In 1923, J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism exposed theological liberalism as a counterfeit faith, not a variant of Christianity but a rival religion that gutted the Bible’s authority, Christ’s deity, and salvation through His atoning work. A century later, the fight rages on. Liberalism, now dressed in progressive theology, cultural relativism, and social justice jargon, has burrowed deeper into evangelical churches, seminaries, and institutions. It peddles a feel-good gospel that bows to the spirit of the age, diluting truth for applause. This appendix mounts a fierce defense of conservative evangelical Christianity—rooted in Scripture’s inerrancy, Christ’s exclusive saving work, and the gospel’s power to shatter sin’s chains—against the hollow promises of modern liberalism. In 2025, the stakes are sky-high, and there’s no room for compromise, no Kumbaya choruses, no interfaith platitudes, no ecumenical hand-holding. The gospel demands a line in the sand.
The Unbridgeable Chasm: Christianity vs. Liberalism
Machen’s core claim holds firm: liberalism isn’t Christianity’s cousin; it’s an enemy. In his day, liberals like Harry Emerson Fosdick tried to wed Christianity to modernist science, historical skepticism, and human optimism, recasting God as a cosmic vibe, Jesus as a moral guru, and salvation as self-improvement. Today, liberalism slinks through progressive churches that swap doctrine for inclusivity, twist Scripture to match cultural whims, and shrink the gospel to activism. These are not mere differences of emphasis but a full-scale rejection of biblical faith. Where Machen battled modernist preachers, evangelicals now face influencers who blend Christian buzzwords with secular dogmas—universalism, critical theory, or moral relativism—pushing a religion that’s Christian in name only.
Conservative evangelical Christianity stands unyielding: the Bible is God’s error-free Word (2 Timothy 3:16), Jesus is fully God and man who died for sins and rose bodily (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and salvation comes by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This isn’t hidebound tradition but loyalty to God’s unchanging truth. Liberalism’s boast of “progress” is a lie; it trades eternal certainties for cultural fads, leaving souls adrift without divine anchor. Evangelicals refuse to sing Kumbaya with a movement that mocks the Cross. There’s no interfaith compromise when Christ declares, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), and no ecumenical unity with those who peddle a false gospel (Galatians 1:8).
Scripture’s Ironclad Authority
The fight starts with the Bible. Evangelicals hold it as inerrant because a God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2) authored it. Machen saw liberals treat Scripture as a human artifact, ripe for critical butchery. In 2025, this continues as progressive scholars dismiss miracles, deny Mosaic authorship, or reinterpret texts to bless cultural trends like gender fluidity or universal salvation. Some claim Paul’s warnings against sexual sin (Romans 1:26-27) are outdated cultural quirks, ignoring their grounding in God’s moral order. This isn’t scholarship; it’s rebellion against divine authority.
Evangelicals counter that Scripture is self-authenticating, its unified message of sin, redemption, and holiness shining through every page. Modern evidence—archaeological finds like the Tel Dan Stele, manuscript troves like the Dead Sea Scrolls—confirms the Bible’s historical reliability, shredding liberal claims of textual corruption. Apologists like Daniel B. Wallace, in 2025, fortify the New Testament’s textual integrity, showing its manuscripts outnumber and predate those of any ancient work. Liberalism’s cherry-picking—exalting “love” verses while dodging judgment (Matthew 25:41)—caricatures God as a one-dimensional pushover. Evangelicals embrace all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, trusting its endurance (Isaiah 40:8). There’s no interfaith dialogue when God’s Word stands above all human wisdom, and no ecumenical fudge when truth is non-negotiable.
