Formalism - John Charles Ryle

“Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”–2 Timothy 3:5

“A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision
merely outward and physical.”

“No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is
circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.
Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.”
Romans 2:28-29

The texts which head this paper deserve serious attention at any time.
But they deserve special notice in this age of the Church and the
world. Never since the Lord Jesus Christ left the earth, was there so
much formalism and false profession as there is in the present day.
Now, more than ever, we ought to examine ourselves, and search our
religion, that we may know what sort it really is. Let us try to find
out whether our Christianity is a thing of form or a thing of heart.

I know of no better way of unfolding the subject than by turning to a
plain passage of the Word of God. Let us listen to what Paul says
about it. He lays down the following great principles in his Epistle
to the Romans: “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is
circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is
one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the
Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men,
but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). Three most instructive lessons appear
to me to stand out on the face of that passage. Let us see what they
are.

I. We learn, first, that formal religion is not true religion, and a
formal Christian is not a true Christian in God’s sight.

II. We learn, secondly, that the heart is the seat of true religion,
and that the true Christian is the Christian in heart.

III. We learn, thirdly, that true religion must never expect to be
popular. It will not have the “praise of man, but praise from God.”

Let us thoroughly consider these great principles. Two hundred years
have passed away since a mighty Puritan preacher said, “Formalism,
formalism, formalism is the great sin of this day, under which the
whole country groans. There is more light than there was, but less
life; more profession, but less holiness.” (Thomas Hall, on 2 Timothy
3:5, 1658). What would this good man have said if he lived in our
times?

I. We learn first, that “formal religion is not religion, and a formal
Christian is not a Christian in God’s sight.”

What do I mean when I speak of formal religion? This is a point that
must be made clear. Thousands, I suspect, know nothing about it.
Without a distinct understanding of this point my whole paper will be
useless. My first step will be to paint, describe, and define.

When a man is a Christian in name only, and not in reality–in outward
things only, and not in his inward feelings–in profession only, and
not in practice–when his Christianity in short is a mere matter of
form, or fashion, or custom, without any influence on his heart or life-
-in such a case as this the man has what I call a “formal religion.”
He possesses indeed the “form,” or shell, or surface of religion, but
he does not possess its substance or its “power.”

Look for example at those thousands of people whose whole religion
seems to consist in keeping religious ceremonies and ordinances. They
regularly attend public worship. They regularly go to the Lord’s
Table. But they never get any further. They know nothing of true
heartfelt Christianity. They are not familiar with the Scriptures, and
take no delight in reading them. They do not separate themselves from
the ways of the world. They draw no distinction between godliness and
ungodliness in their friendships, or matrimonial alliances. They care
little or nothing about the distinctive doctrines of the Gospel. They
appear utterly indifferent as to what they hear preached. You may be
in their presence for weeks, and from what you hear or see on any week
day, you might easily assume they were atheists. What can be said
about these people? They clearly profess to be Christians; and yet
there is neither heart nor life in their Christianity. There is but
one thing to be said about them–they are formal Christians. Their
religion is only a FORM.

Look in another direction at those hundreds of people whose religion
seems to consist of a lot of talk and profession. They know the theory
of the Gospel with their heads, and profess to delight in Evangelical
doctrine. They can say a lot about the “soundness” of their own views,
and the “ignorance” of all who disagree with them. But they never get
any further! When you examine their inner lives you find that they
know nothing of practical godliness. They are neither truthful, nor
loving, nor humble, nor honest, nor kind, nor gentle, nor giving, nor
honorable. What shall we say of these people? They claim to be
Christians, and yet there is neither substance nor fruit in their
Christianity. There is but one thing to be said–They are formal
Christians. Their religion is only an empty FORM.

Such is the formal religion against which I wish to raise a warning
voice this day. Here is the rock on which multitudes of people from
every part of the world are making catastrophic shipwreck of their
souls. One of the wickedest things that was ever said was this: “Don’t
worry about your religion, but only the appearance of it.”

Such notions are from the earth. No, rather they are from beneath the
earth: they smell of the pit. Beware of them, and stand on your guard.
If there is anything about which the Scripture speaks expressly, it is
the sin and uselessness of FORMALISM.

