January 1929
6
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
that they ignore the essentials of religion? Are they big corporations raking in the money ? And what about “undenominational churches”—are they not but another denomination? These independent churches are already getting together in conventions and doing things after the pattern of denominational movements. Watch it! Before long someone will decide that false teachers are within this fold; then there will be an “orthodox undenomina tional church,” and a “liberal undenominational church,” and on it will go. The fact is that you may bring about outward uni formity without having the unity of the Spirit; and, on the other hand, variety is not always variance. There may be in the church of God, as in the works of God, variety the most diversified, yet combined with unity most divine. An apostle has said, in terms most unequivocal, that if we have fellowship with that Saviour whom the apostles .de clare, we have fellowship with the apostles themselves. What does it matter whether I prefer the Baptist, Metho dist, Presbyterian, or some other form of worship, so long as through saving faith, I have been united by the Holy Spirit to the Body of Christ and am sincerely seeking to walk in the light of God’s Word? Newman Hall long ago wisely said that “the Church of God is a garden, laid out in many beds which vary in shape with the nature of the ground.” There are some gardeners who think we should make one large bed out of the whole thing, with one and the same border. Others would make all the beds of the same form, some advocat ing square, others circular, others oval. Still there are others who would parcel off their little corner and put a high board fence around it. There are many, however, whose loyalty to God’s Son and God’s Word cannot be called in question, who think the existing arrangement may be better, after all, for the present, the variety making both for beauty and productiveness. It is quite certain that God’s bright sun continues to arise and shine on all the garden, regardless of the fences and shapes and borders, and the impartial showers and refreshing dews have been falling on all the churches which are true to the great fundamentals, giving them a S ig n in g Off A change o f administration having come in the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, the retiring editors o f T he K ing ' s B usiness take this occasion to thank our readers in all parts o f the world for their prayerful support and kind expressions dur ing the two years of our editorship. Our circula tion has steadily increased for many months past and we have had every reason to believe our edi torial policy not only pleased our readers but had the approval of Him whom we serve. We had not anticipated the changes that have come, hence our friends will understand why we announced certain features for the coming year which neces sarily will be withdrawn. We bespeak an interest in the prayers o f our friends at a time when we seek divine guidance as to our future service. —ED ITORS.
Announcemen t o j Resignation Dr. John M . Maclnnis resigned as Dean of the Bible Institute and Editor- in-Chief of The King’s Business, which resignation became effective December 31, 1928. While The King’s Business by this resignation and tha t of Keith L. Brooks, its Managing Editor, will lose the ser vices of these members of its editorial staff, yet this important department of the Institute activities will be continued under efficient management, and we solicit the prayers and cooperation of all readers of The King’s Business. leathern J^ewby, - President Board of Directors
through prayer, and it is only the prayer of the righteous man that avails. This is vastly different from modern ideas which begin and end with self, tend to make people dishonest and to develop a super-self-consciousness. No safer way has been found than God’s way.
m Is Variety Necessarily Variance?
It is getting to be a popular pastime for some ministers to withdraw from their denominations, organize inde pendent churches and then cry out against denom- inatiorialism. The Literary Digest quotes at length from a New York preacher who is said to be “as fighting mad as Dempsey” against denominationalism. He says it is “a pestiferous abomination” which will be done away just as soon as people become Christians. Denominations are said to have arisen from laying emphasis on the accidents and incidents of religion as a tradition, ignoring altogether the essentials of religion as a living experience. All denomi nations, this noted preacher says, are private corporations doing a profitable business, having enormous incomes, high-salaried offices and invested funds. It is sad indeed that bdievers cannot realize a unity that can be manifested in uniform expressions in every thing; It would be. ideal if all could be persuaded to go over arid join the chuixh of which our fighting brother is the pastor, and sing orit of the same hymn-book. He may have discovered the ideal plan—an undenominational Church. He may have found the truth that is essential, and may know just what emphasis to place upon each truth, but as unfortunate as may be some of the denominational lines, it isn’t at all likely that any considerable. number would feel comfortable under his preaching, or satisfied with’the particular way things are done at his church. Already, we cannot, escape the feeling that this preacher is given to making very radical statements. Is it fair to say that our great evangelical denominations are built upon accidents, incidents and tradition? Is it true
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