# “Bloodless, boneless, tasteless, colourless, lukewarm, undogmatic Christianity” by J.C. Ryle

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2021/05/07/bloodless-boneless-tasteless-colourless-lukewarm-undogmatic-christianity-by-j-c-ryle-2/
- Published: 2021-05-07T12:00:50-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“For your own soul’s sake dare to make up your mind what you believe, and dare to
have positive distinct views of truth and error.

Never, never be afraid to hold decided doctrinal opinions.

And let no fear of man and no morbid dread of being thought party-spirited, narrow,
or controversial, make you rest contented with a bloodless, boneless, tasteless,
colourless, lukewarm, undogmatic Christianity.

Mark what I say. If you want to _do good_ in these times, you must throw aside indecision,
and take up a distinct, sharply-cut, doctrinal religion.

If you believe little, those to whom you try to do good will believe nothing.

The victories of Christianity, wherever they have been won, have been won by distinct
doctrinal theology:

 * by telling men roundly of Christ’s vicarious death and sacrifice
 * by showing them Christ’s substitution on the cross, and His precious blood
 * by teaching them justification by faith, and bidding them believe on a crucified
   Saviour
 * by preaching ruin by sin, redemption by Christ, regeneration by the Spirit
 * by lifting up the brazen serpent; by telling men to look and live– to believe,
   repent, and be converted.

This is the only teaching which for eighteen centuries God has honoured with success,
and is honouring at the present day both at home and abroad.

Let the clever advocates of a broad and undogmatic theology,– the preachers of the
Gospel of earnestness, and sincerity and cold morality,– let them, I say, show us
at this day any English village or parish, or city, or town, or district, which 
has been evangelized without ‘dogma,’ by their principles.

They cannot do it, and they never will. Christianity without distinct doctrine is
a powerless thing.

It may be beautiful to some minds, but it is childless and barren. There is no getting
over facts.

The good that is done in the earth may be comparatively small. Evil may abound, 
and ignorant impatience may murmur, and cry out that Christianity has failed.

But, depend on it, if we want to ‘do good’ and shake the world, we must fight with
the old apostolic weapons, and stick to ‘dogma.’

No dogma, no fruits! No positive Evangelical doctrine, no evangelization!”

–J.C. Ryle, [_Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1848715064?tag=toletaupanre-20)(
Carlise, PA: Banner of Truth, 1877/2014), 398-399.

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