Christ: The Only Savior
Machen insisted Christianity rests on Jesus as divine Savior, not a human teacher. Liberals in his day made Christ a noble example; today, they paint Him as a woke activist whose teachings rubber-stamp modern values. Progressive churches may say “Jesus is Lord” but mean a symbolic nod to kindness, not divine kingship. Some, echoing universalists like Rob Bell, deny the need for Christ’s atoning death, claiming all roads lead to God—a betrayal of the gospel’s heart. This isn’t a new spin; it’s a different Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Evangelicals proclaim Christ as the eternal Son, who bore sin’s curse on the cross (Romans 3:25) and rose physically, securing salvation for those who trust Him (John 11:25-26). His claim—“I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)—torches liberalism’s pluralism. In 2025, Christianity’s explosive growth in Africa and Asia, where believers face persecution yet preach Christ’s exclusive work, proves the gospel’s power. Nigerian churches pack stadiums, and Chinese house churches multiply, while liberal Western denominations like the Episcopal Church bleed members—down 20% from 2010 to 2020 (Pew Research). Liberalism’s Jesus, stripped of divine wrath, is a toothless caricature. Evangelicals uphold His love and holiness, warning of eternal judgment for unrepentant sin (Revelation 20:15). The Cross isn’t a feel-good emblem but the collision of God’s justice and mercy (Romans 5:8). There’s no Kumbaya with those who deny Christ’s deity, no interfaith bridge when He’s the only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), no ecumenical truce when His blood alone saves.
Salvation: Grace, Not Grit
Machen exposed liberalism’s swap of grace for works, a dressed-up legalism. Today, liberalism casts salvation as social reform—tackling “systemic” ills, climate crises, or inequality—sidestepping personal repentance. Progressive sermons tout “kingdom work” but mean activism, not the new birth (John 3:3). This echoes Machen’s foes, who saw salvation in ethical uplift, but it’s louder in 2025’s cause-obsessed culture, where hashtags and protests trump soul-saving truth.
Evangelicals declare salvation is God’s gift, received through faith in Christ’s finished work (Romans 10:9). Good works follow but don’t earn it (Ephesians 2:10). Liberalism’s obsession with human effort—moralism or social justice—mirrors the Pharisees’ law-keeping, which Paul demolished (Galatians 2:16). In 2025, evangelical outreaches like Samaritan’s Purse show gospel-driven service, aiding millions while preaching Christ, unlike liberal activism that skips the cross. Liberalism’s faith in human goodness ignores sin’s grip. The 20th century’s atrocities—wars, genocides—and today’s chaos, from global strife to moral rot, scream humanity’s fallenness (Romans 3:23). Evangelicals offer hope not in human striving but in Christ’s power, seen in lives transformed from addiction, despair, or sin through gospel preaching. No interfaith unity exists when salvation is Christ alone (Acts 4:12), no ecumenical compromise when grace trumps works.
The Church: A Fortress of Truth
Machen saw the Church as the redeemed’s fellowship, tasked with guarding the gospel. He lamented its takeover by liberals who rejected doctrines yet taught in pulpits. In 2025, this cancer spreads as progressive pastors in evangelical denominations push anti-biblical views—denying Scripture’s authority or endorsing same-sex marriage against clear texts (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Splits, like the United Methodist Church’s 2022 fracture, with conservatives forming the Global Methodist Church, reflect this divide. Liberals infiltrate, wielding Christian titles while preaching secular creeds.
Evangelicals demand a Church anchored in truth, not swayed by culture. This requires enforcing creedal standards, as Machen urged, ensuring ministers affirm the Trinity, Christ’s atonement, and Scripture’s inerrancy. Movements like the Gospel Coalition in 2025 equip churches to resist liberal creep through meaty theology and discipleship. Liberalism’s inclusivity fetish sacrifices truth for a sham unity. Evangelicals seek Spirit-wrought unity (Ephesians 4:3), not a spineless “big tent” that dilutes the gospel into a cultural echo chamber. No Kumbaya with those who betray the Church’s confession, no interfaith merger when the Church is Christ’s bride (Ephesians 5:25-27), no ecumenical haze when the gospel is the Church’s lifeblood.
