Division Over Truth Versus Union in Error
By D. T. Bourdeau
The Bible teaches that it is wrong to cause divisions that are contrary to sound doctrine. Rom. 16:17, etc. Pride, selfishness, and envy, are generally the basis of such divisions; and woe unto those who promote them. They are guilty of opposing God and his truth, and offending those who love God and follow the truth. Union is pleasing to God if based on truth; but God hates that union which is founded on error, and formed in opposition to, and at the sacrifice of, the truth. It would be very desirable for all to unite on right. This would meet the mind of God, good men, and angels. But it is better to separate from wrong by standing for the right, than to have all unite on error. Hence it is that the Prince of peace could say, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Matt. 10: 34-38. The Saviour wanted to unite all on his teachings; but he knew that the carnal heart would not receive them, and that the masses would oppose the truth and its adherents, and this would bring division. But in this case who are responsible for the division? Those who stand for the right and advance in the light of God’s truth, desiring to have all go with them? or those who fall back on dignity, oppose the truth, and persecute those who vindicate it, and cry division? We are sometimes accused of breaking up churches, forming another sect, and thus adding to the divisions already existing, by preaching the coming of the Lord and a preparation to meet him. But we do not wish to divide up churches and form a sect. We want all churches to unite on the great truths of Christ’s second coming. If they should do this, their differences would melt away like wax in the sun. The Advent doctrine came to the churches about thirty years ago to unite them and remove all their errors and unpleasant divisions; but as bodies they would not be healed. But this glorious doctrine did unite in sentiment and the sweetest bonds of Christian love those who received it, and what it did for this company it might have accomplished for all professed Christians. The doctrine of Christ’s coming is not a denominational doctrine. It is world-wide in its application. Christ is coming to all, and all should prepare to meet him. As we preach this doctrine in different places, we generally call on preachers as soon as we can, treating them as brethren, and inviting them to unite with us in the great work of reform. We prefer to be agreed; and in most of places one church might suffice to accommodate all. But if it was not sufficient, we might all unite as brethren, and enlarge the most convenient house or build a new one, and worship together, and devote all other houses of worship to other purposes. But generally speaking this cannot be done. The truth is opposed, creeds, churches, and other gods are worshiped, and those who take hold of the truth are thrust with side and shoulder, and made to feel the power of oppression; and to enjoy liberty of conscience, they are under the painful necessity of placing themselves outside of the pale of the church where they can walk in the light that shines on their pathway. And now we ask, Upon whom rests the blame of division? How far would Christ, the early Christians, and the reformers have gone in the work of reform if they had halted at the cry of division? Let it first be shown that we cause division contrary to sound doctrine, and then we will acknowledge that we are engaged in an evil work.