A book club to encourage reading of Reformed Christian Classics at around 10-20 pages a time.
August 6, 2010
Practical Religion - Ryle - XI - Chapter 10
Required reading Practical Religion by JC Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)- Read Chapter 10 (Formality). My summary Today Ryle rips into the subject of formality, 'When a man is Christian in name only'.
Firstly we learn that formal religion is not true religion, and a formal Christian is not a true Christian in God's sight.
Secondly we see that the heart is the seat of true religion, and that the true Christian is the Christian in heart.
Thirdly we are taught that true religion must never expect to be popular with man. It was not popular in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the early church or at the Reformation. But it is popular with God.
What grabbed me I particularly liked this quote about churches meeting under poor and feeble conditions: 'There are many assemblies of Christian worshippers on earth this very day in which there is literally nothing to attract the natural man. They meet in miserable dirty so-called chapels, or in wretched upper- rooms and cellars. They sing off tune. They have feeble prayers and feeble sermons. And yet the Holy Spirit is often in the midst of them! Sinners are often converted in them, and the Kingdom of God prospers far more than in any Roman Catholic Cathedral, or than in any gorgeous Protestant Churches. How is this? How can it be explained? The cause is simply this, that in these humble assemblies heart-religion is taught and held. Heart-work is aimed at. Heart-work is honored. And the consequence is that God is pleased and grants His blessing.'
What an encouragement. So much better to have a church that sings off tune with the heart, than to have a beautiful church choir without heart.
Next week's reading Read Chapter 11 (The world).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
1 comment:
Margo
said...
My comment on the chapters, 'Happiness' and 'Formality' is that happiness is something that we all want and formality is something we should all flee. I really liked the following from 'Happiness':
The plain truth is that without Christ there is no happiness in the world. He alone can give the Comforter who abides forever. He is the sun; without Him men never feel warm. He is the light; without Him men are always in the dark. He is the bread; without Him men are always starving. He is the living water; without Him men are always thirsty. Give them what you like-- place them where you please--surround them with all the comforts you can imagine--it makes no difference. Separate from Christ, the Prince of Peace, a man cannot be happy.
Believers, if you would have an increase of happiness in Christ's service, "labor every year to be more thankful." Pray that you may know more and more what it is to "rejoice in the Lord" (Philippians 3:1). Learn to have a deeper sense of your own wretched sinfulness and corruption, and to be more deeply grateful, that by the grace of God you are what you are. Yes, there is too much complaining and too little thanksgiving among the people of God! There is too much murmuring and poring over the things that we don't have. There is too little praising and blessing for the many undeserved mercies that we have. Oh that God would pour out upon us a great spirit of thankfulness and praise!
1 comment:
My comment on the chapters, 'Happiness' and 'Formality' is that happiness is something that we all want and formality is something we should all flee. I really liked the following from 'Happiness':
The plain truth is that without Christ there is no happiness in the world. He alone can give the Comforter who abides forever. He is the sun; without Him men never feel warm. He is the light; without Him men are always in the dark. He is the bread; without Him men are always starving. He is the living water; without Him men are always thirsty. Give them what you like-- place them where you please--surround them with all the comforts you can imagine--it makes no difference. Separate from Christ, the Prince of Peace, a man cannot be happy.
Believers, if you would have an increase of happiness in Christ's service, "labor every year to be more thankful." Pray that you may know more and more what it is to "rejoice in the Lord" (Philippians 3:1). Learn to have a deeper sense of your own wretched sinfulness and corruption, and to be more deeply grateful, that by the grace of God you are what you are. Yes, there is too much complaining and too little thanksgiving among the people of God! There is too much murmuring and poring over the things that we don't have. There is too little praising and blessing for the many undeserved mercies that we have. Oh that God would pour out upon us a great spirit of thankfulness and praise!
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