Listen to what Paul tells the Romans: “A man is not a Jew if he is only
one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical” (Romans
2:28). These are strong words indeed! A man might be a son of Abraham
according to the flesh–a member of one of the twelve tribes–
circumcised the eighth day–a keeper of all the feasts–a regular
worshipper in the temple–and yet in God’s sight not be a Jew! In the
same way, a man may be a Christian by outward profession–a member of a
Christian Church–baptized with Christian baptism–faithful in
receiving the Lord’s Supper–and yet in God’s sight, not a Christian at
all.

Hear what the prophet Isaiah says:

“The multitude of your sacrifices–what are they to
me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of
burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened
animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls
and lambs and goats. When you come to appear
before me, who has asked this of you, this
trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless
offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New
Moons, Sabbaths and convocations–I cannot bear
your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and
your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have
become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will
hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many
prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of
blood” (Isaiah 1:10-15).

These words, when examined, are extraordinary. The sacrifices which
are here declared to be useless were appointed by God Himself! The
feasts and ordinances which God says He “hates,” had been prescribed by
Him! God Himself pronounces His own institutions to be useless when
they are used formally and without heart in the worshipper! In fact,
they are worse than useless; they are even offensive and hurtful.
Words cannot be imagined more distinct and unmistakable. They show
that formal religion is worthless in God’s sight. It is not worth
calling it religion at all.

Hear, lastly what our Lord Jesus Christ says. We find Him saying of
the Jews of His day: “These people honor me with their lips, but their
hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are
but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:8-9). We see Him repeatedly
denouncing the formalism and hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees,
and warning His disciples against it. Eight times in one chapter
(Matthew 23:13) He says to them, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites!” But for the worst of sinners He always had
a word of kindness, and held out to them an open door. But formalism,
He would have us know, is a desperate disease, and must be exposed in
the severest language. To the eye of an ignorant man a formalist may
seem to have a very decent “quantity” of religion, though not perhaps
of the best “quality.” In the eye of Christ, however, the case is very
different. In His sight formalism is not a true religion at all.

What shall we say to these testimonies of Scripture? It would be easy
to add to them. They do not stand alone. If words mean anything, they
are a clear warning to all who profess and call themselves Christians.
They teach us plainly that as we dread sin and avoid sin, so we ought
to dread formalism and avoid formalism. Formalism may take your hand
with a smile, and look like a brother, while sin comes against us with
drawn sword, and strikes at us like an enemy. But both have one end in
view. Both want to ruin our souls; and of the two, formalism is the
one most likely to do it. If we love life, let us beware of formalism
in religion.

Nothing is “so common.” It is one of the great family diseases of the
whole race of mankind. It is born with us, grows with us, and is never
completely cast out of us till we die. It meets us in church, it meets
us among the rich, and it meets us among the poor. It meets us among
educated people, and it meets us among the uneducated. It meets us
among the Roman Catholics, and it meets us among Protestants. It meets
us among the leaders of the church, and it meets us among the newest
member. It meets us among Evangelicals, and it meets us among those
who go through many rituals, like the Liberals do. Go wherever we
will, and join whatever Church we may, we are never beyond the risk of
its infection. We will find it among Quakers and Plymouth Brethren, as
well as among the Roman Catholics. The man who thinks that there is no
formal religion in his church, is a very blind and ignorant person. If
you love life, beware of formalism.

Nothing is “so dangerous” to a man’s own soul. Familiarity with the
form of religion, while we neglect its reality, has a fearfully
deadening effect on the conscience. It brings up by degrees a thick
crust of insensibility over the whole inner man. None seem to become
so desperately hard as those who are continually repeating holy words
and handling holy things, while their hearts are running after sin and
the world. Leaders of our society, who go to church just for show, to
make everyone think they are religious–Fathers who have family prayers
formally, to keep up a good appearance in their homes–unconverted
ministers, who every week are reading prayers and lessons of Scripture,
in which they feel no real interest–unconverted church members, who
are constantly reading responses and saying “Amen,” without feeling
what they say–unconverted singers, who sing the most spiritual hymns
every Sunday, merely because they have good voices, while their
affections are entirely on things below–all, all, all are in awful
danger. They are gradually hardening their hearts, and searing the
skin of their consciences. If you love your own soul, beware of
formalism.