Smashing Liberalism’s Cultural Seduction
Liberalism seduces by mimicking 2025’s cultural idols—diversity, equity, climate activism—claiming moral high ground. It brands evangelicals as bigots, tethered to outdated dogmas or right-wing politics. Machen heard similar slurs, with liberals calling his stance narrow. Evangelicals must dismantle this narrative, proving biblical Christianity towers above culture, offering a gospel that slays sin and saves souls.
Liberalism’s tolerance is a fraud. It cheers diversity but muzzles dissent, as seen in 2020s cancel culture targeting evangelicals on sexuality or life issues. Evangelicals champion truth with grace, engaging foes boldly yet lovingly (1 Peter 3:15). Liberalism’s social justice, while spotting real wrongs, skips personal sin, pushing systemic fixes without heart-change. Evangelicals pursue biblical justice—caring for the needy (James 1:27) while calling for repentance (Acts 3:19). Liberalism’s green gospel, though right to steward creation (Genesis 1:28), flirts with pantheism, worshiping nature. Evangelicals exalt the Creator, balancing care for earth with worship of Him alone (Romans 1:25). By living this faith, evangelicals show Christianity isn’t backward but eternal, not oppressive but liberating.
The Price of Capitulation
Machen warned that cozying up to liberalism guts the Church’s witness. In 2025, evangelicals face relentless pressure to soften on gender, sexuality, or Christ’s exclusivity to dodge cultural heat. Some megachurches peddle self-help or prosperity gunk, aping Machen’s liberal foes who chased relevance over truth. The result? Liberal denominations like the Presbyterian Church (USA) hemorrhage members—down 40% since 2000—while evangelical churches, like Southern Baptists holding fast, grow (SBC data, 2024). Capitulation breeds irrelevance; a Church mirroring culture offers nothing distinct. Evangelicals must stand like Machen, unmoved by scorn, trusting God’s truth prevails (Psalm 119:89).
A Battle Cry for 2025
Evangelicals must act now. First, double down on Christian education. Ignorance feeds liberalism’s lies, as many spurn Christianity without knowing it. Families and churches must drill Scripture’s truths, countering secularism’s grip on schools and screens. Second, back faithful ministers. Ordain only those burning for the gospel, rejecting fence-sitters (1 Timothy 4:16). Third, storm the culture. Proclaim Christ in blogs, podcasts, and streets, fearless of backlash (2 Timothy 1:7). Fourth, forge true fellowship. In a fractured world, gather in Cross-centered churches, drawing strength from shared faith (Hebrews 10:25).
Machen’s legacy fuels this fight. His founding of Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929, still thriving in 2025, shows the power of truth-driven institutions. His exit from a liberalizing denomination blazes a trail for today’s stand. Evangelicals must be ready to lose friends, platforms, or buildings for Christ’s sake.
The Gospel’s Unconquered Hope
Liberalism’s shadow looms, but evangelicals wield unbreakable hope. God has guarded His Church through Gnosticism, medieval darkness, and skeptical storms (Matthew 16:18). In 2025, the gospel’s fire burns bright—freeing addicts, healing broken hearts, saving sinners. Global revivals, like Africa’s millions-strong awakenings, shout Christ’s reign. Liberalism’s limp gospel—pandering to culture, void of power—leaves souls starving. Evangelical Christianity thunders a Savior who crushed sin, conquered death, and offers life (John 3:16). No Kumbaya, no interfaith mush, no ecumenical blur—just the raw, unyielding gospel of the Cross.
Stand firm, as Machen did, with no compromise, fervent prayer, and ironclad hope. The fight is brutal, but Christ’s victory is sure. His truth will reign, His Church will stand, and His gospel will revive a dying world (Revelation 22:20).
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
J. Gresham Machen (1881–1937) was a prominent American theologian and New Testament scholar, known for his staunch defense of orthodox Christianity against the rising tide of theological liberalism in the early 20th century. His works continue to be influential among conservative Christian scholars and lay readers alike.
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