In this episode, we welcome Dr. D. G. Hart to discuss his book Defending the Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Crisis of Conservative Protestantism in Modern America. Who was J. Gresham Machen, and how do we best understand him? Pushing back on the narratives that Machen was either a “fundamentalist” or a villain – Dr. Hart takes us through some highlights of his life and career, and argues that he was a Presbyterian. As a confessional Presbyterian who prioritized the Scriptures and the confessions over social improvement and experience - Machen is not only an example in his time, but for our time. Dr. Hart also helps us understand Machen’s emphasis on the church and value for institutions as a lessons for conservative Christians today.

Book: Defending the Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Crisis of Conservative Protestantism in Modern America

Other books by Dr. Hart:

- The Lost Soul of American Protestantism

- Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism

- From Billy Graham to Sarah Palin: Evangelicals and the Betrayal of American Conservatism

- Calvinism: A History

- Ben Franklin: Cultural Protestant

Reformed Forum course: Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy

• Also see “The Special Commission of 1925”

Some books by J. Gresham Machen:

- Christianity and Liberalism

- What is Faith?

- The Virgin Birth of Christ

- The Origin of Paul’s Religion

also see J. Gresham Machen: Selected Shorter Writings, edited by Dr. Hart