Nothing, finally, is “so foolish,” senseless, and unreasonable. Can a
formal Christian really suppose that the mere outward Christianity he
professes will comfort him in the day of sickness and the hour of
death? That is impossible. A painting of a fire cannot warm, and a
painted banquet cannot satisfy hunger, and a formal religion cannot
bring peace to the soul. Can he suppose that God does not see the
heartlessness and deadness of his Christianity? Though he may deceive
neighbors, acquaintances, fellow-worshippers, and ministers with a form
of godliness, does he think that he can deceive God? The very idea is
absurd. “Does He who formed the eye not see?” He knows the very
secrets of the heart. He will “judge the secrets of men” at the last
day. He who said to each of the seven Churches, “I know your works,”
is not changed. He who said to the man without the wedding garment,
“Friend, how did you get in here?” will not be deceived by a little
cloak of outward religion. If you don’t want to be put to shame at the
last day, once more I say, beware of formalism. (Psalm 94:9; Romans
2:16; Revelation 2:2; Matthew 22:11)

II. I move on to the second thing which I want you to consider. “The
heart is the seat of true religion, and the true Christian is the one
who is a Christian in their heart.”

The heart is the real test of a man’s character. It is not what he
says or what he does by which the man may be always known. He may say
and do things that are right, from false and unworthy motives, while
his heart is altogether wrong. The heart is the man. “As he thinks in
his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).

The heart is the right test of a man’s religion. It is not enough that
a man holds to correct doctrine, and maintains a proper outward form of
godliness. What is in his heart? That is the great question. That is
what God looks at. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). This is what Paul lays down
distinctly as the standard measure of the soul: “A man is a Jew if he
is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart” (Romans
2:28). Who can doubt that this mighty sentence was written for
Christians as well as for Jews? He is a Christian, the apostle would
have us know, which is one inwardly, and baptism is that of the heart.

The heart is the place where saving religion must begin. It is
naturally irreligious, and must be renewed by the Holy Spirit. “I will
give you a new heart,” your old heart is naturally hard, and must be
made tender and be broken. “I will remove from you your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh.” “The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” Man’s heart is a heart naturally
closed and shut against God, and must be opened. The Lord “opened the
heart” of Lydia. (Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 51:17; Acts 16:14)

The heart is the seat of true saving faith. “For it is with your heart
that you believe and are justified” (Romans 10:10). A man may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, as the demons do, and yet remain in his sins.
He may believe that he is a sinner, and that Christ is the only Savior,
and occasionally wish that he was a better man. But no one ever lays
hold of Christ, and receives pardon and peace, until he believes with
the heart. It is heart-faith that justifies.

The heart is the origin of true holiness and the source for continued
obedience. True Christians are holy because their hearts are committed
to Christ. They obey from the heart. They do the will of God from the
heart. Weak, and feeble, and imperfect as all their deeds are, they
please God, because they are done from a loving heart. He who
commended the widow’s offering of a few pennies more than all the
offerings of the wealthy Jews, regards quality far more than quantity.
What He likes to see is a thing done from “an honest and good heart”
(Luke 8:15). There is no real holiness without a right heart towards
Christ.

The things I am saying may sound strange. Perhaps they run counter to
all the notions of some into whose hands this paper may fall. Perhaps
you have thought that if a man’s religion is correct outwardly, he must
be one with whom God is well pleased. You are completely mistaken.
You are rejecting the whole tenor of Bible teaching. Outward
correctness without a right heart is neither more or less than living
like a Pharisee. The outward things of Christianity–Baptism, the
Lord’s Supper, Church-membership, giving, Bible-reading, and the like–
will never take any man’s soul to heaven, unless his heart is right.
There must be inward things as well as outward–and it is on the inward
things that God’s eyes are chiefly fixed.

Hear how Paul teaches us about this matter in three most striking
texts:

“Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s
commands is what counts” (1 Corinthians 7:19).

