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Christianity & Liberalism, New EditionJune 10, 2009
"The difference between Christianity as a supernatural, historical religion authoritatively revealed in an inspired, infallible and inerrant Bible, and liberalism as a basic denial of all that is true Christianity, is absolutely crucial to the self-understanding of the church as a whole and her individual members. Nobody put the issue as clearly or as sharply as Machen in his little tract for the times, Christianity and Liberalism. On the occasion of Westminster's 80th anniversary, his clarion call for believers to remain biblically faithful, to affirm the historic Christian faith, to repudiate sentimentalism in religion and, above all, to be aware of exactly what is at stake in the debates between Christians and liberals, rings as true and as relevant today as it did when first written." - Dr. Carl R. Trueman, vice president for academic affairs "There exists a penetrating timelessness to the truth of the Gospel; it addresses every culture and every situation transcendently. Simultaneously a discernible strain of continuity exists in the methods of those who seek to undermine the authority, uniqueness, and power of this Gospel. Indeed the modus operandi of 20th century liberalism remains in vogue in the 21st, and while dressed in garments styled according to each contemporary culture, the epistemological and theological commitments that drive Gospel opposition are as old as the great Deceiver himself. Frankly, polemical theology is a redundant matter, because the enemies of the Gospel are boringly repetitious with their philosophical ploys and their methodological toys. Sadly though, the monotony of methods is rivaled only by the perennial success of such false gospels in blinding and binding the masses. In the positive proclamation of the Gospel, the associated task of combating false religion irrevocably remains part of the Church’s privilege and obligation. "This offensive and defensive mission found exquisite exposition at the hand of J. Gresham Machen in 1923, when he penned Christianity and Liberalism. Now in 2009, with renewed vigor, Westminster perpetuates Machen’s incisive vision: 'We are animated... by no merely negative or polemic purpose; on the contrary, by showing what Christianity is not we hope to be able to show what Christianity is, in order that men may be led to turn from the weak and beggarly elements and have recourse again to the grace of God' (Christianity and Liberalism, p. 16). For the glory of Christ and his Church, we are not ashamed of this pure, pertinent, and powerful Gospel of grace. To preach it loudly and boldly is our calling, and to that end, we are delighted to present this classic work which remains as relevant today as it was over eighty-five years ago." Learn more and purchase at www.wts.edu
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