Christianity & liberalism - Machen - II

Required reading
Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read up to the paragraph that begins 'But the message of the resurrection was not isolate' (page 25 in the new edition).

My notes and thoughts
Machen begins his attack on liberalism by challenging their claim that 'Christianity is a life, not a doctrine.'  He claims instead that 'At the foundation of the life of every corporation is the incorporation paper, in which the objects of the corporation are set forth.'  And Christianity is no different: '...the Christian movement at its inception was not just a way of life in the modern sense, but a way of life founded upon a message.  It was based, not upon mere feeling, not upon a mere program of work, but upon an account of facts.  In other words it was based upon doctrine.' 

Machen then goes on to show how this is true through the example of the apostle Paul's intolerance of those preaching a false message in Galatia: 'Paul saw very clearly that the difference between the Judaizers and himself was the difference between two entirely distinct types of religion; it was the difference between a religion of merit and a religion of grace.'  Christianity for Paul was founded on doctrine and made it distinct from other religions - even from those religions also calling themselves Christians.

I love the emphasis that Machen is making on doctrine.  So many Christians shrink back from the word doctrine today.  Yet it is the affirmation or denial of Christian doctrines that makes you a part of Christianity or part of another religion altogether.  If you do not believe in Christian doctrine you cannot be a Christian, not matter how much you may say 'Christainity is a way of living, not a doctrine.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.