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is
a new creation” (Galatians 6:15).

“In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”
(Galatians 5:6).

Did the Apostle only mean in these texts, that circumcision was no
longer needed under the Gospel? Was that all? No indeed! I believe
that he meant much more. He meant that under Christ Jesus, everything
depended on being born again–on having true saving faith–on being
holy in life and conduct. He meant that these are the things we ought
to look at chiefly, and not outward forms. “Am I a new creature? Do I
really believe in Christ? Am I a holy person?” These are the grand
questions that we must seek to answer.

“When the heart is wrong all is wrong in God’s sight.” Many right
things may be done. The forms and ordinances which God Himself has
appointed may seem to be honored. But so long as the heart is at
fault, God is not pleased. He will have man’s heart or nothing.

The ark was the most sacred thing in the Jewish tabernacle. On it was
the mercy-seat. Within it were the tablets of the law, written by
God’s own finger. The High Priest alone was allowed to go into the
place where it was kept, within the veil, and that only once every
year. The presence of the ark within the camp was thought to bring a
special blessing. And yet this very ark could do the Israelites no
more good than any common wooden box, when they trusted in it like an
idol, with their hearts full of wickedness. They brought it into the
camp, on a special occasion, saying, “Let us bring the ark of the
Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from
the hand of our enemies” (1 Samuel 4:3). When it came into the camp
they showed it all reverence and honor, “They shouted with such a great
shout that the ground shook.” But it was all in vain. They were
slaughtered by the Philistines, and the ark of God was captured. And
why was this? It was because their religion was a mere form. They
honored the ark, but did not give the God of the ark their hearts.

There were some kings of Judah and Israel who did many things that were
right in God’s sight, and yet were never written in the list of godly
and righteous men. Rehoboam started off well, and for three years was
noted as, “walking in the ways of David and Solomon” (2 Chronicles
11:17). But afterwards “he did evil because he had not set his heart
on seeking the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:14). Abijah, according to the
book of Chronicles, said many things that were right, and fought
successfully against Jeroboam. Nevertheless, the general verdict is
against him. We read, in Kings, that “his `heart’ was not fully
devoted to the Lord his God” (1 Kings 15:3). Amaziah, we are expressly
told, “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not
wholeheartedly” (2 Chronicles 25:2). Jehu, King of Israel, was raised
up, by God’s command, to put down idolatry. He was a man of special
zeal in doing God’s work. But unhappily it is written of him: “Jehu
was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with
all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which
he had caused Israel to commit” (2 Kings 10:31). In short, one general
remark applies to all these kings. They were all wrong inwardly, they
were rotten in their hearts.

There are places of worship in our country today where all the outward
things of religion are done to perfection. The building is beautiful.
The service is beautiful. The singing is beautiful. The forms of
devotion are beautiful. There is everything to gratify the senses.
Eye, and ear, and natural sentimentality are all pleased. But all this
time God is not pleased. One thing is lacking, and the want of that
one thing spoils everything. What is that one thing? It is heart!
God sees under all this outward show, the form of religion, put in the
place of substance, and when He sees that He is displeased. He sees
nothing with an eye of favor in the building, the service, the
minister, or the people. If He does not see converted, renewed,
broken, penitent hearts, then He is not pleased! Bowed heads, bended
knees, loud amens, eyes lifted to heaven, all, all are nothing in God’s
sight without right hearts.

“When the heart is right God can look over many things that are
defective.” There may be faults in judgment, and weakness in practice.
There may be many deviations from the best course in the outward things
of religion. But if the heart is sound, God is gentle in pointing out
that which is amiss. He is merciful and gracious, and will pardon much
that is imperfect, when he sees a true heart and a eye fixed on His
glory.

Jehoshaphat and Asa were Kings of Judah, who were defective in many
things. Jehoshaphat was a timid, irresolute man, who did not know how
to say “No,” and joined affinity with Ahab, the wickedest king that
ever reigned over Israel. Asa was an unstable man, who at one time
trusted in the King of Syria more than in God, and at another time was
angry with God’s prophet for rebuking him. (2 Chronicles 16:10) Yet
both of them had one great redeeming point in their characters. With
all their faults they had right “hearts.”

