The various forms of government existing in the different religious bodies in our time, is evidence that church government and discipline is a subject upon which learned and good men have differed. In no one chapter, or book, has Paul, or Peter, or John, or James, or Jude, written out a system of Christian discipline, giving the position and duties of the several callings, gifts and officers. But that there should be order in the church of God is evident, not only from the declarations of the apostles, and the record of their acts gathered from the New Testament, but from the great facts relative to system and order, found in the Old Testament. God is the same in all ages. And the freedom of the gospel of Christ does not consist in laxity and confusion.
The epistles of Paul and of Peter distinctly speak of officers of the church, and of their duties. The New Testament clearly defines the relation which Christ sustains to the ministry and to the church; and also the proper relation of the ministry to the church, and to one another. But the system of Christian organization is not given as fully in the New Testament, as the system of Jewish organization was given in the Old Testament. Having, however, the benefit of both the record of the system of the former and the declarations and acts of the first apostles of the latter, we have all that Infinite Wisdom saw necessary for the Christian church.
The relation which Christ sustains to the ministry and to the church, is stated in these texts: "One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren." Matt. 23:8. "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ." 1 Cor. 11:3. Christ is the Great Shepherd of all, while his ministers are under shepherds. Peter charges the elders: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Pet. 5:2-4.
And Paul would impress the church with her duty to the ministry in these words: "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God." Heb. 13:7. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls as they that must give account." Verse 17. And yet it was not the design of God that any system of organization should exist in the Christian church that would take the leadership from Christ.
Organization was designed to secure unity of action, and as a protection from imposture. It was never intended as a scourge to compel obedience, but, rather, for the protection of the people of God. Christ does not drive his people. He calls them. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Our living Head leads the way, and calls his people to follow.
Human creeds cannot produce unity. Church force cannot press the church into one body. This has been tried, and has proved a failure. Christ never designed that human minds should be moulded for Heaven by the influence merely of other human minds. "The head of every man is Christ." His part is to lead, and to mould, and to stamp his own image upon the heirs of eternal glory. However important organization may be for the protection of the church, and to secure harmony of action, it must not come in to take the disciple from the hands of the great Teacher.
Christ designs that his people may be one. He prays: "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. The ordained means for the unity of the church are ample, and will accomplish the design of Heaven on all those who walk worthy of Christ, and humbly cultivate the spirit of love and unity. Paul appeals to the church of the Ephesians upon the subject, and urges unity on the grounds of the oneness of the Christians hope, faith, baptism, Lord, and God and Father of all. Instead of a plurality of spirits, leading many bodies os Christ to Heaven by different routes. Paul declares: "There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling."
We can find no better words to close our remarks upon the subject this week, than the triumphant appeal of the great apostle. Hear him, as he sets forth the disciple's proper condition of mind, and the oneness and efficiency of the ample means to secure the unity and perfection of the church of Christ.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is, above all and through all and in you all." Eph. 5:1-6.
The mere definite means ordained in the church of God for her perfection and unity, should by no means be overlooked. Let the reader bear in mind that these were all given at the same time, for the same purpose, and all to cease at the same time. Have a part ceased? all have ceased. Do a portion continue? then all continue. Paul speaks of Christ's endowment of the church thus: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Verses, 11-13.