The Thing That Empties Churches

The following quote is from a letter written by a British missionary in 1941 in response to an article published in the British Weekly as to why churches were generally empty in England. Her answer rings true today as much as it did in 1941.

No, the thing which has emptied churches is lack of need of God. A man conscious of the sin of his soul seeks God and does not wait to be attracted by church stunts. But the knowledge of good and evil has been lost in a welter of words....What must be rediscovered is God's attitude to sin.

Mary Burton

--Quoted in D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Fight of Faith (1939-1981), Vol. 2, Iain Murray

The Beginning of Real Christianity

"To feel our sins, and know our sickness is the beginning of real Christianity. To be sensible of our corruption and abhor our own transgressions, is the first symptom of spiritual health. Happy indeed are they who have found out their soul's disease! Let them know that Christ is the very Physician they require, and let them apply to Him without delay."

--J.C. Ryle