The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy #1 - Bible-Presbyterian Church History Series

The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy #1
Speaker: Reverend Joseph Poon
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BEFORE THE 1900’S: RISE OF MODERNISM AND LIBERALISM IN US
Modernism
Modernism may be defined as a method of interpreting Christian scripture and tradition, but not a particular set of beliefs. In the late 19th to early 20th centuries, it was a conviction that in the light of new scientific knowledge and the most recent Biblical historical research, an application of this new knowledge presents real issues for Christians. As a result, according to Modernism, the task of interpretation must be carried forward if the saving truth of the gospel is to be understood in its relevance to contemporary life.
Higher Criticism
The study of such matters as authorship, historical setting, and structure of the books of the Bible. German higher critics assumed that the Bible was filled with historical and scientific errors, and tried to reinterpret the Scriptures according to “modern” ideas... Although these higher critics based their conclusions not upon an objective evaluation of the evidence but upon unproven presuppositions, their arguments seemed plausible to many and soon gained commanding influence in many seminaries and Christian colleges.
Liberalism
The mindset of the liberals is often embodied in how leading German liberal theologian Harnack summarizes the “leading features of Jesus’ message” under the headings: the Kingdom of God and its Coming; God the Father and the Infinite Value of the Human Soul; the Higher Righteousness and the Commandment of Love. Another influential proponent of Liberal Theology, Albrecht Ritschl, believes that “Jesus saw in the Kingdom of God the moral task to be carried out by the human race, ... it is the organization of humanity through action inspired by love. Christianity itself is therefore both completely spiritual and thoroughly ethical.” This movement propagated the social gospel movement, wherein the concept of social sins involved society as awhole (e.g., poverty, child labor, poor working conditions, etc.) that these needed to be urgently addressed.
Fundamentalism: Term coined in 1920 for what was previously known as “Traditionalism”.
The 5 Fundamentals: In 1910 and 1916 the General Assembly, distressed by liberal theological tendencies of some ministerial candidates, declared that all candidates for ordination ought to be able to affirm the inerrancy of Scripture and the virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, miracle-working power, and bodily resurrection of Christ. While not exhaustive of Reformed doctrine, they were intended to be a quick means for conservatives to test orthodoxy of candidates seeking ordination, and were known as the ‘five points of fundamentalism’. These were again reaffirmed by the General Assembly in 1916 and 1923. At the same time, 64 authors representing the major Protestant denominations defended the Orthodox view of Scripture in the publication of “The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth”. This publication was sponsored by 2 laymen, millionaires in the oil business, was with the desire to “pass its truth on to others.”
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Modern Church History Series on The Bible-Presbyterian Faith (Part 1)
Bible Presbyterian Church of WA - Combined Fellowship
Friday 19th August 2016
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