This is a chapter from J.C. Ryle's classic book Practical Religion.
FORMALISM
"Having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:5
"He is not a Jew who is one outwardly ... but he is a Jew who is one inwardly ... of the heart, in the spirit ... whose praise is not from men but from God." Romans 2:28-29
Let us try to discover whether our Christianity is a thing of mere form or of heart and mind. I know of no better way of unfolding the subject than by turning to the Pauline passage in Romans 2 above: "He is not a Jew who is one outwardly nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." Three instructive lessons stand out: 1. Formal (merely outward) religion is not true religion, and a formal Christian is not a true Christian in God's sight. 2. The heart is the seat of true religion, and the true Christian is the Christian in heart. 3. True religion must never expect to be popular. It will not have the praise of men, but of God.
1. Formal (merely outward) religion is not true religion, and a formal Christian is not a true Christian in God's sight. What is formal religion? When a man or woman is a Christian in name only and not in reality: in profession only, not practice; in outward things only, not inward convictions and feelings. He or she possesses only the form, husk, or skin of religion, not its substance and power.
These are the kinds of people who participate in religious services, but know nothing of experimental 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 and marriages. They care little or nothing about the distinctive doctrines of the Gospel. They appear indifferent to what they hear preached. You may be in their company regularly and see nothing to separate them from agnostics and atheists. Their religion is an empty form.
Look in another direction at people whose whole religion seems to consist in talk. They know the theory of the Gospel and profess to delight in their doctrinal positions; they say much about the soundness of their own views and the darkness of all who disagree with them. But when you examine their inner lives, you find they know nothing of practical godliness. They are neither truthful, loving, humble, kind, gentle, or honorable. Their religion is likewise an empty form.
One of the wickedest things Machiavelli said is that the appearance of religion is useful, but the reality and practice of it is cumbersome. Such a notion is of the earth or deeper still: it smells of the pit. Hear what Paul says to the Romans: "He is not a Jew who is one outwardly nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh" (Romans 2:28). Those are strong words! Paul is saying a man might be a son of Abraham according to the flesh, circumcised the eighth day of his birth, a regular worshiper in the temple, yet in God's sight not be a Jew. Just so a man may be a baptized member of a Christian church who participates in its services and ceremonies, yet in God's sight not be a Christian.
Hear what the prophet Isaiah writes from the Lord: "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams.... I do not delight in the blood of bulls.... Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me.... Your new moons, sabbaths, and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:10-15). Keep in mind that those sacrifices, sabbaths, festivals, and the incense were appointed by God Himself! He pronounces His own institutions to be useless when they are used formally and without heart by the worshiper. In fact, they are worse then useless: they are offensive and hurtful. Formal religion is worthless in God's sight. It is not worth calling religion at all.
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says: "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'" (Matthew 15:7-9; Isaiah 29:13). We see Him repeatedly denouncing the formalism and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Eight times in one chapter (Matthew 23) He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" For many kinds of sinners Jesus had a word of kindness and held out to them an open door for repentant hearts, but He wants us to know that unrepentant formalists must be exposed in severe terms.
A. Formalism is 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 in this life. It meets us in church and out, among rich and poor, among the highly educated and minimally educated, among Roman Catholics and Protestants, among Evangelicals and any other Christian grouping you can think of. If you think there is no formal religion in your own camp, you are unobservant. If you love life, beware of formalism.
B. Formalism is dangerous. Familiarity with the form of religion while neglecting its reality has a fearfully deadening effect on one's soul and conscience. It builds up a thick crust of insensibility over the whole inner person. None seem to become so desperately hard as those who are continually repeating holy words and handling holy matters while their hearts are running after sin and the world. They are gradually hardening their hearts and searing the skin of their consciences. If you love your own soul, beware of formalism.
C. Formalism is foolish. Can formalists really suppose the outward Christianity they profess will comfort them in the day of sickness and the hour of death? A painted fire cannot warm, a painted banquet cannot satisfy hunger, and a formal religion cannot bring peace to the soul. Do they really think God does not see the heartlessness and deadness of their Christianity? Although they may deceive acquaintances, fellow worshipers, and ministers with a form of godliness, do they think they can deceive God? "He who formed the eye, shall He not see?" (Psalm 94:9). God knows the very secrets of the heart and "will judge the secrets of men" at the last day (Romans 2:16). The risen, ascended Christ, who said to each of the 7 churches in the Book of Revelation, "I know your works" (Revelation 2-3) has not changed. He who said, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" (Matthew 22:12) will not be deceived by a little cloak of outward religion. If you would not be put to shame at the last day, once more I say to beware of formalism.
2. The heart is the seat of true religion, and the true Christian is the Christian in heart. The heart is the real test of a man's character. It is not what he says or does by which he may always be known. He may say and do right things from false and unworthy motives reflecting his heart. As a man "thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). 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: "He is a Jew who is one inwardly ... and circumcision is that of the heart" (Romans 2:28-29). 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, who is one inwardly, and baptism is that of the heart.
