Education Quote by J. Gresham Machen
““The truth is that the life-purpose of Jesus discovered by modern liberalism is not the life purpose of the real Jesus, but merely represents those elements in the teaching of Jesus--isolated and misinterpreted--which happen to agree with the modern program. It is not Jesus, then, who is the real authority, but the modern principle by which the selection within Jesus' recorded teaching has been made. Certain isolated ethical principles of the Sermon on the Mount are accepted, not at all because they are teachings of Jesus, but because they agree with modern ideas.””
About This Quote
Modern liberalism selectively adopts parts of Jesus' teachings that align with its agenda, ignoring the full authority of Jesus.
In simple terms: Modern views pick parts of Jesus that fit them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize selective interpretation.
Themes
religion
politics
interpretation
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
historical
When to use this quote
- church sermons
- political debates
- academic studies
- media commentary
Key Concepts
theology
ideology
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- What teachings are being emphasized?
- How does this affect faith practice?
A Different Perspective
Selective reading can distort original intent.
![“[John Stuart] Mill held that truth emerges from an unfettered competition of ideas and that individual character is most improved when allowed to find its own way uncoerced. That vision was insufficient for 20th-century American liberalism...Modern liberalism's perfectionist ambitions--reflected…” quote by Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec8/charles-krauthammer-1232_truth_john-stuart-mill-held-that-truth-emerges_609228.jpg)
