The Church of Christ a Religious Liberty Society
By R. C. PORTER
THERE was a time when the universe was so united that when the voice of Christ was heard, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Christ, the Creator, was the leader of the hosts of the created in this joyous spirit of unity, and it was his delight to lead them on into deeper depths and higher heights and broader fields of increasing and ever-widening joys. As their minds expanded in the contemplation of the greatness of his goodness, they would still find unfathomable depths of unexplored wisdom and knowledge awaiting their study. This would ever give them delightsome opportunity of development and increasing joy throughout unceasing ages. But one of the number standing near the throne of God became discontented with his position in the great plan of the Creator. He wanted a higher place. No9higher place unoccupied in the universe was to be found. If therefore he was to occupy a higher place, it must be sought at the expense of forcing some other being from his position. There was no higher position except that occupied by the Creator, so he said, “I will be like the Most High.” This was the introduction of the spirit of desire for supremacy. The principle upon which it was based was self-exaltation and disregard of the rights of others. So long as all members of the great family of God acted in the sphere which they were fitted to occupy, each respecting the rights of others in the sphere of their calling, there was perfect unity throughout the universe. When this principle was violated, the cord of harmony was broken. This lesson gives us the key to the discord that reigns in our planet to-day. It was not God’s plan that discord should exist. This is an intrusion, suffered for a time, until the universe should study and choose between the plan introduced by the Lord, and that introduced by one who, becoming dissatisfied with his position, and wanting a higher place, became his adversary. The original plan left every man free. His right of choice to continue in his God-appointed place through loyalty to his Creator, or seek another place, disrespecting the rights of others, was not denied him. There was no force in God’s plan, but the restraining influence of his own Spirit of good will toward all men. From this lesson we shall be able to draw some fundamental principles that will aid us in our study of the church and its work. Soon after the creation of man the enemy came to him with his counter principles, which he offered in a most pleasing way. He sought to convince man of the superiority of his views for man’s happiness over God’s plan for him. Man accepted the gilded bait, and learned too late that it brought sorrow, not happiness; discord, not unity; and bondage in place of greater freedom. God did not immediately banish Satan, nor set aside the plans which Satan claimed contained the principles of increased happiness, but he gave them time to prove their own character by actual test. In this we see the wisdom of God. He is not arbitrary, but desirous only of the happiness of his creatures. Though he is King of kings and Lord of lords, with power sufficient immediately to banish Satan and his principles from this field of test, he will not do this until they have had a fair trial. This, then, is the one world where these principles are permitted to operate, to test their power to give happiness. The one thing God still maintains, and holds within his own right, for all men, while this test is being applied by the adversary, is that every man shall be at liberty to choose how long he wishes to follow Satan’s plan for his happiness. The moment he wishes to return to God’s original plan for him, the Creator holds it to be his right to make that choice, and pledges all power in heaven and earth, at his command, to return to him. God’s principles, the Christian’s plan of character, are found in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The power of restoration to these principles is the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 7: 24, 25. The question to be settled is whether a life in the Spirit of Christ brought into harmony with the principles of the law of God, teaching man to reverence God and love his fellow men, brings misery or happiness, debauchery or bliss, death or life. If a life at one with Christ and God brings peace and happiness, what principles are responsible for all the ills and woes of life about us? What principles bring sin and shame, infamy and wretchedness, murder, unchastity, and all sorts of violence?—These must be the fruits of Satan’s plan. The Organization of the Church
In order to preserve the principles of heaven’s plan for humanity in the world where Satan was permitted to test his principles, the church of Christ was established. All of God’s work is organized. The flock of geese, the swarm of bees, the blade of grass, the flower, the tree, the ebbing and flowing tide, and the starry heavens, declare that God is a God of order. When there were but two human beings in the world, he organized the family, and established the home. When the work further developed, he organized the church in the wilderness. In the organization of the church, Moses was chosen by the Lord as its ruler, or elder and prophet. Acts 7: 35-38. Aaron was its priest. Christ was the leader in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Ex. 13: 21, 22. There is another name applied to Moses in his official relation to the people of Israel, which is too liable to be overlooked; that name is “deliverer.” Acts 7: 35. His work was not to be that of official manager merely, but it implied service of the highest character. It suggests in the most impressive manner the thought of liberator, or one who frees people from bondage, and makes them a free people. Moses in his official capacity was called to this very work. His was not a position of honor to himself, to be served by the people for his own pleasure or profit; but a position of service for the people, that they might be liberated from religious despotism, and be free men in Christ Jesus. The first request the newly appointed church officers were directed to make in behalf of the church of Christ after they were placed in their official positions, was to the official head of the state, Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt. That request was not of the nature of a plea for toleration, but a demand from Christ, the head of the church, to the state to release the church from its bondage, and restore to it its freedom in the service and worship of God, which was its God-given right. The command of the Lord was definite and uncompromising as to the rightfulness of his claim. It reads: “Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.” Ex. 9: 1-3. One object of the organization of the church was unitedly to withstand the tendency of the state toward religious control of the consciences of men. The church therefore from its very inception was a religious liberty society. The scripture just quoted, a command from Christ, the head of the church, speaks in no uncertain manner of the right of the church to freedom of choice in religious matters. What is true of the right of the church is equally true of the right of every individual member of the church. And what is true of every individual member in the church is equally true of the rights of man whether in or out of the church. Hence, religious freedom, the right of choice in matters of religion is here proclaimed by Christ, the head of the church, for mankind. Earthly kingdoms have their sphere, but they have no rightful jurisdiction in this realm.