Deeds without Creeds?

I finally read "Christianity and Liberalism" by J. Gresham Machen.  It was a real treat - it's clear, winsome, and concise.  He wrote it from within the Presbyterian Church USA, before the split occurred that formed the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.  Though his arguments were applicable beyond his ecclesiastical context, his focus was his denomination - something that is frequently overlooked.

In this book, Machen sets out to demonstrate that Liberalism was not an expression of the Christian faith; rather, it was an altogether different religion.  In his first chapter, he argues that the Liberals were not actually advocating a doctrine-less Christianity (i.e., deeds without creeds).  In fact, they were just as concerned about doctrine as he was.  Different doctrines were their concern.  He writes:

But is it really doctrine as such that is objected to, and not rather one particular doctrine in the interests of another?  Undoubtedly, in many forms of liberalism it is the latter alternative which fits the case.  There are doctrines of modern liberalism, just as tenaciously and intolerantly upheld as any doctrines that find a place in the historic creeds.  Such for example are the liberal doctrines of the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man.  These doctrines are, as we shall see, contrary to the doctrines of the Christian religion. [p. 16 in the Eerdmans 2009 edition]

Liberalism is not something confined to the early to mid-20th century.  It is alive and well within our churches today.  You find it wherever the creeds of Christianity take backseat to cultural transformation, social action, and being nice.  The content of your belief doesn't really matter.  What matters is your sincerity and religious experience.  But rather than fall into that trap, we must recognize that even downplaying Christian doctrine is to implicitly advocate a different set of doctrines.