"Union of Professional Theologians"
SAMUEL GOMPERS, president of the American Federation of Labor, was recently led to say, "The ministerial associations are nothing more nor less than a union of professional theologians." Leaders in the church federation movement have made the statement that they should organize the forces of the church, following the example of the big business monopolies and the labor-unions; and Mr. Gompers is quite right in saying that they have done this. But where is the promise in the Bible that the church of Christ is to perform its work through force of numbers? We can find where He says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts"; and we can find where He says, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help"; but we do not find in the sacred Word where He authorizes His followers to overawe politicians, and because of numbers, to compel the making of laws that are agreeable to the members of the church. In attempting to follow Christ, it is well for us to understand that He directs us to turn to His word for guidance; and if we are not guided by definite statements in the divine Book, we may find ourselves part of the great apostasy instead of followers of the humble Nazarene.