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February 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
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these words of His own:— “ They are not o f this world, even as I am not of this world.” Glorious W o rd ! We are one with Him. Solemn responsibility ! Not of this world, born from above, and then to walk even as He walked. 7. Christianity promises a supernatural manifestation. This is still in the future. The future manifestation is the visible and glorious return of Him who dwelt once amongst men, who died for our sins, who was buried, who rose in His body and who is bodily present in heaven. This is another outstanding fact. Buddha Gautama never promised to come back, did he? Did Mohammed ever say to his followers: “Watch for me; I am coming a second time” ? Did Zoroaster ever speak anything like this: “ Ye shall see Zoroaster coming in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory” ? Did Confucius leave a message of hope that his followers would see him again? Did Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, Pastor Russell, and other delu- sionists of religious leadership ever promise to return? Not one ever made such a promise. The only One who ever promised a second coming is the Lord Jesus Christ. He who came once will come again. He who was sent once of God will be sent again. Over and over again He promised to return. All Christian teaching, Christian service and Christian hope center in this event. If it never takes place, then all I have spoken to you at this i N this day there is much spoken and written about the desirability and possibility of combining the great denominations with each other, eventually uniting all in one great church, thus bringing about an answer to our Lord’s prayer “ that they all may be one.” That Christians should love one another; that denominational jealousy should die; that unchris tianizing others over unimportant differences should cease, and that varying opinions on minor points of doctrine should not cause schism, are almost axioms. Also, that much effort seems to be wasted in communities where two small churches, with practically the same objectives, are being supported where one could fulfill the need, is often true. But on the other hand, before making sweeping recommendations that all the churches unite in one great effort for the spread of the Gospel and the conversion of the world, it is well to remember that there were many centuries when there was but one great church in Chris tendom, and that for what were then considered great and sufficient reasons, the denominations broke away from this giant organization. Granting that some of these reasons seem strange to men of this generation, there can be no doubt that great benefits to mankind are the result of their formation and existence. T he U n ity of S uppression The unity of the church of the middle ages was the unity of suppression. From the time of Constantine until that of Luther, there had been occasions when men had differed with the established order only to be brought to recantation or subjected to persecution to the extent that for over one thousand years, the Christian world had no e .c .c ,V /e - > 'o W ó ¿ b |
time falls to the ground, is hallucination instead of revela tion, and we might just as well close our Bibles forever. But if this future, supernatural manifestation takes place, then it will prove to be a demonstration of every word I have spoken, and in that manifestation, He who spoke the words we have read, will be demonstrated as the One who is from above and not of this world. And this supernatural manifestation will surely come. We are heading for it. It will mean the complete defeat of Mod ernism and every form of infidelity. Modernism denies brazenly every one of these supernatural facts of Chris tianity and dishonestly claims that honored word “ Chris tian.” With Modernism there is no such thing as an in fallible revelation of God; an infallible Christ, who died for our sins, who rose again, who has given the one mes sage o f salvation, who has sent the Holy Spirit, and who is coming again. But in the midst of all the chaos of our times, you and I and the entire true Church will hold fast what we have and contend earnestly for the faith once and for all deliv ered unto the saints, till we hear His “ Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Note: Dr. Gaebelein’s book “ Christianity or Religion?” unfolds this theme and gives indisputable proofs. On sale at Biola Book Room. Price $1.50 postpaid. thought of the possibility o f there being more than one church. Even after Luther’s time, there was little con sideration given to individual freedom of opinion. Usually a man was a Catholic or a Lutheran, depending on whether his district was the one or the other. For many a year a man’s religion was fixed by the state. Even our own New England Puritans gave little liberty to a Quaker or a Baptist in their colony. It is not likely that any of the modern Protestant advocates of church union have any idea of enforcing obedience to any set creed by law. In fact, the tendency of modern thought is toward the abandonment of any statement of creed, giving abso lute freedom to the individual. Church union as proposed today, would practically ignore doctrine, thus forming one vast organization with all members holding each his own belief. Two Q uestions P resented Now, we wish to present two questions: First, Could a great church organization without creed, continue to be truly Christian? and, second, Would there be a menace to religious liberty in such a church? The remark is often made that one religion is as good an another. Usually this is said by persons who have in mind a comparison between the several Christian denomi nations. But, if one religion is as good as another, may it not include non-Christian religions as well? How about Judaism, Mohammedanism, the religions of China, Japan and India, and the mythology of ancient Greece and Rome? If we take all the religions of the world, past and present, we include those whose religious rites consisted of the vilest vulgarities, where priestesses were prostitutes,
One Church B y B ernard M . F arson
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