Machen On The Christian Mind
John Gresham Machen (July 28, 1881 – January 1, 1937) was an American Presbyterian theologian in the early 20th century. He was the Professor of New Testament at Princeton Seminary between 1915 and 1929, and led a conservative revolt against modernist theology at Princeton and formed Westminster Theological Seminary as a more orthodox alternative. Machen is considered to be the last of the great Princeton Theologians who had, since the formation of the college in the early 19th century, developed Princeton theology: a conservative and Calvinist form of Evangelical Christianity. Although Machen can be compared to the great Princeton Theologians (Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, A. A. Hodge and B. B. Warfield) he was neither a lecturer in theology (he was a New Testament scholar) nor did he ever become the seminary’s principal. Machen’s influence can still be felt today through the existence of both institutions that he founded – Westminster Theological Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
“The growth of ignorance in the Church is the logical and inevitable result of the false notion that Christianity is a life and not also a doctrine; if Christianity is not a doctrine then of course teaching is not necessary to Christianity. But whatever the causes for the growth of ignorance in the Church, the evil must be remedied. It must be remedied primarily by the renewal of Christian education. Christian education is the chief business of the hour for every earnest Christian. Christianity cannot subsist unless we know what Christianity is.” Christianity & Liberalism (p.176-177)
“The depreciation of the intellect, with the exaltation in the place of it of the feelings or of the will, is rapidly leading to a condition in which men and women neither know anything nor care anything about the doctrinal content of the Christian religion, and in which there is, in general, a lamentable intellectual decline.” What Is Faith (p. 22-23)
“Is the modern anti-intellectualistic view of faith in accordance with the New Testament? Does the New Testament offer a man salvation first, on the basis of psychological process or conversion or surrender falsely called faith, and then preach the gospel to him afterwards? Or does the New Testament preach the gospel to him first, set forth to him the facts about Christ and the meaning of his death, and then ask him to accept the one thus presented, in order that his soul may be saved? What did Peter’s [Pentecost] sermon contain [in Acts 2:14-41]?” Education, Christianity & The State (p. 17-18)
“Some of us may desire to ask whether Jesus of Nazareth really made the more abundant life of man the ultimate end of existence?” What Is Faith (p. 39)