The Importance of Dogma # 5

The Importance of Dogma # 5

Take, for a single instance, the dogma of eternal punishment. The questions has been raised of late whether the Church of England says anything about it in her formularies. Yet all this time the Prayer-book contains three singularly strong expressions on the subject. Almost the first petition is, "From everlasting damnation, good Lord, deliver us." In the Burial Service we say, by the side of the open grave, "Deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death." Even in the Church Catechism we teach children that in the Lord's Prayer they ask to be "kept from our ghastly enemy and everlasting death."

Once more I say, he who thinks little of "dogma," and yet uses the Prayer-book of the Church of England - is very inconsistent, and is occupying, whether he knows it or not, a most untenable and unreasonable position. I assert confidently that the Prayer-book is full of dogmatic theology.

(d) And now, in the fourth place, I have a word for those numerous opponents of "dogma" who care little for the Bible, Articles, or Prayer-book. I say that the advocates of dogma can turn boldly to the whole history of the progress and propagation of Christianity, from the time of the apostles down to the present day - and fearlessly appeal to its testimony. I challenge anyone to deny what I am going to say, and disprove it if he can.

I affirm, unhesitatingly, that there never has been any spread of the Gospel, any conversation of nations or countries, any successful evangelistic work - excepting by the proclamation of "dogma." I invite any opponent of dogmatic theology to name a single instance of a country, or town, or people, which has ever been Chritianized, moralized, or civilized - by merely telling men that Christ was a great moral Teacher; that they must love one another; that they must be true, and just, and unselfish, and generous, and brotherly, and high-souled, and the like!

No! no! no! Not one single victory can such teaching show us - not one trophy can such teaching exhibit. It has wrought no deliverance on the earth.

The victories of Christianity, wherever they have been won, have been won by distinct doctrinal theology - by telling men 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 in 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 honored with success, and is honoring 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 - show us at this day any village, or parish, or city, or district, which has been evangelized without "dogma" by their principles. They cannot do it - and they never will!

Christianity without "dogma" is a powerless thing. It may be beautiful to some minds - but it is childless and barren - it is cold and sterile as the moon. 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 world - we must fight with old apostolic weapons, and stick to "dogma."

No dogma - fruits!

No positive evangelical doctrine - no evangelization!

(e) In the fifth place, we may turn, boldly to the lives of all the most eminent saints who have adorned the Church of Christ, since its great Head left the world - and summon them as witnesses. I will not weary my readers with long lists of names, for happily they are legion. Let us examine the holiest Fathers, and Reformers, and Puritans, and Anglicans, and Dissenters, and Churchmen of every school, and Christians generally of every name, and nation, and people, and tongue. Let us search their diaries, and analyze their biographies, and study their letters. Let us just see what manner of men they have been in every age, who, by the consent of all their contemporaries, have been really holy, and saintly, and godly.

Where will you find one of them who did not cling to "dogma" - who did not hold certain great distinct doctrinal views, and live by the faith of them? I am satisfied that you will not find one! In their clearness of perception and degree of spiritual light, in the proportion they have assigned to particular articles of faith - they may have differed widely. In their mode of expressing their theological opinions they may not have agreed. But they have always had one common stamp and mark. They have not been content with vague ideas of "earnestness, and goodness, and sincerity, and charity." They have had certain systematic, sharply cut, and positive views of truth. They have known whom they believed, and what they believed, and why they believed. And so it always will be. You will never have Christian fruits without Christian roots - whatever novel-writers may say. You will never have eminent holiness - without dogmatic theology!

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 6)