From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Some historical footnotes are not matters of mere trivia, but warnings for our time. Such is the page from church history we share with you today.

A Tale of Two Westminsters

The "original" Westminster Theological Seminary, pictured below, was three blocks from the building where TeachingTheWord's offices are presently located in Westminster, Maryland USA. Founded in 1882, the "original" Westminster was part of the old Methodist Protestant Church. Through a series of mergers over the decades, the MPC was eventually absorbed into the apostate United Methodist Church of our day.

Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia was founded in 1929 by J. Gresham Machen and other Presbyterians to train men in the proclamation of the one true Gospel. By that time, the "original" Methodist Westminster was already in theological decline. The teaching of hard-core Arminianism had given way, as it eventually will, to the open teaching of salvation by works. Today the building that housed the "original" Westminster Theological Seminary is part of McDaniel College. No theology of any kind, except the religion of secular humanism, is taught there today.

Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia is now well along a similar path to spiritual oblivion.

Machen founded the school on the authority of Scripture alone, the hallmark of which is the faithful proclamation of justification in God's sight by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and finished work of Christ alone. But this solid teaching has long since given way to the false teachings of postmodern Biblical theology, a low view of Scripture, and with it the heresies of saving union with Christ through water baptism, and justification by faith plus works, championed by Norman Shepherd, Richard Gaffin, and others.¹

Given its continued insistence on "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9), Westminster in Philadelphia may well - and deservedly - suffer the same ignominious end as the "original" Westminster.

A Warning to All

This is a warning to all Christian educational institutions, and churches, that were founded to proclaim the truth of God's Word: It only takes one generation to lose it all. This is why Paul gave such a strongly-worded charge to young Timothy --

Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra - what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!

Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 3:8-4:5)

References:

1. The decline of Westminster in Philadelphia is documented in a number of books published in the past fifteen years, including The Changing of the Guard by Mark W. Karlberg and Christianity and Neo-Liberalism by Paul M. Elliott. A 2014 update on Dr. Karlberg's book, "Master of Deception an Intrigue: Yet Another Glimpse Into the Work and Psyhe of Westminster Seminary," appears here.

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