In the classic book on holiness by J.C. Ryle we find this;
Question.....are we our brothers keeper on this issue?
How do we go about it?
The people I speak of are not thoughtless about religion; they think a good deal about it. They are not ignorant of religion; they know the outlines of it pretty well. But their great defect is that they are not "rooted and grounded" in their faith. Too often they have picked up their knowledge second-hand, from being in religious families, or from being trained in religious ways — but have never worked it out by their own inward experience. Too often they have hastily taken up a profession of religion under the pressure of circumstances, from sentimental feelings, from emotional excitement or from a vague desire to do like others around them — but without any solid work of grace in their hearts. People like these are in a position of immense danger. They are precisely those, if Bible examples are worth anything, who need to be exhorted to count the cost.
1]For lack of counting the cost, myriads of the children of Israel perished miserably in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan
2]For lack of counting the cost, many of our Lord Jesus Christ's hearers went back after a time and "walked no more with Him" (John 6:66).
3]For lack of counting the cost, King Herod returned to his old sins and destroyed his soul.
4]For lack of counting the cost, Demas forsook the company of Paul, forsook the gospel, forsook Christ, forsook Heaven.
5]For lack of counting the cost, the hearers of powerful evangelical preachers often come to miserable ends
6]For lack of counting the cost, hundreds of professed converts, under religious revivals — go back to the world after a time and bring disgrace on religion.
7]For lack of counting the cost, the children of religious parents often turn out badly and bring disgrace on Christianity.
Question.....are we our brothers keeper on this issue?
How do we go about it?
The people I speak of are not thoughtless about religion; they think a good deal about it. They are not ignorant of religion; they know the outlines of it pretty well. But their great defect is that they are not "rooted and grounded" in their faith. Too often they have picked up their knowledge second-hand, from being in religious families, or from being trained in religious ways — but have never worked it out by their own inward experience. Too often they have hastily taken up a profession of religion under the pressure of circumstances, from sentimental feelings, from emotional excitement or from a vague desire to do like others around them — but without any solid work of grace in their hearts. People like these are in a position of immense danger. They are precisely those, if Bible examples are worth anything, who need to be exhorted to count the cost.
1]For lack of counting the cost, myriads of the children of Israel perished miserably in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan
2]For lack of counting the cost, many of our Lord Jesus Christ's hearers went back after a time and "walked no more with Him" (John 6:66).
3]For lack of counting the cost, King Herod returned to his old sins and destroyed his soul.
4]For lack of counting the cost, Demas forsook the company of Paul, forsook the gospel, forsook Christ, forsook Heaven.
5]For lack of counting the cost, the hearers of powerful evangelical preachers often come to miserable ends
6]For lack of counting the cost, hundreds of professed converts, under religious revivals — go back to the world after a time and bring disgrace on religion.
7]For lack of counting the cost, the children of religious parents often turn out badly and bring disgrace on Christianity.
