The Basis of Christian Unity

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 5, 1911

The Basis of Christian Unity

THE question of Christian unity is one which will not down. The spirit of federation has permeated every department of human endeavor. Many religious leaders are agreed that a church federation is essential to the future prosperity of the church, but widely differ as to the particular basis on which such a union shall be formed. It is gratifying to see from time to time expressions of clear thinking on this subject by those who are giving it consideration. A writer in the Western Recorder of December 15, quotes from a book recently published by Dr. Robert E. Speer. He represents Mr. Speer as saying:—

The supreme method of dealing with denominational differences is not adaptation nor absorption, but transcendence. . . . We shall rise to higher levels of Christian life, in which we shall find reconciliation of our theological differences, not by a restatement, which will balance them afresh, but by rising above them.

Upon this statement the writer in the Western Recorder comments as follows:—

The proposition of Dr. Speer, if it has in mind any actual union of denominations, suggests that we have reached or will reach a time in our theological thinking when we will throw overboard everything that other reverent students of the Word of God have not accepted. Or else that we will lock these inconvenient items of belief safely in the closet out of sight. . . .

Before the beginning of the Dark Ages in the Christian era, the world had for once a spectacle of a religious outward conformity on the part of Christendom. Denominational differences in religion were swallowed up. The world had the spectacle that it now seems to think it would be so edified if it could have again; and yet the period of outward conformity of religious differences was the exact time in which was ushered in the most corrupt period in the history of constituted Christianity.

The world does not need a religion in which the contents of Christian faith have been reduced to the least common denominator, or to an “irreducible minimum.” On the contrary, we need to inculcate largeness and variety in the contents of Christian faith.

The divine principles enunciated by our Saviour in Matt. 7:12 constitute the true basis for Christian unity and fellowship.