The Passover kept by Hezekiah was one at which there were many
irregularities. The proper forms were not kept by many. They ate the
Passover “contrary to what was written.” But they did it with true and
honest “hearts.” And we read that Hezekiah prayed for them, saying,
“May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on
seeking God–the LORD, the God of his fathers–even if he is not clean
according to the rules of the sanctuary” (2 Chronicles 30:18-19).

The Passover kept by Josiah must have been far smaller and worse
attended than the numerous Passovers in the days of David and Solomon,
or even in the reign of Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah. How then can we
account for the strong language used in Scripture about it? “The
Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of
the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated
such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all
Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem” (2
Chronicles 35:18). There is but one explanation. There never was a
Passover at which the “hearts” of the worshippers were so truly in the
feast. The Lord does not look at the quantity of worshippers so much
as the quality. The glory of Josiah’s Passover was the state of
people’s hearts.

There are many assemblies of Christian worshippers on earth this very
day in which there is literally nothing to attract the natural man.
They meet in miserable dirty so-called chapels, or in wretched upper-
rooms and cellars. They sing off tune. They have feeble prayers and
feeble sermons. And yet the Holy Spirit is often in the midst of them!
Sinners are often converted in them, and the Kingdom of God prospers
far more than in any Roman Catholic Cathedral, or than in any gorgeous
Protestant Churches. How is this? How can it be explained? The cause
is simply this, that in these humble assemblies heart-religion is
taught and held. Heart-work is aimed at. Heart-work is honored. And
the consequence is that God is pleased and grants His blessing.

I leave this part of my subject here. I ask my readers to consider
carefully the things that I have been saying. I believe that they will
bear examination, and are all true. Resolve this day, whatever Church
you belong to, to be a Christian in “heart.” Do not be content with a
mere form of godliness, without the power. Settle it down firmly in
your mind that formal religion is not saving religion, and that heart-
religion is the only religion that leads to heaven.

I only give one word of caution. Do not suppose, because formal
religion will not save, that forms of religion are of no use at all.
Beware of any such senseless extreme. The misuse of a thing is no
argument against the right use of it. The blind idolatry of forms
which prevails in some quarters is no reason why you should throw away
all forms. The ark, when made an idol by Israel and put in the place
of God, was unable to save them from the Philistines, and when
irreverently and improperly handled, brought death on Uzza. And yet
the same ark, when honored and reverenced, brought a blessing on the
house of Obed-edom. The words of one of our pastors are strong, but
true: “He that has but a form of religion is a hypocrite; but he that
does not have a form of religion is an Atheist.” Forms cannot save us,
but they are not therefore to be despised. A light is not a man’s
home, and yet it is helps a man find his house when he is traveling
home on a dark night. Use the forms of Christianity diligently, and you
will find them a blessing. Only remember, in all your use of forms,
the great principle, that the first thing in religion is the state of
the heart.

III. I now come to the last thing which I want you to consider. “True
religion must never expect to be popular. It will not have the praise
of man, but of God.”

I dare not turn away from this part of my subject, however painful it
may be. Anxious as I am to commend heart-religion to every one who
reads this paper, I will not try to conceal what heart-religion
entails. I will not gain a recruit for my Master’s army under false
pretenses. I will not promise anything which the Scripture does not
warrant. The words of Paul are clear and unmistakable. Heart-religion
is a religion whose “praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans
2:29).

God’s truth and Scriptural Christianity are never really popular. They
never have been. They never will be as long as the world stands. No
one can calmly consider what human nature is, as described in the
Bible, and reasonably expect anything else. As long as man is what man
is, the majority of mankind will always like a religion of form far
better than a religion of heart.

Formal religion just suits an unenlightened conscience. Man must have
some religion. Atheism and downright unbelief, as a general rule, are
never very popular. But a man must have a religion which does not
require very much–trouble his heart very much–interfere with his sins
very much. Formal Christianity satisfies him. It seems to be the
thing that he wants.

