The Antidote to Evangelicalism’s Ailment

The Apostle Paul gave the following impassioned plea to Timothy,

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Amid the cultural push for affirmation and advocacy of unrighteousness, the list of individuals and institutions that have strayed from the faith seems to increase daily.

Many find themselves grappling with how once-orthodox churches, universities, denominations, and evangelical organizations have been “taken captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

The admonition below from nineteenth-century theologian J.C. Ryle provides both the diagnosis and the antidote.

Let the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, be the rule of our faith and practice. Holding this principle, we travel upon the king’s highway. The road may sometimes seem narrow, and our faith may be severely tried, but we shall not be allowed greatly to err. Departing from this principle we enter on a pathless wilderness. There is no telling what we may be led to believe or do. Forever let us bear this in mind. Here let us cast anchor. Here let us abide.?

Reference:

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke volume 1, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 371.