Required reading
Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (available from or free on the internet, - Finish chapter V, 'Christ'.
Machen ends the chapter with a discussion of miracles and what is meant by calling Jesus 'God'.
Machen is certain that miracles are integral to the Christian message, despite the tendency they have to encourage unbelief: 'Without miracles, the New Testament might be easier to believe. But the thing that would be believed would be entirely different from that which presents itself to us now. Without the miracles we should have a teacher; with the miracles we have a Saviour.'
To finish the chapter Machen points out the liberal pastor's deliberate deception of the 'plain' man when he makes the claim 'Jesus is God': 'The liberal preacher, it may be said, is often ready to speak of the "deity" of Christ; he is often ready to say that "Jesus is God." The plain man is much impressed.' But, 'God, at least according to the logical trend of modern liberalism, is not a person separate from the world, but merely the unity that pervades the world...Such an assertion is diametrically opposed to the Christian belief in the deity of Christ.' The liberal has re-defined the terms but then acts as though he hasn't. Such blatant lying to win over the faithful Christian is a disgrace.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
1 comment:
Machen is brilliant! He takes the claims of liberalism and clearly shows them to be flawed. Example: if Jesus was not the Messiah, then he was deluded and based his life on a false claim and is not worthy of our faith. The same applies to his dealing with miracles and the liberals use of the word "God" without definition. I'm very glad we are reading this book.
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