Formal religion gratifies the secret self-righteousness of man. All of
us, more or less, are Pharisees. We all naturally cling to the idea
that the way to be saved is to do so many things, and go through so
many religious observances, and that as a result we will get to heaven.
Formalism meets us here. It seems to show us a way by which we can
make our own peace with God.

Formal religion pleases the natural laziness of man. It attaches an
excessive importance to that which is the easiest part of Christianity-
-the shell and the form. Man likes this. He hates exertion in
religion. He wants something which will not meddle with his conscience
and inner life. Only leave his conscience alone, and, it will want to
do works or actions. Formalism seems to open a wider gate, and a more
easy way to heaven.

Facts speak louder than assertions. Facts are stubborn things. Look
over the history of religion in every age of the world, and observe
what has always been popular. Look at the history of Israel from the
beginning of Exodus to the end of the Acts of the Apostles, and see
what has always found favor. Formalism was one main sin against which
the Old Testament prophets were continually protesting. Formalism was
the great plague which had overcome the Jews, when our Lord Jesus
Christ came into the world. Look at the history of the Church of
Christ after the days of the apostles. How soon formalism ate out the
life and vitality of the primitive Christians! Look at the middle
ages, as they are called. Formalism so completely covered the face of
Christendom that the Gospel laid there as one does when they are dead.
Look, lastly, at the history of Protestant Churches in the last three
centuries. How few are the places where religion is a living thing!
How many are the countries where Protestantism is nothing more than a
form! There is no getting past these things. They speak with a voice
of thunder. They all show that formal religion is a popular thing. It
has the praise of man.

But why should we look at facts in history? Why shouldn’t we look at
the facts under our own eyes, and by our own doors? Can any one deny
that a mere outward religion, a religion of downright formalism, is the
religion which is popular today? Is it for nothing that John says of
certain false teachers, “They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them” (1 John
4:5). Only say your prayers, and go to church regularly, and receive
the Lord’s Supper occasionally, read your Bible occasionally, and the
vast majority of our nation will call you a good Christian person.
“What more would you have to do?” they say: “If this is not
Christianity, what is?” To require more of anyone is thought to be
unfair, fanaticism and to be too enthusiastic! To insinuate that such
a man as this may not go to heaven is called unloving! It is vain to
deny that formal religion is popular. It is popular. It always was
popular. It always will be popular till Christ comes again. It always
has had and always will have the “praise of man.”

Turn now to the religion of the heart, and you will hear a very
different report. As a general rule it has never been liked by
mankind. It has brought upon its professors laughter, ridicule, scorn,
contempt, seclusion, imprisonment and even death. Its lovers have been
faithful and zealous–but they have always been few in number. It
has never had, comparatively, “the praise of man.”

Heart-religion is too humbling to be popular. It leaves natural man no
room to boast. It tells him that he is a guilty, lost, hell-deserving
sinner, and that he must flee to Christ for salvation. It tells him
that he is dead, and must be made alive again, and born of the Spirit.
The pride of man rebels against such words as these. He hates to be
told that he is that bad.

Heart-religion is too holy to be popular. It will not leave natural
man alone. It interferes with his worldliness and his sins. It
requires of him things that he hates and despises–conversion, faith,
repentance, spiritual-mindedness, Bible-reading, and prayer. It
commands him to give up what he loves and clings to, and refuses to lay
aside. It would be strange indeed if he liked it. It crosses his path
as a kill-joy and a troublemaker, and it is absurd to expect that he
will be pleased with it.

Was heart-religion popular in Old Testament times? We find David
complaining: “Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of
the drunkards” (Psalm 69:12). We find the prophets persecuted and ill-
treated because they preached against sin, and required men to give
their hearts to God. Elijah, Micaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, are all cases in
point. To formalism and ceremonialism the Jews never seem to have made
objection. What they disliked was serving God with their hearts.

Was heart-religion popular in New Testament times? The whole history
of our Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry and the lives of His apostles are a
sufficient answer. The scribes and Pharisees would have willingly
received a Messiah who encouraged formalism, and a Gospel which exalted
ceremonialism. But they could not tolerate a religion of which the
first principals were humiliation and sanctification of the heart.

