BE OF THE SAME MIND by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1861

BE OF THE SAME MIND.

By Editor

IN the numerous exhortations of the apostle to be of the same mind, all speak the same thing, and be joined together in the same judgment, how much is included? Does he mean that we should all entertain the same theory of truth, and that merely? He means that, no doubt, and, we think, much more. The mere belief in the same theory of truth, though embraced in that unity to which the apostle exhorts us, nevertheless will not alone answer its demands. If sameness of theory is all that is necessary, this characteristic is possessed by other classes much more completely than by the people of God, inasmuch as their numbers are much greater. Look at almost any denomination in the land; look at the Catholics, a body more numerous than all the Protestant sects put together, and who, though somewhat divided among themselves, present nevertheless the greatest body of people led by the same theory, of any class who profess the religion of Jesus. Come to the smaller Protestant sects. Take the Baptists, Methodists, and others; and we find them, as bodies, as perfectly joined together in theory as could reasonably or scripturally be required. If therefore the apostle only looks at theory, and unity in this respect alone is the characteristic of the true people of God, all the sects can lay claim to this, as well as the remnant of the true church.

But we believe the unity mentioned by the apostle will be a characteristic of the true church, especially in the last days, and, among other things, distinguish it from all the fallen and lifeless denominations in the land. And we believe this, because we apprehend that more than mere unity of theory is included in the matter. Two men may believe alike and yet be at enmity in heart. Schisms and divisions may rend a body of believers, and yet their theory remain intact. How is it with the sects? Look at the bitter animosities, personal hate and jealousy existing among many of their members. In too many multitudes of cases, the hearts of those who believe alike are cased in selfishness, destitute of sympathy for each other, and actuated more by a spirit of war than of love. And by all these they show that they are not occupying the ground marked out by the apostle for the church of Christ.

The apostle would exclude all these. We must have that unity of feeling, that christian sympathy and brotherly love for each other which Christ designed as characteristics of his followers. The apostle well expresses it in another place as the "unity of the Spirit." Eph. iv, 3. It is that which will make us not only one in faith, but one in spiritual judgment and feeling. Let us then remember that while the unity to which the apostle exhorts us cannot be attained without unity of faith, it embraces much more than this. For such a unity let us seek. Let us sow wide its seeds, and sedulously cultivate its growth in our midst.