The heart is where saving religion must begin. It is naturally irreligious, which is why the promise of the New Covenant is this: "A new heart I will give you.... I will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. These, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). We read that the Lord "opened" the heart of Lydia to believe what Paul was telling her about Christ (Acts 16:14).
The heart is the seat of true saving faith. "With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). A man may believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, as the devils do, yet remain in his sins. He may believe he is a sinner and even be convinced that Jesus is the only Savior, feeling occasional lazy wishes that he were a better man. But no one ever lays hold of Christ and receives pardon and peace until he or she believes with the heart. It is heart faith that justifies.
The heart is the spring of true holiness and steady continuance in doing good. True Christians are holy because their hearts are interested. They obey from the heart. They do the will of God from the heart. Weak, feeble, and imperfect as all their doings are, they please God because they are done from a loving heart. He who commended the widow's small coins more than all the offerings of the wealthy regards quality far more than quantity (Mark 12:41-44). He likes to see things done with "an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15). There is no real holiness without a right heart.
Paul teaches us about this matter in 3 parallel texts: "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ... faith working through love (Galatians 5:6) ... a new creation (Galatians 6:15) ... [and] keeping the commandments of God is what matters" (1 Corinthians 7:19). True religion consists of far more than circumcision or any other external form, but of being born again to obey God's Word from the heart.
A. When the heart is wrong, all is wrong in God's sight. The ark was the most sacred thing in the Jewish tabernacle. On it was the mercy seat. Within it were the tablets of God's Law, written by God's own finger. The high priest alone was allowed to go into the place where the ark was kept, behind a veil, but only once a 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 treated it like an idol, their hearts full of wickedness. They said, "Let us bring the ark that it may save us from the hand of our enemies" (1 Samuel 4:3). When it was brought into the camp, they shouted with joy to show it reverence and honor, but it was all in vain. God allowed the Philistines to defeat them and take away the ark. Why? They honored the ark, but did not give the God of the ark their hearts.
There were kings of Judah and Israel who did many things that were right, yet were never written in the list of godly rulers. Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon, for 3 years walked in the ways of David and Solomon (2 Chronicles 11:17), but afterwards "he did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:14). Abijam of Judah said many things that were right and fought successfully against wicked King Jeroboam of Israel, but the general verdict is against him because "his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David" (1 Kings 15:3). Amaziah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart" (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 that work, but unhappily it is written of Jehu, "He took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin" (2 Kings 10:31). One general remark applies to all those kings: they were all wrong inwardly, rotten at heart.
There are many fair places of worship in the world, but God sees nothing with an eye of favor in such buildings, services, ministers, or people if He does not see converted, renewed, broken, penitent hearts. Bowed heads, bended knees, and loud amens are nothing in God's sight without right hearts.
B. When the heart is right, God can look over many things that are defective. There may be faults in judgment and infirmities in practice. There may be many deviations from the best course in the outward things of religion, but if the heart is sound in the main, God is not extreme to mark that which is amiss. He is merciful and gracious, pardoning much that is imperfect when He sees a true heart and a single eye.
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, even to making an alliance with Ahab, Israel's wickedest king. Asa was an unstable man who at one time trusted in the king of Syria more than in God, and punished a prophet who rightly rebuked him. Yet both of them had one great redeeming point in their characters: with all their faults, they had right hearts (2 Chronicles 22:9, 2 Chronicles 15:17).
The long-neglected Passover feast, which the good King Hezekiah sought to restore, was quite irregular. The proper forms were not observed by many. They ate the Passover "otherwise than as prescribed," but with true and honest hearts. Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God ... even though not according to the sanctuary's rules." We are told that God honored his prayer (2 Chronicles 30:18-20). The Passover feast kept by King Josiah years later must have been far smaller and worse attended than Hezekiah's, not to mention the glory years under David and Solomon, but notice what we are told about it: "There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet, and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept" (2 Chronicles 35:18). There is but one explanation. The Lord does not look at the quantity of worshipers so much as the quality. The glory of Josiah's Passover was the state of the people's hearts.
There are many assemblies of Christian worshipers today that meet in humble buildings, sing unmusically, pray meekly, and hear the Word of God proclaimed plainly, yet the Holy Spirit is in the midst of them. Sinners are often converted in them and the Kingdom of God prospers far more than in any gorgeous cathedral or church. This applies to any assembly where heart religion is taught and lived out. The consequence is that God is pleased and grants His blessing.
One word of caution before moving to my last point: do not suppose that because formal religion will not save that all forms of religion are of no use. The misuse of a thing is no argument against the right use of it. Use the forms of Christianity diligently and you will find them a blessing, but remember that the state of your heart comes first.
3. True religion must never expect to be popular. It will not have the praise of men, but of God. As eager as I am to commend heart religion, I will not try to conceal what it entails. Remember, Paul said at the beginning of this chapter that praise of heart religion comes "not from men, but from God" (Romans 2:28-29). God's truth and biblical Christianity have never been popular and never will be as long as the world stands. No one can rationally consider what human nature is as described in the Bible and reasonably expect anything else.