Has heart-religion ever been popular in the professing Church of Christ
during the last eighteen centuries? Hardly ever, except in the early
centuries when the primitive Church had not left her first love. Soon,
very soon, the men who protested against formalism and sacramentalism
were fiercely denounced as “troublers of Israel.” Long before the
Reformation, things came to this, that anyone who preached heart-
holiness and condemned formalism was treated as a common enemy. He was
either silenced, excommunicated, imprisoned, or put to death like John
Huss. In the time of the Reformation itself, the work of Luther and
his companions was carried on under an incessant storm of defamation
and slander. And what was the cause? It was because they protested
against formalism, ceremonialism, the false Roman Catholic Priesthood,
monks, and taught the necessity of heart-religion.

Has heart-religion ever been popular in our own country in the past?
Never, excepting for a little season. It was not popular in the days
of Queen Mary, when Latimer and his fellow-martyrs were burned at the
stake. It was not popular in the days, when to be a Puritan was worse
than to be a drunkard or a blasphemer. It was not popular in the
middle of last century, when Wesley and Whitfield were shut out of the
established Church. The cause of our martyred Reformers, of the early
Puritans, and of the Methodists, was essentially one and the same. They
were all hated because they preached the uselessness of formalism, and
the impossibility of salvation without repentance, faith, regeneration,
spiritual-mindedness, and holiness of heart.

Is heart-religion popular in our country today? I answer sorrowfully
that I do not believe it is. Look at the followers of it among the
congregations. They are always comparatively few in number. They
stand alone in their respective congregations. They have put up with
many difficult things, harsh words, censure, harsh treatment, laughter,
ridicule, slander, and petty persecution. This is not popularity!
Look at the teachers of heart-religion in the pulpit. They are loved
and liked, no doubt, by the few hearers who agree with them. They are
sometimes admired for their talents and eloquence by the many who do
not agree with them. They are even called “popular preachers,” because
of the crowds who listen to their preaching. But none know so well as
the faithful teachers of heart-religion that few really like them. Few
really help them. Few sympathize with them. Few stand by them in any
time of need. They find, like their Divine Master, that they must work
almost alone. I write these things with sorrow, but I believe they are
true. Real heart-religion today, no less than in days gone by, does
not have “the praise of’ man.”

But after all it is not important what man thinks, and what man
praises. He that judges us is the Lord. Man will not judge us at the
last day. Man will not sit on the great white throne, examine our
religion, and pronounce our eternal sentence. Those only whom God
commends will be commended at the judgment seat of Christ. Here lies
the value and glory of heart-religion. It may not have the praise of
man, but it has “the praise of God.”

God approves and honors heart-religion in this life. He looks down
from heaven, and reads the hearts of all the children of men. Wherever
He sees heart-repentance for sin, heart-faith in Christ, heart-holiness
of life, heart-love to His Son, His law, His will, and His Word–
wherever God sees these things He is well pleased. He writes a book of
remembrance for that man, however poor and uneducated he may be. He
gives His angels special charge over Him. He maintains in him the work
of grace, and gives Him daily supplies of peace, hope, and strength.
He regards him as a member of His own dear Son, as one who is
witnessing for the truth, as His Son did. Weak as the man’s heart may
seem to himself, it is the living sacrifice which God loves, and the
heart which He has solemnly declared He will not despise. Such praise
is worth more than the praise of man!

God will proclaim His approval of heart-religion before the assembled
world at the last day. He will command His angels to gather together
His saints, from every part of the globe, into one glorious company.
He will raise the dead and change the living, and place them at the
right hand of His beloved Son’s throne. Then all that have served
Christ with the heart shall hear Him say, “Come, you who are blessed by
my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since
the creation of the world. You have been faithful with a few things; I
will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s
happiness! You acknowledged me before men, and I will also acknowledge
you before my Father and His angels. You are those who have stood by
me in my trials, and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father
conferred one on me” (Matthew 25:21-34; Luke 22:8, 28-29; Revelation
3:5). These words will be addressed to none but those who have given
Christ their hearts! They will not be addressed to the formalist, the
hypocrite, the wicked, and the ungodly. They will, indeed, see the
fruits of heart-religion, but they will not eat of them. We will never
know the full value of heart-religion until the last day. Then, and
only then, will we fully understand how much better it is to have the
praise of God than the praise of man.

