The Importance of Dogma # 7

The Importance of Dogma # 7

And now let me conclude this paper with two special words of warning. They are warnings so closely connected with my subject that I dare not keep them back. I offer them with some confidence, for I lay no claim to infallibility. I ask my readers to take them for what they are worth. They are cautions for the times in which we live.

(a) On the one hand I desire to raise a warning voice against the growing disposition to sacrifice dogma on the altar of so-called unity, and to give up sound doctrine for the sake of peace and cooperation. The tide is running strongly in that direction - so we must mind what we are about. Peace is an excellent thing - but it may be bought too dear. And it is bought too dear if we keep back any portion of gospel truth - in order to exhibit to men a hollow semblance of unity. The divisions of the Church are unhappy and dangerous. They are the strength of liberalism, and the laughing-stock of the world. They are an evil omen. God sees them, and is displeased. When children fight about the candle - they are often left in the dark.

But for Christ's sake let us  beware of trying to heal our breaches by lowering our standard of doctrine, and watering our statements of truth in order to avoid giving offence. To skin over a wound externally, while mischief is going on inside, a poor surgery, and not a cure. Some men cut the knot - by refusing to show their faces or open their mouths except in the presence of sympathizing and congenial audiences. Be it so, if they please. I shall throw no stone at them. Others think they are more in the line of duty (if not of pleasure) when we stand boldly in any place where we can get a fair hearing, whether on Congress platforms or in cathedral pulpits, and try to confess Christ, and to confront error by truth.

But whatever line of conduct we adopt, whether we sit at home at ease, or do battle and jeopardize our lives on high places, and face contradiction - let us never compromise sound doctrine for the sake of pleasing anyone, whether he be Bishop or Presbyter, Romanist or Infidel, Ritualist or Neologian, Churchman or Dissenter, or Plymouth brother.

Let us be civil and courteous to every one, however much we may disagree with him. Let us never, never compromise and give up one jot or tittle of Evangelical dogma.

Well says Martin Luther: "Accursed is that charity which is preserved by the shipwreck of faith or truth, to which all things must give place; both charity, or an apostle, or an angel from Heaven." 

Well says Dr. Gauden: "If either peace or truth must be dispensed with, it is peace and not truth. Better to have truth without public peace - than peace without saving truth."

(b) On the other hand, I desire to raise a warning voice against the growling tendency to be dogmatic about things which are not necessary to salvation. To be positive where the Bible is silent, to condemn and anathematize those whom God has not condemned, and to exalt things indifferent and secondary to a level with the primary verities and weightier matters of the gospel. By all means let us be bold, firm, and unbending as steel, about every jot and tittle of Evangelical dogma and Christ's truth; but let us not cultivate the detestable habit of excommunicating every man who does not see everything exactly with our eyes, and pronounce Shibboleth precisely as we do. For Christ's sake let us make allowances for slight varieties of opinion in non-essential matters. Let us not out-ritualize ritualists in over-scrupulousness and particularity. Let us not squabble about straws - when the Canaanite and Perizzite are in the land; or bite and devour one another, like the wretched Jewish factions in the siege of Jerusalem, when the Romans were thundering at the gates! Never, never, I am persuaded, was the old saying of Rupertus Meldenius so worthy of daily remembrance:

"In essentials - unity.
In non-essentials - diversity.
In all things - charity.

"But even if we or an angel from Heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8-9).

~J. C. Ryle~

(The End)