Atheism and rank unbelief, as a general rule, are never very popular, but a religion that does not require much or trouble a man and woman's heart and lifestyle is what many people crave. Formal religion gratifies the secret self-righteousness within. We are all of us more or less Pharisees. Formal religion also pleases the natural laziness of man. It attaches an excessive importance to the easiest part of religion, the mere externals. Formalism seems to open a wider gate and a more easy way to heaven.
But facts are stubborn things. Look over the history of religion in every age of the world and observe what has always been popular. Formalism was one main sin against which the Old Testament prophets were continually protesting. Formalism was the great plague that characterized the Jewish religion when our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. Formalism ate out the life and vitality of the early church. In the Middle Ages formalism so completely covered the face of Christendom that the Gospel lay as one dead. Look at the history of churches in the last several centuries. How few are the places where the Christian religion is a living thing! Formal religion continues to be popular. It has the praise of men.
John tells us this about false religious teachers: "They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them" (1 John 4:5). Only say your prayers, go to church with tolerable regularity, and receive the Lord's Supper occasionally, and the vast majority of religious people will set you down as an excellent Christian. "What more would you have?" they say. "If that is not Christianity, what is?" To require more of anyone is thought bigotry, intolerant, and fanatical. To insinuate a doubt whether a person like this will go to heaven is called uncharitable. Formal religion will always be popular until Christ returns.
Turn now to the religion of the heart, and you will hear a very different report. As a general rule it has never had the good word of mankind, but instead laughter, mockery, ridicule, scorn, contempt, enmity, hatred, slander, persecution, imprisonment, and even death. Its lovers have been faithful and ardent, but they have always been few.
A. Heart religion is too humbling to be popular. It leaves no room for boasting. It tells men and women that they are guilty, lost, hell-deserving sinners who must flee to Christ alone for salvation. It tells them they are spiritually dead and must be made alive again, born of the Spirit. The pride of mankind rebels against this. People hate to be told their case is so bad.
B. Heart religion is too holy to be popular. It interferes with their worldliness and sin. It requires things their fallen nature hates: conversion, faith, repentance, spiritual-mindedness, Bible reading, and prayer. It bids them to give up many things they love and cling to, and cannot make up their minds to lay aside. It seems to them a killjoy.
Was heart religion popular in Old Testament times? We read poor David moaning, "Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of drunkards" (Psalm 69:12). We find the prophets persecuted and ill treated because they preached against sin and called people to give their hearts to God. Elijah, Micaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos are all cases in point. The people never seem to have objected to formalism and ceremonialism, but they often displayed their unwillingness to serve God from the heart.
Was heart religion popular in New Testament times? The scribes and Pharisees would have willingly received a Messiah who encouraged formalism and exalted ceremonialism, but they could not tolerate a religion with the first principles of humiliation and sanctification of heart.
What matters, however, is that God approves and honors heart religion, He looks down from heaven and reads the hearts of all. God is well pleased whenever He sees repentance from sin, faith in Christ, holiness of life, and love for His Son, Word and will. He writes a book of remembrance for His faithful people, and gives His angels special charge over them. He gives them daily supplies of peace, hope, and strength. One day all who have served Christ from the heart will hear Him say, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. You were faithful over a few things; I will make you rulers over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord! You confessed Me before others, and I will confess you before My Father and His holy angels" (Matthew 25:21-34; Luke 12:8).
Those words will not be addressed to the formalists, the hypocrites, the wicked, and the ungodly. They indeed will stand by and see the fruits of heart religion, but will not eat them. Only then shall we fully understand how much better it is to have the praise of God than the praise of man. In the meantime, "We must through many tribulations enter the the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22), and "all who determine to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). If the world hates you, God will love you. If the world forsakes you, Christ has promised He will never forsake or fail you. Whatever you may lose by your heart religion, be sure that the praise of God will make up for all.
I close with applications for 3 groups of readers: In the first place, is your religion a matter of form and not of heart? Answer this question honestly and in the sight of God. If it is, consider solemnly the immense danger in which you stand. You have nothing to comfort your soul in the day of trial, nothing to save you at the last day. Like base metal, formal religion will not stand the fire. I earnestly beseech you to open your eyes and repent.
In the second place, if you heart condemns you and you want to know what to do, consider seriously the only course you can safely take. Go to the Lord Jesus Christ without delay and spread before Him the state of your soul. Confess before Him your formalism in times past and ask Him to forgive it. Seek from Him the promised grace of the Holy Spirit and ask Him renew your inner self. Know that the Lord Jesus is appointed and commissioned to be the Physician of each person's soul. There is no case too hard for Him. Seared and hardened as the heart of a formalist may be, healing is available: "Ask and it shall be give you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you" (Luke 11:9).
In the last place, if your heart does not condemn you and you have well-grounded confidence in your Christian faith by God's grace, consider seriously the many responsibilities of your position. Praise God daily for calling you out of darkness into light and making you different. Have pity for those still in darkness and pray for them. Watch your heart and be on guard against formalism in your Bible reading and prayer, your temper and your tongue, your family, work, and church life. Look forward to the return of our Lord. Your best things are yet to come. One thing His return will make abundantly clear: there never was an hour in our lives when we gave our hearts too thoroughly to Christ.
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