If you take up heart-religion I cannot promise you the praise of man.
Pardon, peace, hope, guidance, comfort, consolation, grace according to
your need, strength according to your day, joy which the world can
neither give nor take away–all this I can boldly promise to the man
who
comes to Christ, and serves Him with his heart. But I cannot promise
him that his religion will be popular with man. I would rather warn
him to expect mockery and ridicule, slander and unkindness, opposition
and persecution. There is a cross belonging to heart-religion, and we
must be content to carry it. “We must go through many hardships to
enter the kingdom of God,”–“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12). But if
the world hates you, God will love you. If the world forsakes you,
Christ has promised that He will never forsake and never fail.
Whatever you may lose by heart-religion, be sure that the praise of God
will make up for it.

And now I close this paper with three plain words of application. I
want it to strike and stick to the conscience of every one into whose
hands it falls. May God make it a blessing to many a soul both in time
and eternity!

(1) In the first place, Is your religion a matter of form and not of
heart? Answer this question honestly, and as in the sight of God. If
it is, “consider solemnly the immense danger in which you stand.”

You have got nothing to comfort your soul in the day of trial, nothing
to give you hope on your death-bed, nothing to save you at the last
day. Formal religion never took any man to heaven. Like cheap metal,
it will not stand the fire. Continuing in your present state you are
in imminent danger of being lost forever.

I earnestly beseech you this day to be aware of your danger, to open
your eyes and repent. Whether you go to a fancy big city church or to
a plain small church in the country, if you are a Christian in name
only, and possess a form of godliness without the power, awake and
repent. Awake, above all, if you are an Evangelical formalist. “There
is no devil,” said the quaint old Puritans, “like a white devil.”
There is no formalism so dangerous as Evangelical formalism.

I can only warn you. I do so with all affection. God alone can apply
the warning to your soul. Oh, that you would see the folly as well as
the danger of a heartless Christianity! It was sound advice which a
dying man once gave to his son: “Son,” he said, “whatever religion you
have, never be content with wearing a cloak.”

(2) In the second place, if your heart condemns you, and you wish to
know what to do, “consider seriously the only course that you can
safely take.”

Cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ without delay, and spread before Him
the state of your soul. Confess before Him your formalism of the past,
and ask Him to forgive it. Seek from Him the promised grace of the
Holy Spirit, and beg Him to quicken and renew your inward man.

The Lord Jesus is appointed and commissioned to be the Physician of
man’s soul. There is no case too hard for Him. There is no condition
of soul that He cannot cure. There is no devil He cannot cast out.
Seared and hardened as the heart of a formalist may be, there is
medicine which can heal him, and a Physician who is mighty to save. Go
and call on the Lord Jesus Christ
this very day. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will
find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).

(3) In the last place, if your heart does not condemn you, and you
have real well-grounded confidence towards God, “consider seriously the
many responsibilities of your position.”

Praise Him daily who has called you out of darkness into light, and
made you to be different. Praise Him daily, and ask Him never to
forsake the work of His own hands.

Watch with a jealous watchfulness every part of your inward man.
Formalism is ever ready to come in upon us, like the Egyptian plague of
frogs, which even went into the king’s bedroom. Watch and be on your
guard. Watch over your Bible-reading, your praying, your temper and
your tongue, your family life and your Sunday religion. There is
nothing so good and spiritual that we may not fall into formal habits
about it. There is no one so spiritual that cannot fall into
formalism. Watch, therefore, and be on your guard.

Look forward, finally, and hope for the coming of the Lord. Your best
things are yet to come. The second coming of Christ will soon be here.
The time of temptation will soon be past and gone. The judgment and
reward of the saints shall soon make amends for everything. Rest in
the hope of that day. Work, watch, and look forward–One thing, at any
rate, that day will make abundantly clear. It will show that there was
never an hour in our lives in which we had our hearts too thoroughly
focused on Christ.

John Charles Ryle