In the early 20th century, a subtle but deadly fog began to roll into the seminaries and pulpits of the West. It was the fog of Modernism—a movement that sought to “reconcile” the Bible with the shifting whims of contemporary culture. Just as we see today with the push for a “universal unity” that ignores the exclusive claims of Christ, the Modernists of the 1920s wanted a Christianity without the virgin birth, without the blood of the cross, and without the literal return of the King.
Standing in the gap was John Gresham Machen, a scholar of immense intellect and even greater conviction. He saw that the “unity” being offered by the world was a counterfeit that would lead only to the destruction of the soul.
The Unwavering Standard
Machen understood that truth is not a flexible concept meant to be molded by the hands of diplomats or social engineers. He recognized that what the world called “progress,” the Bible called “apostasy.” He did not seek to be popular; he sought to be faithful to the Word of God.
In his defining work, Christianity and Liberalism, Machen stripped away the masks of those who tried to remain within the church while denying its foundations. He declared that Modernism was not a “version” of Christianity—it was an entirely different religion. He rested his defense on the absolute authority of the scriptures, echoing the command of the Apostle:
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3, KJV)
The Cost of Obedience
The political and ecclesiastical pressures on Machen were immense. He was tried by his own denomination, stripped of his credentials, and marginalized by the “intellectuals” of his day. Yet, he refused to compromise. When the institutional church chose the path of universalism and cultural relevance, Machen chose the path of physical obedience.
He walked away from the prestigious halls of Princeton Seminary to found a new institution and a new denomination, dedicated solely to the defense of the truth. He understood that a peace built on the denial of Christ is no peace at all.
A Message for the Watchman
As we witness current events—such as Pope Leo XIV’s recent visits to Turkey and Lebanon, where “authentic unity” is preached as the only path to peace—we must remember Machen’s warning. The world’s “mosaic of coexistence” often requires the removal of the “stumbling block” of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Machen’s life serves as a blueprint for the believer in 2025. He stood firm against the “cultural pressures” of his time, proving that one man with the Truth is a majority. His mission was uncompromised until the end, fueled by the hope of the Blessed Hope.
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8, KJV)
J. Gresham Machen blew a certain sound. In an age of fog, he was a lighthouse. As we look toward the return of the Lord, let us be found with the same steel in our spine and the same Word in our hearts.