Machen loved liberty. And he saw the value of freedom of expression in ecclesial debate. He was a pamphleteer, often self-funding the printing of thousands of copies of an article or address to advance one of his many causes. He was involved with church newspapers and magazines. Items about him or by him were likely to appear in major newspapers like the New York Times. He wrote letters to editors and testified before Congress. It is fair to say that he would not be among the chorus of voices now crying that there are too many podcasts, tweets, and blog posts on church issues. He wrote about this freedom in his most autobiographical of works, a book chapter called “Christianity in Conflict.”
"I am opposed to the growing discouragement of free discussion in my own church and other churches. I am opposed to secret church courts or judicial commissions. In all ecclesiastical affairs I believe in open covenants openly arrived at. I am opposed with all my might to actions like the action of the last Presbyterian General Assembly tending to discourage publicity regarding measures proposed for adoption by the church."
Machen was the victim of whispering and slander campaigns, and of unfair (sometimes illegal) church court processes. Many feel that he and his allies should have done more in the way of filing charges against those in error rather than simply engaging in publicity and rhetorical wars, but because he was usually in the minority, his actions were often defensive.
He was also an early religious radio broadcaster, though no recordings of his voice exist. We have to think he would have loved podcasting.
It becomes obvious if you study Machen’s times that the level of acrimony and aggression in public ecclesial debate was far higher in the mainline churches of the 20th century than is ever seen today, especially in the PCA or NAPARC worlds. There is just no comparison.
by Brad Isbell