The first thing that liberals believe about doctrine is we don't need it. It's not necessary. Christianity is ultimately a lifestyle.

You folks sitting in the pew, you don't need to worry about theology or doctrine. all doctrine is is the debate of the subtleties by the theologians.

That's all doctrine is. Yes. as you study God's word, perhaps even after you've listened to an episode of renewing

her mind. Have any of them replied by saying, we don't need doctrine, we have Jesus?

If you have, you're not alone. I've heard it many times over the years and so did

J. Gresha Machen even a hundred years ago. You're listening to renewing your

mind and today Stephen Nichols will help us understand the importance of doctrine, of right

and biblical doctrine.

As Mechin responded to the liberalism of his day, he addressed specific areas of disagreement, areas where these

liberals had abandoned the historic Christian faith. You can read Maatchin's

response in a special 100th anniversary edition of Christianity and liberalism available

today only for a donation of any amount at renewing or mind.org.

One of these areas of disagreement was with liberalism's understanding of doctrine.

Here's Dr Nichols with how Machen responded.

We're going to be studying doctrine. Key doctrines. You could even say basic doctrines.

These doctrines all come from the chapters of Maetin's book, Christianity and liberalism.

This book, as we've been talking about, was written in 1923, but there is a relevance and an urgency to this book. And I think the reason is this.

Machen was in his times, he was a man of his day that challenges, the conflicts, the controversies

that were swirling around him.

Maitin wasn't aloof from that or removed from that. He was right in the middle of it. He was in the arena. But Meachin had the

ability to look past what was the particular issue,

or what others would have said was the pressing issue,

...