AGR: Christianity And Liberalism

by R. Scott Clark on April 6, 2018

It was a pleasure to join Chris Gordon recently to talk about one of my favorite books, Christianity and Liberalism. Published in 1923, it became Machen’s most well-known work. In it he lays out briefly but clearly the difference between Christianity as . . . Continue reading →

Machen: The Revisions Of Christianity Made To “Save” It Actually Destroy It

by R. Scott Clark on March 17, 2018

…But in showing that the liberal attempt at rescuing Christianity is false we are not showing that there is no way of rescuing Christianity at all; on the contrary, it may appear incidentally, even in the present little book, that it is . . . Continue reading →

Machen: Christianity Is A Doctrine

by R. Scott Clark on August 23, 2017

Christianity they will tell us is a life and not a doctrine. Now that seems to be a devout and pious utterance, but it is radically false all the same, and to see that it is false you do not need even . . . Continue reading →

If It Was True Then, How Much More Now?

by R. Scott Clark on July 28, 2017

…it should, I think, be made much harder than it now is to enter the Church: the confession of faith that is required should be a credible confession; and if it becomes evident upon examination that a candidate has no notion of . . . Continue reading →

Inclusion And Exclusion: Getting It Right

by R. Scott Clark on May 17, 2017

Perhaps the most intense and difficult part about growing up is learning how to fit in, when to try, and when it does not matter. I suppose, we probably never really outgrow those questions but perhaps, as we mature, it matters less . . . Continue reading →

Silencing Dissent In The “Liberal” Mainline

by R. Scott Clark on January 26, 2015

This does answer the question, does the PCUSA still have heresy trials? Of course they do. Heresy or apostasy in the PCUSA is now defined as lack or failure of institutional or corporate loyalty, and or actions, speech against the institution. Where . . . Continue reading →

Machen: Evangelical Is Not Enough

by R. Scott Clark on November 5, 2014

“Evangelical,” on the other hand, although it is a fine term, does not quite seem to designate clearly enough the position of those who hold specifically to the system of doctrine taught in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as distinguished from other . . . Continue reading →

The Chaos Of The Present

by R. Scott Clark on July 16, 2014

But more and more there is a tendency to brand as illiberal, medieval and narrow any man who differs from the current of popular religious thought, and declares it to be non-Christian in its tendencies. There is a great discussion in the . . . Continue reading →

Machen: Debate Is Preferable To Breach Of Faith And Suppression

by Heidelblog on November 29, 2013

Perhaps it may be objected that if we continue to be tolerated, we shall harm the church by an insistence upon the maintenance of a strict view of its doctrinal standards. I think that just from the “Liberal” point of view there . . . Continue reading →

Pervasive Unbelief In The PCUSA

by Heidelblog on October 21, 2013

All this is true. But it really does not apply to the situation in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. The point is that Church is very largely dominated by unbelief. It does not merely harbor unbelief here and there. No, it . . . Continue reading →

There’s A Reason It’s Called The Church Militant

by Heidelblog on August 26, 2013

In other words, to engage in controversy is not merely to be one of Machen’s warrior children. It is to belong to the church militant. Read more» Jack Miller | “The Old Life Controversialist” RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource . . . Continue reading →

Machen On Revival And Controversy

by Heidelblog on July 29, 2013

I do not know all the things that will happen when the great revival sweeps over the Church, the great revival for which we long. Certainly I do not know when that revival will come; its coming stands in the Spirit’s power. . . . Continue reading →

Carnell’s Ironic Critique Of Machen

by Heidelblog on July 18, 2013

The mentality of fundamentalism sometimes crops up where one would least expect it; and there is no better illustration of this than the inimitable New Testament scholar, J. Gresham Machen. Machen was an outspoken critic of the fundamentalist movement. He argued with . . . Continue reading →

Machen On The Present Situation

by Heidelblog on July 6, 2013

THE present situation in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. is only one phase of a situation that prevails in the Protestant churches throughout the world. Everywhere—in the countries of Europe and in mission lands—Christianity finds itself in a mighty . . . Continue reading →

J. Gresham Machen on Jaywalking and Civil Freedom: Watch This Video

by R. Scott Clark on May 15, 2013

J. Gresham Machen (1881–1936) was a scholar of the New Testament who taught at Princeton Theological Seminary. He, along with several others, left Princeton in 1929 to found Westminster Seminary. He was driven out of what is today known as the Presbyterian . . . Continue reading →

Lane is Reading Always Reformed

by R. Scott Clark on December 22, 2010

Lane writes: “In the time of Machen, and even afterward, Reformed folk generally approved of Machen’s fight against liberalism, although even there they were hesitant to adopt the same level of combativeness that Machen had.” Read more»

2011 Westminster Seminary Conference: Christianity and Liberalism Revisited

by R. Scott Clark on December 9, 2010

Few figures have been as important to Reformed Christianity in North America as J. Gresham Machen. He faced many of the same challenges that we face now and he did so in a way that advanced the faith, he did so winsomely, . . . Continue reading →

D. G. Hart and Parker Williamson to Speak in Omaha April 21-22

by R. Scott Clark on April 13, 2010

Our own Darryl Hart is a plenary speaker at a conference connected with the Presbyterian Layman to be held in Omaha April 21-22. Info is here. More info from the Layman. The confessional Reformed community in the lower midwest is not mighty . . . Continue reading →

The Spirit of Machen

by R. Scott Clark on January 17, 2010

Has a home in what is perhaps an unexpected place. Update You can get your MWC paraphernalia here.

Machen on Mission

by R. Scott Clark on January 15, 2010

Thanks to WSC student Brenden Link for this bit from Dassie. More reasons we should all be Machen’s Warrior Children.