CHURCH HISTORY II Lesson 37 CHURCH HISTORY II Lesson th century Christianity in America “What a mess!”
“A movement who’s adherents were seeking to reshape the Christian faith into a form which would be acceptable to modern man” George Marsden Fatherhood of God Brotherhood of Man Dr. George Marsden Fundamentalism and the American Culture SOCIETAL POLITICAL/ECONOMIC PHILOSPHICAL/SCIENTIFIC THEOLOGICAL/PRACTICAL Modernism
What was the reaction of the churches? Indifferent Attitude Fighting Attitude BIBLE CONFERENCES BIBLE COLLEGS Questioning Attitude Denied biblical authority Accepted optimistic world view Embraced “social gospel” Conservative in theology Not willing to fight “Is it really that bad?”
BIBLE CONFERENCE MOVEMENT 1875Believer’s Meeting For Bible Study-Chicago Clifton Springs, NY 14 Fundamentals NIAGARA CREED Niagara-on-the-Lake 1876Swampscott, Mass James H Brooks “The Truth” William J. Erdman Fleming H. Revel P.P. Bliss A.J. Gordon “The Watchword” 1877Watkins Glen, NY 1881Old Orchard, ME 1882Mackinac Island, MI Queen Royal Hotel Doctrine of Christ Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Authority of the Bible Priority of Missions Prophecy
Effects of Niagara 1. Interdenominational attitude 2. Renewed missionary attitude: faith missions 3. Spawned bible conference movement 4. Exerted significant influence on Bible Colleges 5. Popularized Bible Reading- chronological vs. systematic 6. Vast rise in prophetic literature 7. Involved Christian Businessmen
Publication of The Fundamentals
BIBLE COLLEGES NyackCMA1883 Moody Bible Institute1886 Gordon College1889
Dwight Lyman Moody Ira David Sankey
REACTIONS TO MODERNISM PART 2 SEPERATION Presbyterian Church United States (Northern Presbyterians) Princeton SeminaryAuburn Affirmation 1929-Dr. Machen leaves; forms Westminster Seminary 1933-Machen tried for ‘heresy’ Orthodox Presbyterian Church established
Northern Baptist Church W.B. Riley Baptist Bible Union within the convention lost floor fight over adoption of New Hampshire Confession of Faith churches withdrew and form General Association of Regular Baptist Churches Haven for fundamentalist fellowship To promote independent orthodox missions To disseminate authentic information about conditions within the NBC 19881,600 churches Baptist Mid-Missions ABWE Cedarville University 1947: Conservative Baptist Association of America Pillsbury Bible College Maranatha Baptist Bible College Northwestern College W.B. Riley; Richard Clearwater
1924American Baptist Association Most left Southern Baptist Convention Distinctive:Landmark theology 19703,300 ‘small’ churches Baptist Bible Fellowship J. Frank NorrisWorld Baptist Fellowship Springfield, MOBaptist Bible College Noel Smith The Sorry Confessions of a Flabby White-haired Coward
EvangelicalismNew Evangelicalism Bible final authorityCommon Authority Necessity of the new birthCommon Experience Missionary zeal; home & abroadCommon task The deity of Christ as the bedrockCommon faith foundation for eternal life
1936 Park Street Church National Association of Evangelicals for United Action Cooperation without compromise 1947 Fuller Seminary
Carl F.H. Henry ( ) Theologian Editor Christianity Today
William Franklin Graham (1918- ) Evangelist