J. Gresham Machen: Defending the Truth

Renewing Your Mind

Ligonier Ministries

Religion & Spirituality, Reformed, Study, Jesus, Preaching, Christianity, Scripture, Spirit, Bible, Holy, Theology, Christian, God, Teaching

4.8 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As theological liberalism infiltrated the church, J. Gresham Machen emerged as an uncompromising defender of biblical Christianity. Today, Stephen Nichols considers how Machen pursued faithfulness to God’s Word amid controversy.

For your donation of any amount, request J. Gresham Machen’s classic book, Christianity and Liberalism. You’ll also receive Stephen Nichols’ teaching series on DVD, plus lifetime digital access to the messages and study guide: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3976/donate

Live outside the U.S. and Canada? You can get Christianity and Liberalism as an ebook, plus lifetime digital access to the teaching series and study guide, for a donation of any amount: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global

Join us on May 15 for Renewing Your Mind Live, a free event in Katy, TX. Learn more and register: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/katy

Gather with Christians around God’s Word at one of Ligonier’s other events: https://www.ligonier.org/events

Meet Today’s Teacher:

Stephen Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College, chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. He is host of the podcasts 5 Minutes in Church History and Open Book.

Meet the Host:

Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast.

Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Transcript

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0:00.0	You can believe whatever you want to believe, but you can't believe whatever you want to believe and call it Christianity if it is a denial of everything that defines Christianity.
0:12.9	Make no mistake about it, liberalism is not a version of Christianity.
0:18.2	Liberalism is not Christianity.
0:27.2	That is the defining legacy of J.Grasim-Machan, that liberal Christianity isn't Christianity
0:34.2	at all. Welcome to the Wednesday edition of Renewing Your Mind. I'm your
0:39.6	host, Nathan W. Bingham. If you live near Katie, Texas, I'd like to invite you to a free
0:46.1	event on May 15, Renewing Your Mind Live. It will be an evening of teaching, fellowship,
0:53.1	giveaways, and an opportunity to meet other Renewing Your Mind listeners.
0:57.4	It's free to attend, but as space is limited, you need to register at Renewingyourmind.org
1:03.3	slash Katie.
1:05.1	We'll be in other cities across the U.S.
1:07.3	And even have plans for events in Australia later this year.
1:12.6	So check Ligeneer.org slash events for cities and dates near you, as more dates will be added throughout the year.
1:19.2	Before we continue the story of Machen, request the 100th anniversary edition of his classic book
1:24.9	Christianity and Liberalism at Renewing Your Mind.org with your
1:29.4	donation of any amount. The message of this book is just as relevant today as when it was
1:34.6	first published in 1923. Well, here's Dr. Nichols on the second half of Machen's life.
1:44.4	Last episode, we were talking about Machen coming back from the war.
1:49.3	And I thought it would be helpful just to add a little bit of texture to that experience
1:54.2	that Machen had in World War I to read from some letters that he wrote home.
2:00.1	He was talking about how his feet were wet all the time,
2:06.1	just through the rain and the mud.
	...

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