Here is a great quote by J.C. Ryle that I found at Kevin DeYoung’s blog:
J.C. Ryle:
Mark what I say. If you want to do good in these times, you must throw aside indecision, and take up a distinct, sharply-cut, doctrinal religion. If you believe little, those to who you try to do good will believe nothing.
The victories of Christianity, wherever they have been won, have been won by distinct doctrinal theology; by telling men roundly of Christ’s vicarious death and sacrifice; by showing them Christ’s substitution on the cross, and His precious blood; by teaching them justification by faith, and bidding them believe on a crucified Saviour; by preaching ruin by sin, redemption by Christ, regeneration by the Spirit; by lifting up the brazen serpent; by telling men to look and live—to believe, repent, and be converted.
This—this is the only teaching which for eighteen centuries God has honoured with success, and is honouring at the present day both at home and abroad. Let the clever advocates of a broad and undogmatic theology—the preachers of the gospel of earnestness, and sincerity and cold morality—let them, I say, show us at this day any English village, or parish, or city, or town, or district, which has been evangelized without “dogma,” by their principles. They cannot do it, and they never will.
Christianity without distinct doctrine is a powerless thing. It may be beautiful to some minds, but it is childless and barren. There is no getting over the facts. The good that is done in the earth may be comparatively small. Evil may abound, and ignorant impatience may murmur and cry out that Christianity has failed. But, depend on it, if we want to “do good” and shake the world, we must fight with the old apostolic weapons, and stick to “dogma.” No dogma, no fruits! No positive evangelical doctrine, no evangelization! (Holiness, 355-356)
Dave Miller (87)
Debbie Kaufman (54)
Rick Patrick (49)
Bart Barber (30)
Chris Roberts (29)
Christiane (28)
Frank (28)
Bob Hadley (27)
Greg Harvey (26)
William Thornton (25)
It is true, if one grasps the nature of the doctrines and how they influence human behavior. One of the things I discovered in 6 years of research in Baptist Church History was how the doctrines were all two-sided and apparently contradictory and that the two-sidedness set up a desirable tension in the mind of the believer which enabled him or her to be balanced, flexible, creative, and magnetic. Doctrines must be biblical and Christ centered; they must be considered with regard to their depths and how they really can reach and empower God’s children so that they accomplish things for His glory. I have always wanted to share what I had found with many, but no one seemed interested. That lack of interest continues to this day. One reason is that the folks who run things fear that a resurgence of true biblical faith could take the whole world away from them for a 1000 and one generations, and they are right. The truths of scripture are dynamic, enabling and empowering the believer to become winsome, mature, attractive, charming, appealing, exciting, enthusiastic, in the best sense of the word. HOW ELSE DOES ONE EXPLAIN THE PERIOD FROM 1740-1820, THE TIME OF THE FIRST AND SECOND GREAT AWAKENINGS AND THE LAUNCHING OF THE GREAT CENTURY OF MISSIONS?
Matt,
Great quote from the Great Bishop of Liverpool.
If you, or any of your readers here at SBC Voices, are interested in more of John Charles Ryle, feel free to visit my site for many more of Ryle’s Christ-Centered quotes @ http://jcrylequotes.com/
Soli Deo Gloria!
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