Church Union

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 29, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 17.

IN the discussions over church union, or church federation, there are constantly arising those who see the fallacy of it. Such a plan of union as is proposed means the breaking down of definite conviction, and supplying in its stead the notion that you must follow the big crowd. The union that is proposed is more of an ecclesiastical political combination than anything else. Christ has never commissioned His people to enter into any such arrangement.

Speaking on the subject, one of our most appreciated religious exchanges says it "has no hesitation in saying that the union for which it labors, hopes, and prays is union on Baptist ground." Our ardent federationists would no doubt say that our Baptist brother editor shows narrowness and bigotry. But instead, we would say that he shows that he has some definite convictions that he does not propose to give up until he can be persuaded by the teaching from God's word.

But it is argued that the Bible does teach the unity of God's church. This is very true, and it is also just as true that the unity called for must be built upon the definite sayings of the Word itself. "Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth," are the words of the Master's prayer for His followers. John 17:17. And again, in the same prayer, He says:

"I have given them Thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them from the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one." John 17:14, 15.

Another scripture reads:

"And if ye call on Him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear: knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ: who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake, who through Him are believers in God, that raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth. For, All flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth: but the word of the Lord abideth forever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:17-25.

These verses call for redemption through the blood of Christ. They require that our faith and hope shall be in God. Our souls are to be purified by our obedience to the truth, and God's word is truth. We are begotten in the gospel through the word of God, which abideth forever.

No man can be saved through the enthusiasm of great unions and great federations. These may serve to captivate and intoxicate the mind, but they can not save us from sin and eternal death. We must have the living Word acting in our lives and producing gospel reforms in daily conduct if we are to have the salvation of God. Neither federation nor semi-political church unions can save us. God has given His plan, and His infinite wisdom and love devised it. It can not be improved upon, and to reveal His plan to the children of men was the one purpose of His word.

If we sincerely study God's word to know the truth, we will have no disappointment about finding it. He who "so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life," will never disappoint a single soul that comes to Him. But many a self-righteous and self-deceived person will be doomed to bitter disappointment in that great day; for thus speaks the infallible Word:

"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out demons, and by Thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof." Matt. 7:21-27.

Even those who have prophesied and taught in the name of Jesus will be found in that day to be among those He never knew. And why? The answer is plainly that while they heard God's word, yet they refused to be guided by it, and went on teaching things in the name of Christ that were wholly at variance with what that Word said. Let us not be among the class that while saying "Lord, Lord," yet do not adhere to what the Lord says. T.