Pharisees and Sadducees # 4

Pharisees and Sadducees # 4

But, I desire to bring the subject even nearer at the present moment. I ask my readers to consider whether warnings like this are not especially needed in our own times. We have, undoubtedly, much to be thankful for. We have made great advances in arts and sciences in the last three centuries, and have much of the form and show of morality and religion. But, I ask anybody who can see beyond his own door, or his own living room, whether are do not live in the midst of dangers from false doctrines?

We have among us, on the one side, a group of men who, wittingly or unwittingly, are paving the way to the Church of Rome - a school that professes to draw its principles from primitive tradition, the writings of the Fathers, and the voice of  the Church - a teaching that talks and writes so much about the Church, the ministry, and the Sacraments, that it makes them like Aaron's rod which swallows up everything else in Christianity, a teaching that attaches vast importance to the outside form and ceremony of religion - to gestures, postures, bowings, crosses, holy water, seats of honor for the clergy, altar cloths, incense, statues, banners, processions, floral decorations, and many other like things, about which not a word is found in the Holy Scriptures as having any place in Christian worship! I refer, of course tothe school of Churchmen called Ritualists. When we examine the proceedings of that school, there can be but one conclusion concerning them. I believe whatever is the meaning and intention of its teachers, however devoted, zealous, and self-denying, many of them are, those whom have followed the cloak of the Pharisees.

We have, on the other hand, a school of men who, wittingly, or unwittingly, appear to pave the way to Socinianism - a school which holds strange views about the absolute inspiration of the Holy Scripture, and stranger views about the doctrine of sacrifice, and the Atonement of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, strange views about the eternity of punishment, and God's love to man, a school strong in negatives - but very weak in positives, skillful in raising doubts - but impotent in removing them, clever in unsettling and unscrewing men's faith - but powerless to offer any firm rest for man. And, whether the leaders of this school mean it or not - I believe that on them has fallen the cloak of the Sadducees.

These things sound harsh. It saves a vast deal of trouble - to shut our eyes, and say, "I see no danger," and because it is not seen, therefore not to believe it. It is easy to cover our ears and say, "I hear nothing," and because we hear nothing, therefore to feel no alarm. But we know well who they are that rejoice over the state of things we have to deplore in some quarters of our own Church. We know what the Roman Catholic thinks: we know what the Socinian thinks. The Roman Catholic rejoices over the rise of the Catholicism; the Socinian rejoices over the rise of men who teach such views as those set forth in modern days about the atonement and inspiration. They would not rejoice as they do if they did not see their work being done, and their cause being helped forward.

The danger, I believe, is far greater than we are apt to suppose. The books that are read in many quarters are most mischievous, and the tone of thought on religious subjects, among many classes, and especially among the higher ranks, is deeply unsatisfactory. The plague is abroad! If we love life, we ought to search our own hearts, and try our own faith, and make sure that we stand on the right foundation. Above all, we ought to take heed that we ourselves do not drink the poison of false doctrine, and go back from our first love!

I feel deeply the painfulness of speaking out on these subjects. I know well that speaking plain about false doctrine is very unpopular, and that the speaker must be content to find himself being thought of as very uncharitable, very troublesome, and very narrow-minded. Most people can never distinguish difference in religion. To the bulk of men a clergyman is a clergyman, and a sermon is a sermon, and as to any difference between one minister and another, or one doctrine and another, they are utterly unable to understand it. I cannot expect such people to approve of any warning against false doctrine. I must make up my mind to meet with their disapproval, and must bear it as I best can. But I will ask any honest-minded, unprejudiced Bible reader, to turn to the New Testament and see what he will find there. He will find many plain warnings against false doctrine:

"Watch out for false prophets!" (Matthew 7:15).

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy!" (Colossians 2:8).

"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings!" (Hebrews 13:9).

"Do not believe every spirit - but test the spirits to see whether they are from God!" (1 John 4:1).

He will find a large part of several inspired epistles taken up with elaborate explanations of the doctrine, and warnings against false teaching. I ask whether it is possible for a minister who takes the Bible for his rule of faith - to avoid giving warnings against doctrinal error!

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 5)