Body of christ Quote by J. Gresham Machen
““Far more serious still is the division between the Church of Rome and evangelical Protestantism in all its forms. Yet how great is the common heritage which unites the Roman Catholic Church, with its maintenance of the authority of Holy Scripture and with its acceptance of the great early creeds, to devout Protestants today! We would not indeed obscure the difference which divides us from Rome. The gulf is indeed profound. But profound as it is, it seems almost trifling compared to the abyss which stands between us and many ministers of our own Church. The Church of Rome may represent a perversion of the Christian religion; but naturalistic liberalism is not Christianity at all.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “Christianity and Liberalism”, 1923
The split between Catholicism and Protestantism is deep, yet the larger divide lies between mainstream Christianity and liberal secularism, which lacks true Christian foundations.
In simple terms: The biggest religious divide is between Christianity and liberal secularism.
Key Takeaway
Recognize deeper spiritual divides beyond denominational differences.
Themes
religion
division
theology
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- church debates
- interfaith dialogues
- cultural criticism
Key Concepts
Christian doctrine
secular liberalism
ecumenism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can Christians address the rise of secular liberalism?
- What common ground exists between denominations?
A Different Perspective
Liberalism may claim moral values but lacks Christian grounding.
