The Conflict Averse Church

The irony of the phrase “bully pulpit” is that too often the bullies are found in the pews, not in the pulpit.

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What happens when a church loses its courage to fight for truth? In 1923, J. Gresham Machen published Christianity & Liberalism, a book that shook the foundations of American Protestantism.

In this first lecture, Pastor Dell dives into Machen’s blistering critique of modernism and liberal Christianity—a critique that feels just as urgent today. From the “low visibility” fights of conflict-averse churches to the spiritual sinkholes on every Main Street in modern America, we’ll explore why Machen called for a new Reformation.

Join us as we uncover what it means to stand sharply and clearly for the Gospel in a world that’s forgotten how to fight for its soul.

Download the class handout here.

This lecture was prepared for the adult Sunday School class at the First Congregational Church, Woodbury, Connecticut and delivered on April 27, 2025.