January 4, 2009

• Second Sunday after Christmas: Is your religion true religion? (Henry Scougal)

  In last Sunday's post, Are You Trusting in the Babe Alone?, I shared an excerpt from Martyn Lloyd-Jones' "Triumphant Christianity," a book I received last Christmas.

  This Christmas my husband gave me Rev. Henry Scougal's (1650-1678) "The Life of God in the Soul of Man." (I referenced Scougal in yesterday's post, Pressing on in the New Year.) Both Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Piper have referred to Scougal's book, so I've had it on my list for a while, and now I'm able to read it for myself...lots of meat, lots to contemplate. (Well, after all, what else should we expect from a Scottish Puritan?)

  Rev. Scougal contrasts false religion (like that of the Sanhedrin-please see Acts 7 and last Sunday's post) with true religion (emphasis mine).

  I can not speak of religion, but I must lament, that among so many pretenders to it, so few understand what it means; some placing it in the understanding, in orthodox notions and opinions; and all the account they can give of their religion is, that they are of this or the other persuasion, and have joined themselves to one of those many sects whereinto Christendom is most unhappily divided. Others place it in the outward man, in a constant course of external duties, and a model of performances; if they live peaceably with their neighbors, keep a temperate diet, observe the returns of worship, frequent the church, or their closet, and sometimes extend their hands to the relief of the poor, they think they have sufficiently acquitted themselves. Others again put all religion in the affections, in rapturous hearts and ecstatic devotion; and all they aim at is, to pray with passion, to think of heaven with pleasure, and to be affected with those kind and melting expression wherewith they court their Saviour, till they persuade themselves that they are mightily in love with him, and from thence assume a great confidence of their salvation, which they esteem the chief of Christian graces. Thus are these things which have any resemblance of piety, and at the best are but means of obtaining it, or particular exercise of it, frequently mistaken for the whole of religion. Nay, sometimes wickedness and vice pretend to that name. I speak not now of those gross impieties wherewith the heathens were wont to worship their gods; there are but too many Christians who would consecrate their vices, and hallow their corrupt affections, whose rugged humour, and sullen pride, must pass for Christian severity; whose fierce wrath, and bitter rage against their enemies, must be called holy zeal; whose petulancy towards their superiors, or rebellion against their governors, must have the name of Christian courage and resolution.

  But certainly religion is quite another thing, and they who are acquainted with it will entertain far different thoughts, and disdain all those shadows and false imitations of it. They know by experience that true religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the Divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or, in the apostle's phrase, "it is Christ formed within us." Briefly, I know not how the nature of religion can be more fully expressed, than by calling it a divine life...

  Have you experienced this true religion of which Scougal wrote or is your religion one of intellect, or one of outward forms or one of the affections (emotions)? Do you know this vital life of Christ in you, this divine life?

  The apostle Paul wrote of his desire for Christ to be formed in us:

  ...my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! Galatians 4:19

  This is my prayer for you and for myself ...that Christ might continually be formed in us, that we might know by experience that union of the soul with God, and have a real participation of the Divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon our souls...and we would not resort to, fall back on be satisfied with false religion.

  ---

  You may also be interested in reading:
  

  • Pressing on in the New Year
  • First Sunday after Christmas...Are you trusting in the Babe alone?
  • Second Sunday of Advent: FAQ about Santa Claus and the Gospel of Christ
  • So THIS is Christmas!...But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son...
  • The Essence of Being a Christian, part 1: Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • The Essence of Being a Christian, part 2: Philip Ryken
  • Bible Reading-Mark 16: (8) Kingdom-Obsessed People believe the stone is rolled away

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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