CHRISTIAN UNITY by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 17, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 16.

CHRISTIAN UNITY.

By G.

A PRESBYTERIAN minister has written a book in which he discusses the subject of Christian unity and baptism. His apology for the publication is expressed in the following sentence:—

“This little book is written because I could not find, on the subject of baptism, just such a book as I wanted to put into the hands of young people for their instruction.”

It would be folly to assume that he could not find Bibles to “put into the hands of young people for their instruction.” Therefore we must conclude that he did not want them to be instructed out of the Bible on that subject. The Bible is the “alpha and omega”—the beginning and the end—of all Christian doctrine. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17.

Then the author of the “little book” above mentioned says:—

“If all would see alike concerning the mode of baptism with water, it would be a big step toward Christian unity.”

Now there is just one reason why all do not see alike concerning this subject, and that is, they are not willing to accept the Bible as proof of doctrine. From the Bible alone no one would think of baptism by any but one mode, namely, immersion. And that is the reason why so much effort has been put forth, and why so much effort is required, to convince them otherwise. Baptism is a symbol of a burial and a resurrection. Col. 2: 12, 13. It is an outward confession of faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. To be a consistent symbol, the “dead” one must be covered over or shut up in the tomb. Water being the element prescribed, there must be a covering with water. “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water.” Matt. 3: 16. “Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him.” Mark 1: 9, 10.

After the traditions of men began to be recognized among Christians, it was eventually assumed that “the church” had the right to command festivals, and institute or change ordinances as those in authority might choose—for convenience or for any other reason. Not until this condition had long obtained was any but the Scriptural mode of baptism practised. And because there have been those who protest against such human innovations, there has been the necessity of labored defense on the part of their adherents. So it is true, as quoted, that “if all would see alike concerning the mode of baptism with water, it would be a big step toward Christian unity.” But there never can be Christian unity on any perversion of Scripture doctrine.

It was Rome that first promulgated the idea that it would not do to allow the laity to get their instruction in doctrine from the Bible. And when we find professed ministers of the Gospel writing books that antagonize the Scriptures, in order to produce something that they are willing to give to young people for instruction in any Christian doctrine, it is evident that they are following in the wake of Rome. Many labored arguments to harmonize the obscure traditions of men with the plain doctrines of the Bible would be spared, were it not for the indisposition to yield preconceived ideas and accept the infallible Word.

All that has been said here in regard to the ordinance of baptism is equally applicable to the institution of the Sabbath. The observance of another day than that commanded in the Word of God was imposed upon the Christian Church by the same means thru which sprinkling, pouring, etc., were substituted for baptism. The assumed change of the Sabbath arose in the same manner, and in the same age, as the perversion of the ordinance of baptism. The history of the one is the history of the other; and the arguments put forth in their support are of the same character—inconsistent, labored, and unscriptural.

Substitute the words “day of the Sabbath” for “mode of baptism with water” in our second quotation from the “little book,” and the proposition would be equally true. It would then read, “If all would see alike concerning the day of the Sabbath, it would be a big step toward Christian unity.” But the commandment says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” and as we said of baptism, there never can be Christian unity on any perversion of Scripture doctrine. The only Christian unity worthy the name is that for which Christ prayed. “That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17: 21. To this end we are to be sanctified thru the truth, which is the Word of God (verse 17) and not by books that instruct the people in the traditions of men and away from the Word.