p. 14 | Church Federation

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 30, 1910

Church Federation

The question of church federation is a living one, and is eliciting much discussion throughout the world at the present time. In the Baptist Standard of June 2, the editor, while favoring church unity, is filled with some concern over the direction which this sentiment is taking just now. In concluding he says:—

A vapid, doctrineless, compromising church is worse than worthless. It will cumber the ground, misrepresent Christ, and die for the want of life. In the present situation, so full of possible good or of evil, what is the duty of every thoughtful Christian? The answer is easy: Seek the right ways of the Lord, and walk in them. A religion without authority is no religion. The world confronts two propositions touching authority in religion. One is the Catholic contention that supreme authority is in the Pope. The other is that supreme authority, undelegated, is in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Scriptures are the law of his kingdom. All who would get together must accept one or the other of these propositions. The constitution of Christianity is in the great commission. The message for this generation is a faithful preaching of the Word, and the highest service we can possibly render the world is to stand by the form of sound doctrine in the spirit of Him whose we are and whom we serve.

He who takes the Scriptures of truth as the law of his life will seek for no unity save such as is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and in conformity to the standard of his divine Word. The unity which requires the sacrifice of faith in, and practise of, essential doctrines of the Word, is wrong in its conception, and only evil results can follow in its path.