Monday, October 13, 2008

Ryle on the value of large Christian get-togethers...

I cannot withhold a growing suspicion that the great "mass-meetings" of the present day, for the ostensible object of promoting spiritual life, do not tend to promote private home religion, private Bible reading, private prayer, private usefulness and private walking with God.

If they are of any real value, they ought to make people better husbands and wives and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and masters and mistresses and servants. But I would like to have clear proofs that they do.

I only know it is far easier to be a Christian among singing, praying, sympathizing Christians in a public room, than to be a consistent Christian in a quiet, out-of-the-way, uncongenial home..."

J.C. Ryle, Holiness (1879)

2 comments:

Maureen said...

Wow, there's wisdom.

Wonder what he would think of today's mega church get togethers and conferences?

Grace to you.

Richard J said...

Maureen--Thanks for stopping by! I also wonder what Ryle would say about mega-churches. In this quote he was talking specifically about the Keswick, but I'm afraid it also applies to a lot of large churches today...