CHURCH HISTORY II Lesson 37 20th century Christianity in America

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CHURCH HISTORY II Lesson 3720th century
Christianity in America
What a mess!
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A movement whos adherents were seeking to
reshape the Christian faith into a form which
would be acceptable to modern man George
Marsden
Modernism
Fatherhood of God Brotherhood of Man
Dr. George Marsden Fundamentalism and the
American Culture
SOCIETAL POLITICAL/ECONOMIC PHILOSPHICAL/SCIENTIFI
C THEOLOGICAL/PRACTICAL
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What was the reaction of the churches?
Questioning Attitude

• Denied biblical authority
• Accepted optimistic world view
• Embraced social gospel

Indifferent Attitude

• Conservative in theology
• Not willing to fight
• Is it really that bad?

Fighting Attitude
BIBLE CONFERENCES BIBLE COLLEGS
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BIBLE CONFERENCE MOVEMENT

• James H Brooks The Truth
• William J. Erdman
• Fleming H. Revel
• P.P. Bliss

1875 Believers Meeting For Bible Study-Chicago
1876 Swampscott, Mass
A.J. Gordon The Watchword
1877 Watkins Glen, NY
14 Fundamentals
1878-1880 Clifton Springs, NY
NIAGARA CREED
1881 Old Orchard, ME
1882 Mackinac Island, MI
1883-1897 Niagara-on-the-Lake

• Doctrine of Christ
• Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
• Authority of the Bible
• Priority of Missions
• Prophecy

Queen Royal Hotel
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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
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Publication of The Fundamentals
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BIBLE COLLEGES
Nyack CMA 1883 Moody Bible Institute 1886 Gordon
College 1889
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Ira David Sankey 1840-1908
Dwight Lyman Moody 1837-1899
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REACTIONS TO MODERNISM PART 2
SEPERATION
Presbyterian Church United States (Northern
Presbyterians)
Princeton Seminary
Auburn Affirmation
1929-Dr. Machen leaves forms Westminster Seminary
1933-Machen tried for heresy Orthodox
Presbyterian Church established
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Northern Baptist Church
1923- W.B. Riley Baptist Bible Union within the
convention
1925- lost floor fight over adoption of New
Hampshire Confession of Faith
1932- 22 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

1988 1,600 churches Baptist Mid-Missions ABWE C
edarville University
1947 Conservative Baptist Association of America
W.B. Riley Richard Clearwater
Pillsbury Bible College Maranatha Baptist Bible
College Northwestern College
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1924 American Baptist Association
Most left Southern Baptist Convention
Distinctive Landmark theology
1970 3,300 small churches
Baptist Bible Fellowship
J. Frank Norris World Baptist Fellowship
Springfield, MO Baptist Bible College
Noel Smith The Sorry Confessions of a Flabby
White-haired Coward
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Evangelicalism
New Evangelicalism

• Bible final authority Common Authority

• Necessity of the new birth Common Experience

• Missionary zeal home abroad Common task

• The deity of Christ as the bedrock Common faith
• foundation for eternal life

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1936 Park Street Church

1. National Association of Evangelicals for United
   Action

Cooperation without compromise
1947 Fuller Seminary
1905-1985
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Theologian
Editor Christianity Today
Carl F.H. Henry (1913-2003)
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Evangelist
William Franklin Graham (1918- )
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