Church Union

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 28, 1910

The advocates of church federation are seeing a practical demonstration of their theory in Lincoln, Vt., where three churches — the Free Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Campbellite — recently decided to form one church, and to decide by secret ballot the particular denomination to be sustained. The vote resulted in the choice of the regular Baptist Church. This, however, did not seem to result wholly satisfactory, even to some of that church body, if we may judge by the remarks of the Western Recorder. Referring to the incident, this paper says:—

From our view-point, this is the only satisfactory result that has come from a decade of denominational love-making. But even this desired result is discounted by the process through which it was reached. Evidently, the method used to accomplish the union was unscriptural, and therefore unsatisfactory. If, however, the argument that “the end justifies the means,” should ever be admitted, it ought to be considered in this case.

Another insuperable objection to the union was a stipulation that should the Baptist Church be chosen, it should be known as an open communion church. In spite of this stipulation, however, the church has been duly received into the Baptist Convention of Vermont. Thus the convention puts itself squarely on record as favoring open communion. This, to say the least, is a staggering price to pay for a church.

Verily church federationists have some knotty problems to solve in the working out of their theories, and we fear the results, even when attained, as they will be sometime, according to the prophetic Word, will prove unsatisfying to its participants. There is but one true basis of Christian unity, and that is the Scriptures of truth. But one power can bring about unity of faith and practise, and that is the power of the Holy Spirit. It can never be accomplished by decrees of councils, legal enactment, or majority vote. When the believers accept as their infallible guide the written Word, unclouded by church creed or tradition, and yield with one heart to the one Spirit of truth, then shall the ‘church of Christ stand united and complete in him, possessing one hope, one faith, and one baptism, and striving for the attainment of one aim, even that possessed by their great Master, the glory of God and the salvation of their fellows. For this union let us devoutly pray and earnestly labor.