The History of Presbyterianismin the United States

Part 6: ModernismA – From Princeton to Westminster (1923-

29)

Master TimelineUnited States Europe

• 1620 – Mayflower lands• 1730s-1743 – 1st Great Awakening• 1776-1783 – American Rev.• 1790-1840 – 2nd Great Awakening• 1830 – Book of Mormon• 1850-1900 – 3rd Great Awakening• 1861-1865 – American Civil War• 1870 – Scottish Common Sense• 1889 – Moody Bible Institute• 1891 – Briggs’ address• 1909 – Scofield Reference Bible• 1910 – Pres. G.A.: 5 Fundamentals• 1914-1919 – World War I• 1922 – “Shall Fund.s Win?”• 1923 – The Auburn Affirmation• 1925 – The Scopes Trial• 1929 – Westminster Theo.

Seminary• 1936 – Orthodox Presbyterian Ch.• 1936 – John Mackay, Princeton

Sem.

• 1643 – Westminster Confession of Faith• 1650-1800 – Age of European

Enlightenment& of Scottish Common Sense

Philosophy• 1770s-1900 – Rise of German Higher

Criticism• 1789-1799 – French Revolution• 1827 – Plymouth Brethren begin meeting• 1833 – Slavery Abolition Act of England• 1859 - Charles Darwin – Origin of Species• 1862-77 – Darby travels to the United

States• 1919 – Rise of Neo-Orthodoxy

United States (cont.)

1937 – Death of J. Gresham Machen - Bible Presbyterian Ch. (McIntyre)1966 – RTS, Jackson, MI1967 – Confession of ‘67, Book of Confessions1973 – PCA1983 – Union of UPCUSA & PCUS

R. K. Churchill“The liberals did not openly declare to

the church, ‘Your confession is very bad, it is hopelessly outdated and unscientific. If

you do not change that confession, then we

cannot conscientiously be a part of such a church.’ Rather, the liberals assumed positions as ministers and leaders in the church and then sought to undermine the church from within. The liberals were who successful in this fifth-column activity that in a short time those who believed wholeheartedly in the Scriptures and the church’s subordinate standards were either silenced or removed from the church.”

R. K. Churchill“How did the liberals accomplish their

purpose? By appealing to the need for ‘tolerance’ and by accusing those who

opposed them of being ‘narrow-minded.’ Bythis strategy many of the conservatives were put on the defensive.

They suddenly became timid … All their resistance anddiscernment and even moral standards suddenly meltedaway. … In this manner those evils that would destroy the soul, the church and the nation were welcomed into the seminaries, pulpits and courts of the church. Never did the forces of error have an easier or more sweeping victory.”

R. K. Churchill “The liberals’ appeal for tolerance

was, however, short-lived. Once the

opponents of historic Christianity gained the upper

hand, the plea for tolerance came to a sudden

and dramatic end.As soon as the proponents of the new and

debilitating theology became entrenched in the church, those who stood for the old faith had to pay tribute or leave.”

The Auburn Affirmation• G.A. had no right to elevate “The Five Fundamentals” to “special test status” for ordination.• “The Five Fundamentals” are not essential to the system of doctrine taught in the holy Scriptures.• “The Five Fundamentals” are merely theories of

those facts and doctrines.

The Auburn Affirmation• The Bible is not inerrant.• The General Assembly has no power to dictate doctrine to the Presbyteries.• Liberty of thought and teaching, within the bounds of evangelical Christianity is

necessary."Some of us regard the particular theories contained in the deliverance of the General Assembly of 1923 as satisfactory explanations of these facts and doctrines. But we are united in believing that these are not the only theories allowed by the Scriptures and our standards as explanations of these facts and doctrines of our religion, and that all who hold to these facts and doctrines, whatever theories they may employ to explain them, are worthy of all confidence and fellowship." 

“The WestminsterMovement”

“This group, in which Dr. Machen wasso able a leader, held that the PresbyterianChurch in the United States of Americacould not exist only half-loyal to the wordof God. To state it more broadly, Christendom could not endure on a foundation consisting of the true gospel mixed with ‘another gospel.’ As a result of its stand, the Westminster Movement was singled out for destruction in a theological battle waged between those committed to historic Christianity and the liberal faction with its modern denials.”

