It's summer time, which means "mainline church synods." Believe me, I'm deeply grateful not to have to anticipate dealing with the fallout from these anymore. But since there are some coming up (especially for the PCUSA and TEC's House of Bishops), I thought I'd pass on the incomparable Ryle's advice about what makes (or unmakes) a barren church.
If ministers do not teach sound doctrine, and their members do not live holy lives, they are in imminent peril of destruction. God is every year observing them, and taking account of all their ways. They may abound in ceremonial religion. They may be covered with the leaves of forms, and services, and ordinances. But if they are destitute of the fruits of the Spirit, they are reckoned as useless clutter on the ground. Except they repent, they will be cut down.
+J. C. Ryle, D.D.
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke volume 2 , [Carlisle, PA:Banner of Truth, 1998], 114, 115.
Don't forget all us split-p's have our G.A.'s and Synod's coming up.
ReplyDeleteStarting with the ARP next week!