Doctrinal Religion by Ryle

By Darrin R. Brooker

In these days where Christianity can mean whatever one wants it to mean and we’re told by the postmodern practitioners of religion that doctrine—specific facts about Christ and His work—are unimportant, we must at times even remind ourselves not to become tepid readers of the great truths revealed on the pages of the Bible. J. C. Ryle was another of the bold 19th century leaders who was unafraid to speak his mind. Here is a brief excerpt from one of his many tracts imploring his readers to throw aside their religious sentimentalism for the proclamation of a hearty and robust Christianity where the truth of Christ is exalted and the only means by which God saves.

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 whom 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 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 the world, we must fight with the old apostolic weapons, and stick to ‘dogma.’ No dogma, no fruits! No positive evangelical doctrine, no evangelization! The men who have made the deepest mark on their day and generation have always been men of most decided and distinct doctrinal views. It is the bold, decided outspoken man, like Capel Molyneux, or our grand old Protestant champion Hugh M’Neile, who makes a deep impression, and sets people thinking, and ‘turns the world upside down.’ It was ‘dogma’ in the apostolic ages which emptied the heathen temples, and shook Greece and Rome. It was ‘dogma’ which awoke Christendom from its slumbers at the time of the Reformation, and spoiled the Pope of one third of his subjects. It was ‘dogma’ which 100 years ago, revived the Church of England in the days of Whitefield, Venn, and Romaine, and blew up our dying Christianity into a burning flame. It is ‘dogma’ at this moment which gives power to every successful mission, whether at home or abroad. It is doctrine,—doctrine, clear ringing doctrine—which, like the ram’s horns at Jericho, casts down the opposition of the devil and sin.

-Edited from a tract What Do the Times require? by J.C. Ryle.