“The WestminsterMovement”

“Dr. Machen, and those who stoodwith him, did not believe that spiritualconflicts, or even strategic battles, could bewon by retreating. With the sword of theLord in hand they marched boldly into every fray for the defense of the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. … They opposed error and stood for the truth without hesitation or reservation. They displayed their true colors and fought openly and without subterfuge. The same was not always true of their opponents.”

J. Gresham Machen•Assistant Professor of NT at Princeton Theological Seminary•Christianity and Liberalism, 1923

“My profession of faith is simply thatI know nothing of a Christ who is presented to us in a human book containing errors, but I know only a Christ presented in a divine book, the Bible, which is true from beginning to end.

I know nothing of a Christ who possibly was and probably was not born of a virgin, but only a Christ who was truly conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary.

J. Gresham Machen•Assistant Professor of NT at Princeton Theological Seminary•Christianity and Liberalism, 1923

I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not work miracles, but know only a Christ who said to the wind and the waves with the voice of the Sovereign Maker and Ruler of all nature, ‘Peace, be still.’

I know nothing of a Christ who possibly did and possibly did not die as my substitute on the cross, but know only a Christ who took upon Himself the just punishment of my sins, and died there in my stead to make me right with the holy God.”

The Presbyterian Guardian, 2/25/1945

Princeton TheologicalSeminary

•A project of the Presbyterian Church, started 1812

•It grew to be a bastion for the “Old Side” of the Reformed faith and Confessionalism.

•It was “balanced” by Union Theological Seminary which stood for the “New Side”, being more broadminded and compromising.

Princeton TheologicalSeminary

1812-1851Archibald AlexanderSamuel MillerCharles HodgeJohn BreckinridgeJoseph Addison AlexanderJames Waddell Alexander

Princeton TheologicalSeminary - 1875Charles Augustus AikenCasper Wistar HodgeJames Clement MoffatWilliam Henry GreenAlexander Taggart McGill

Princeton TheologicalSeminary - 1900

Geerhardus VosBenjamin Breckinridge WarfieldRobert Dick Wilson

Princeton TheologicalSeminary

Archibald Alexander

Charles Hodge A. A.

Hodge B. B. Warfield Geerhardus

Vos

Princeton TheologicalSeminary, 1906

J. Gresham Machen• joined faculty, 1906• Origin of Paul’s Religion, 1921• Christianity and Liberalism, 1923• What is Faith?, 1925

Princeton TheologicalSeminary, 1914J. Ross Stevenson, new President• He was persuaded that Princeton should represent the whole of the denomination.

Princeton TheologicalSeminary, 1914

“Never has Dr. Stevenson givenany clear indication, by the policythat he has followed as Presidentof the Seminary, that he recognizes theprofound line of cleavage that separates thetwo opposite tendencies within the Presby-terian church, and the necessity that ifPrinceton Seminary is to be true to its great heritage and trueto the moral obligations involved in the distinctive basis upon which it has always appealed for support, it must, in this great contention, definitely and unequivocally take sides.”

(Machen, 1927)

Princeton TheologicalSeminary, 1914

“We [Princeton Seminary] arethe agency of the combined Old Schooland New School and my ambition asPresident of the Seminary is to have itrepresent the whole Presbyterian Churchand not any particular faction of it.”

(Stevenson, 1927)

Princeton TheologicalSeminary, 1929

The General Assembly voted to radically re-organize the governance of the seminary allowing for a broader representation (Auburn Affirmation signers included).

Princeton TheologicalSeminary, 1929Dr. Macartney refused to serve on the new board.• Many stellar, orthodox faculty refused to continue at Princeton.

Clarence E. Macartney

Oswald T. Allis

Cornelius Van Til

R. Dick Wilson

J. Gresham Machen

Westminster Theological Seminary,Philadelphia, 1929

• Founded independently from the Presbyterian Church and her controlling influence.

• Claimed the mantle of “Old Princeton”

• Continued to hold and teach the Westminster Standards and the supernatural truths of the Bible.

Westminster Theological Seminary,Glenside, PA

New CovenantPresbyterian Church

Preaching God’s Sovereign Grace

to a World of Need128 St. Mary’s Church Rd.,

Abingdon, MD 21009410-569-0289

www.ncpres.orgwww.ephesians515.com