Bishop John Charles Ryle says (10 May 1816 - 10 June 1900):
"We are not to think it strange, if the Gospel rends asunder
families, and causes estrangement between the nearest relations. It is sure
to do so in many cases, because of the deep corruption of man's heart. So
long as one man believes, and another remains unbelieving--so long as one is
resolved to keep his sins, and another desirous to give them up, the result
of the preaching of the Gospel must needs be division. For this the Gospel
is not to blame, but the heart of man........No doubt unity and peace are
mighty blessings. We ought to seek them, pray for them, and give up
everything in order to obtain them, excepting truth and a good conscience.
But it is an idle dream to suppose that the churches of Christ will enjoy
much unity and peace before the millennium comes."
2 comments:
Amen. Bishop Ryle could teach our generation a thing or two about biblical peace and unity.
There is a purposefull brand of unity that is associated with strong vision and single-mindedness, and there is another thing entirely... a diluted so-called unity that ignores significant distinctives in order to emphasize commonalities. That second group is not a good example of unity; it is more like a mob, a horde, a vapid swarm. The Holy Scriptures do not call us to smooth out all the edges of intolerance, so that we wind up insipid, worthless and ungodly.
Let us forsake the counterfeit that comes from our depraved imaginations and gather around the real Christ--as he is revealed in God's Word, and be full-out committed to genuine discipleship, and we will find a bond of unity that the world cannot know. (Not only the world, but also the many who profess Christ, but conform to the image and standards of this world.)
Let us take up our crosses and follow Him.
Thanks for stopping by Craver. I appreeciate your thoughts from your heart of hearts, and these excellent words, full and deep of truth; God's truth.
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