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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1857

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 11, No. 5.

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UNITY AND GIFTS OF THE CHURCH. No. 2.

By James White

"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." Eph. iv, 11-13.
The unity of the Church of Christ, as taught in the New Testament, we regard as very important to the church in these days of apostasy, disunion and peril. But few seem to be acquainted with the plain testimony on this point; or, at least, but few feel the force of such testimony, and act upon it.
Some labor under the mistaken idea that order in the church is an abridgment of their religious rights. They have broken away from the bondage of creeds, and human organizations, and rejoice in freedom; but overlook the order, and organization of the church set forth in the Word. They continually talk of, and rejoice in the freedom they have found, and can see nothing else; while the New Testament holds out, and enjoins on them the most rigid discipline. It requires of them submission and most perfect order. A mistaken view of this subject has led many astray, hence we see a thousand and one disorderly ranters, and vain disputers, who are an annoyance to religious meetings. They cry out against the sins and confusion of Babylon, and say many truthful things; but at the same time occupy a ten-fold worse position than those they oppose and accuse. Babylon signifies confusion. But in some of these who cry out so against Babylon there is confusion enough to distract the 144,000. This is, and has been our plea, Exchange human creeds for the Divine Word. Leave human organizations for that order ordained by Heaven. In this land of boasted civil and religious liberty, the idea of gospel freedom has run with many well nigh to madness. Everything outside of their little sphere is "Sectarian," when in fact they are the veriest sectarian bigots the world bears up. What a relief to the Remnant, when some such drew off not long since. But we fear this peaceful state of things may not long last, when another sheet of communication for the disorderly ones will be needed to develop the real feelings and views of some among us. But God's word is a perfect guide, and if received, will work a perfect cure of the evil of which we have freely spoken.
1 Cor. i, 4-10. "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER in the SAME MIND and in the SAME JUDGMENT."
1. Paul beseeches the brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—High authority!
2. That ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but,
3. That ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.
What a front such a church would present to the world! Such a church would be most powerful, and would be, in very deed, the light of the world. Many have entirely neglected to take heed to the many entreaties and exhortations of the New Testament, like the above from the great Apostle, and have taken another course like the following—
1. To beseech all in the name of Christian liberty, falsely so called, without regard for the views of their brethren.
2. To all speak their own opinions, though there be as many opinions, and divisions among them as there were persons, and,
3. To avoid being joined together in the same mind and the same judgment, lest they become sectarian.
We wish to hold up both sides of the picture, that rational people may judge for themselves, and be rooted and grounded in the truth of this subject.
Rom. xv, 5, 6. "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be LIKE-MINDED one toward another, according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with ONE MIND and ONE MOUTH glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1. Reference is made to Christ Jesus, as the standard of union. Read his agonizing prayer recorded in John xvii. Here is a part of it. "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for them alone; but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: that THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; AS THOU, FATHER, ART IN ME, AND I IN THEE, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
2. It does not seem to be enough that the church all speak the same things, as a Methodist Presiding Elder once told a young preacher that he might believe Mormonism or Millerism, but must preach Methodism; but the church must be of one mind according to Christ Jesus. What a rebuke on the loose, unchristian sentiment, "Only be honest, and you may believe what you please." We will bless God that truth is a unit, and that the means ordained of God are ample to bring men and women into the one channel of divine truth, so that if they are not sanctified through the truth, it is their own fault.
Phil. ii, 1, 2. "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be LIKE-MINDED, having the SAME LOVE, being of ONE ACCORD, of ONE MIND." Chap. iii, 16. "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." 1 Pet. iii, 8. "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." 2 Cor. xiii, 11-14. "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
We might repeat such testimony to great length; but if any will set this aside, they would treat more in the same way. Brethren, let us search for the truth diligently, on all points, especially on those of such great practical importance as the unity and gifts of the church.