Lesson 4 - Liberalism and Fundamentalism

Question 1

What are the characteristic themes of liberalism?

Answer 1

1. ) Christian beliefs need to be reconstructed in light of modern knowledge.
2. ) Christian thinks are free to criticize/reconstruct traditional beliefs
3. ) Emphasis on practical/ethical dimensions of Christianity (deeds over dogma)
4. ) Scripture no longer considered infallible authority on faith and practice. Authority is no longer revelation but human experience and reason.
5. ) Divine immanence > divine transcendence
6. ) The true gospel and true Jesus are behind the canonical gospels. (Jesus of history is different than Jesus of faith).

Question 2

For what reason(s) would Reformed conservatives find the Fundamentalist movement problematic?

Answer 2

1. ) Defined by what they are against
2. ) Eschatology: dispensationalist
3. ) View of God’s sovereignty
4. ) Separtist at times

Question 3

What were Machen’s criticisms of Liberalism?

Answer 3

Liberalism is a different religion than Christianity

1. ) Liberalism is anti-doctrinally and anti-supernaturalism
2. ) Liberalism replaces Jesus as the divine savior with the moral teacher
3. ) Liberalism has too low a view of God and too high a view of man
4. ) Liberalism claims are found on Christian’s experience rather than God’s word
5. ) Liberalism views Jesus as imperfect mere man, instead of the perfect God-man
6. ) Liberalism views salvation as act of man rather than act of God and of God alone
7. ) Liberalism views the church as founded on the brotherhood of man rather than the brotherhood of the redeemed.