My mind boggles a little bit when I realize that I have been writing this monthly column for almost eleven years! With the exception of the two months that I missed because of surgery, it has been my privilege to have this little “extra sermon” come to you on a regular basis.
Frankly, I am surprised that it is still such a delight to me. Now, notice I did not say it is a delight to you! But, I trust that might be the case as many of you take the time to mention how this or that particular writing has been a help to you or to someone with whom you have shared.
Now, I say all of this to “set up” a bit of a change for this month. In all of the 120+ articles written to you, there have been but two or three in which I used someone else’s writing as the bulk of what I wanted to say to you. It is, after all, “The Pastor’s Pen” and not “The Shepherd’s Sharing” or “The Bishop’s Book Review.” However, this month I have come across something so good, and so pertinent, that I want to simply let another man do the writing.
This past month a new ministry began at Elim, which is aimed at the men of the church (young and old) to have a monthly time of sharing, studying and praying together. As a part of this work, the brother leading the group has asked that those involved read J. C. Ryle’s booklet, “Practical Religion.” Written in the late 1800’s, the following words of that dear brother seem as if directed at our own day. And these things are so relevant and so important that I did not want them kept to the men alone! Please read with a humble heart before our Lord.
We live in an age of special spiritual danger. Never perhaps since the world began was there such an immense amount of mere outward profession of religion as there is in the present day. A painfully large proportion of all the congregations in the land consists of unconverted people, who know nothing of heart-religion, never come to the Lord’s Table, and never confess Christ in their daily lives. Myriads of those who are always running after preachers, and crowding to hear special sermons, are nothing better than empty tubs, and tinkling cymbals, without a bit of real vital Christianity at home.
It is curious and instructive to observe how history repeats itself, and how much sameness there is in the human heart in every age. Even in the Early Church, many persons were found at church for the great Christian ceremonies, and at the theaters, or even at the temples, for the heathen spectacles. The ritual of the Church was viewed as a theatrical spectacle. The sermons were listened to as the display of rhetoricians; and eloquent preachers were cheered, with clapping of hands, stamping of feet, waving of handkerchiefs, cries of “Orthodox,” “Thirteenth Apostle,” and such like demonstrations, which such teachers as Chrysostom and Augustine tried to restrain, that they might persuade their flocks to a more profitable manner of hearing. Some went to Church for the sermon only, alleging that they could pray at home. And when the more attractive parts of the service were over, the great mass of the people departed without remaining for the Lord’s Table.
The parable of the sower is continually receiving most vivid and painful illustrations. The pathway hearers, the stony-ground hearers, the thorny-ground hearers abound on every side.
The life of many religious persons, I fear, in this age, is nothing better than a “continual course of spiritual tasting.” They are always morbidly craving fresh excitement; and they seem to care little what it is if they only get it. All preaching seems to be the same to them; and they appear unable to “see differences” so long as they hear what is clever, have their ears tickled, and sit in a crowd. Worst of all, there are hundreds of young believers who are so infected with the same love of excitement, that they actually think it a duty to be always seeking it. Insensible almost to themselves, they take up a kind of hysterical, sensational, sentimental Christianity, until they are never content with the “old paths” and, like the Athenians, are always running after something new.
To see a calm-minded young believer, who is not stuck up, self confident, self-conceited, and more ready to teach than learn, but content with a daily steady effort to grow up into Christ’s likeness, and to do Christ’s work quietly and inconspicuously, at home, is really becoming almost a rarity! They show how little deep root they have, and how little knowledge of their hearts, by noise, forwardness, readiness to contradict and set down old Christians, and over-weaning trust in their own fancied soundness and wisdom! Well will it be for many young professors of this age if they do not end, after being tossed about for a while, and “carried to and fro by every wind of doctrine,” by joining some petty, narrow-minded, censorious sect, or embracing some senseless, unreasoning heresy. Surely, in times like these there is great need for self- examination.
When we look around us, we may well ask, “How is it with our souls?”
In handling this question, I think the shortest plan will be to suggest a list of subjects for self-examination, and to get them in order…Bear with me if I say things which at first sight look harsh and severe. Believe me, he is your best friend who tells you the most truth.(1) Let me ask, in the first place, “Do we ever think about our souls at all?”
(2) Let me ask, in the second place, whether we ever do anything about our souls?
(3) Let me ask, in the third place, whether we are trying to satisfy our consciences with a mere formal religion?
(4) Let me ask, in the fourth place, whether we have received the forgiveness of our sins?
(5) Let me ask, in the fifth place, whether we know anything by experience of conversion to God.
(6) Let me ask, in the sixth place, whether we know anything of practical Christian holiness?
(7) Let me ask, in the seventh place, whether we know anything of enjoying the means of grace?
(8) Let me ask, in the eighth place, whether we ever try to do any good in the world?
(9) Let me ask, in the ninth place, whether we know anything of living the life of habitual communion with Christ?
(10) Let me ask, in the tenth and last place, whether we know anything of being ready for Christ’s second coming?
Dear people of Elim, these things are just as fresh today as when they were written. Join me, your pastor who loves and prays for you, in asking these questions of ourselves and seeking to live proper answers to the glory of God!
Posted on May 1st, 2009 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: From the Pastor’s Pen