, unlike some other doctrinal books.
the book’s clear, seven-chapter layout makes it extremely easy to read and digestible. Machen has perfect pace. He doesn’t go to fast or too slow. 10/10
highly highly highly recommend to any Christian!!!
nate_s's review against another edition
2.0
Preface: A basic understanding of the different ways in which the word "liberalism" is used, and which use this particular book makes of the word, is required. Overall, the book means "theological liberalism." One friend tried to sell it to me as a tract denouncing political leftism. Not so for the vast majority of the book. The book's argument moves in this direction once and the case is precarious, out of place, and poorly substantiated.
A book that majors on polemics and preaches to the converted, thus creating little more than an occasion for triumphalist back-slapping and chest-bumping among the True Chosen.
The problem that afflicts Christianity, so much of the time, in narrative order:
1. A challenge faces the church.
2. The church answers the challenge.
3. People get really enamored of the answer, and the identity that comes with it, over against the proper centers of gravity of the faith.
4. The particular answer gradually becomes the centerpiece of the faith. A contrary identitarianism develops in which it ceases to be enough to be a Christian; now you've got to be a "not-liberal" Christian, and perennially prove that identity to the world with every penstroke or keystroke.
5. Much of Christianity's central content is then evacuated and forgotten, or rearranged into a structure alien to Scripture. The structure is perceived as the faith. To challenge the structure becomes a challenge to orthodoxy. The faith turns into statuary, or rots away while people revel in their momentary cultural victory.
But we're ahead of ourselves. A little history:
The situation in the western church at the turn of the 20th century was that "modernism" had emerged as the fruit of enlightened, rationalist thinking, and was deconstructing classical and traditional Christian theology: Biblical authority, the deity of Christ, miracles, the doctrine of salvation... it was all being put to the question, and often found wanting, all with the aim of making certain Christian practices central, over and against historic doctrines. "Shouldn't we all stop worrying about who's going to heaven, or if Jesus was born of a virgin, and just do good works? Like feeding the hungry?" "Hasn't human reason displaced the Bible as our highest authority?" This kind of thing remains and has gained popularity over a hundred and fifty years or so.
So the "fundamentalist" movement set out to counter this modernizing tendency, and maintain traditional doctrine alongside the practice of good works. Christianity and Liberalism is an example of the classic fundamentalist response to the modernist movement. In the current milieu, we'd call this "culture war." This book is more grounded than much that could be given that name, and it's perhaps one of the original culture war works from the cusp of modernity and post-modernity. But it is that- culture war.
I'm bored with this stuff, even if Machen's work isn't quite as bad as the movement to which it is germane. I'd say skip all of it and read the actual classics.
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis is a different kind of book, but does a great job critiquing some similar worldview elements. Far more profound, and caters to a wider audience. I’d re-read it a hundred times before I read this again.
A book that majors on polemics and preaches to the converted, thus creating little more than an occasion for triumphalist back-slapping and chest-bumping among the True Chosen.
The problem that afflicts Christianity, so much of the time, in narrative order:
1. A challenge faces the church.
2. The church answers the challenge.
3. People get really enamored of the answer, and the identity that comes with it, over against the proper centers of gravity of the faith.
4. The particular answer gradually becomes the centerpiece of the faith. A contrary identitarianism develops in which it ceases to be enough to be a Christian; now you've got to be a "not-liberal" Christian, and perennially prove that identity to the world with every penstroke or keystroke.
5. Much of Christianity's central content is then evacuated and forgotten, or rearranged into a structure alien to Scripture. The structure is perceived as the faith. To challenge the structure becomes a challenge to orthodoxy. The faith turns into statuary, or rots away while people revel in their momentary cultural victory.
But we're ahead of ourselves. A little history:
The situation in the western church at the turn of the 20th century was that "modernism" had emerged as the fruit of enlightened, rationalist thinking, and was deconstructing classical and traditional Christian theology: Biblical authority, the deity of Christ, miracles, the doctrine of salvation... it was all being put to the question, and often found wanting, all with the aim of making certain Christian practices central, over and against historic doctrines. "Shouldn't we all stop worrying about who's going to heaven, or if Jesus was born of a virgin, and just do good works? Like feeding the hungry?" "Hasn't human reason displaced the Bible as our highest authority?" This kind of thing remains and has gained popularity over a hundred and fifty years or so.
So the "fundamentalist" movement set out to counter this modernizing tendency, and maintain traditional doctrine alongside the practice of good works. Christianity and Liberalism is an example of the classic fundamentalist response to the modernist movement. In the current milieu, we'd call this "culture war." This book is more grounded than much that could be given that name, and it's perhaps one of the original culture war works from the cusp of modernity and post-modernity. But it is that- culture war.
I'm bored with this stuff, even if Machen's work isn't quite as bad as the movement to which it is germane. I'd say skip all of it and read the actual classics.
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis is a different kind of book, but does a great job critiquing some similar worldview elements. Far more profound, and caters to a wider audience. I’d re-read it a hundred times before I read this again.