1900
Plan and Creed Suggested
If by unity is meant uniformity, then it is plain that Church unity is not desirable. For, men have different tastes and preferences in the worship and service of God, as in other things. God has made them so. There is no reason in the world why the Episcopalian should not worship God in a sonorous liturgy and the Friend in the silence of the spirit. No reason why the Presbyterian should not order things by the government of the Presbytery, and the Congregationalist leave the determination of all business to the vote of the Congregation. And so on. But, there is every reason why all should work together in harmonious co-operation for the glory of God and the good of man.
In our nation we have certain rights that are reserved to the states; and certain other interests that are deputed to federal control. In the national defense — we have the army and the navy. In the army, the infantry, the artillery and the cavalry, but all work together under the President as the supreme head. Why can not the denominations federate? Why can they not allow each body individual autonomy, and on certain broad lines? It can be done. It is being done — notably in the Federation of the Free Churches of England, and in certain restricted localities in this country of ours.
As for a common creed — we have one already in the platform of the Evangelical Alliance, which is satisfactory to all the Evangelical churches of Christendom. This is a platform of nine planks, as follows: (1) The divine inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures. (2) The right and duty of private judgment in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. (3) The unity of the Godhead, and the trinity of the persons therein. (4) The utter depravity of human nature in consequence of the fall. (5) The incarnation of the Son of God, his work of atonement for sinners and mankind, and his mediatorial intercession and reign. (6) The justification of sinners by faith alone. (7) The worth of the Holy Spirit in the Conversion and sanctification of the sinner. (8) The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, the judgment of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, with the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked. (9) The divine institution of the Christian Ministry, and the obligation and perpetuity of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. — JOHN DIETRICH LONG
—The Ram's Horn, Nov. 17, 1900, p. 8.
Showing posts with label ecumenical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ecumenical. Show all posts
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Denominations Coming Together Not All Good
1903
Not The Common View
One often hears it remarked that the church denominations are feeling much more kindly toward each other than formerly, and that the spirit of sectarianism is evidently on the wane. Most people are inclined to regard the change as for the better. The editor of St. Paul's Lutheran Messenger, of this city does not approve this view of the matter. In the last number of that excellent publication, he has the following to say on the subject:
"There is at present a very pronounced tendency for the various branches of the Christian church to come closer together. The exchange of pulpits, and the passing of members from one church to another, or the passing of preachers from the pulpit of one denomination to another, are quite frequently hailed as signs of a wonderful unity and harmony of God's people. People who can thus perform these spiritual acrobatic movements without any compunction of conscience are lauded as very liberal and advanced thinkers. There are no doubt very many things upon which we can agree; many enterprises where we can work side by side for the blessing of humanity; where Christian and Jew can look each other in the face as men, sometimes of noble pattern, and exchange thoughts and edify one the other. But I suspect that very much of this lauded liberalism is but a shallow concealment of the ignorance concerning the deep things of Jesus Christ. The ignoring of the fundamentals of the gospel may make a man very acceptable to people who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, provided he has the ear tickling faculty. The reason why so many seemingly well meaning people, members of Christian churches, can so readily pass from one to another is no doubt largely due to the want of knowledge of those people concerning the doctrinal foundation of the church. It is no doubt true that some denominations are losing power and prestige, because they were not built on the eternal rock. But it is just there, where the fallacy lies in the statement that one church is as good as another.
"That church is best, that holds closest to the great fundamental of faith in Jesus Christ. There is however ever one consolation in this whole movement and that is this: the man or the church that preaches the great fundamentals of the gospel persistently and positively will ultimately shape the faith and practice of the entire church. Negations never amounted to anything anyway. For a while these great, liberal spirits scorn to make a stir, but when the mists have rolled away after the storm, there will be nothing left but a remembrance of a mighty hubbub. Only what is built on the one sure foundation will outlast the test of the tempest shock."
Not The Common View
One often hears it remarked that the church denominations are feeling much more kindly toward each other than formerly, and that the spirit of sectarianism is evidently on the wane. Most people are inclined to regard the change as for the better. The editor of St. Paul's Lutheran Messenger, of this city does not approve this view of the matter. In the last number of that excellent publication, he has the following to say on the subject:
"There is at present a very pronounced tendency for the various branches of the Christian church to come closer together. The exchange of pulpits, and the passing of members from one church to another, or the passing of preachers from the pulpit of one denomination to another, are quite frequently hailed as signs of a wonderful unity and harmony of God's people. People who can thus perform these spiritual acrobatic movements without any compunction of conscience are lauded as very liberal and advanced thinkers. There are no doubt very many things upon which we can agree; many enterprises where we can work side by side for the blessing of humanity; where Christian and Jew can look each other in the face as men, sometimes of noble pattern, and exchange thoughts and edify one the other. But I suspect that very much of this lauded liberalism is but a shallow concealment of the ignorance concerning the deep things of Jesus Christ. The ignoring of the fundamentals of the gospel may make a man very acceptable to people who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, provided he has the ear tickling faculty. The reason why so many seemingly well meaning people, members of Christian churches, can so readily pass from one to another is no doubt largely due to the want of knowledge of those people concerning the doctrinal foundation of the church. It is no doubt true that some denominations are losing power and prestige, because they were not built on the eternal rock. But it is just there, where the fallacy lies in the statement that one church is as good as another.
"That church is best, that holds closest to the great fundamental of faith in Jesus Christ. There is however ever one consolation in this whole movement and that is this: the man or the church that preaches the great fundamentals of the gospel persistently and positively will ultimately shape the faith and practice of the entire church. Negations never amounted to anything anyway. For a while these great, liberal spirits scorn to make a stir, but when the mists have rolled away after the storm, there will be nothing left but a remembrance of a mighty hubbub. Only what is built on the one sure foundation will outlast the test of the tempest shock."
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