Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1888 — Christian Union Defiled. [ARTICLE]

Christian Union Defiled.

KtUTOR REri 81-ICAN. Two articles on Christian Union have lately appeared in the columns of the UkiwbucaiL The reasons offered in' its favor have long seemed to tne strong beyond reasonable controversy. In my. zeal’ to promote it, I have experienced the alternations of hope and discouragement exhibited in tuc communications of “Au Revoir.” I find also that the organic union of Christendom, so desirable to your contributor aud to mo, has been an object of earnest desire to Christians of every age. In general, and on princ’ple, men do not approve the sectism of sects. Hut, the diliiculty is to agreb upon the conditions and methods of union. In the second letter before me, I find prescribed a sovereign panacea for all the evils of schism that aillict Christendom, as follows : '" l -Airybu have td' iloLsto make a complete and unconditional surrender to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.” But the writer does not say whether these who haVe made thht surrender arc united, in the fact of sell-surrender, or that this attitude toward Christ has made it possible for them to unito. I suppose he means the latter; and that in the example of the Philadelphia union lie finds his ideal of the proper method. An examination of this union shows the following facts: 1. A number of churches, which were previously in agreement upon all important points, found it desirable and advisable to enter into an organic association. 2. They adopted a common creed and covenant which should stand as a basis of uuion and a test oLorganic fel lowship. 3- They then completed the work of organization, by the choice of officers ini ho usual manner.

But is there anything new in this? On tire: contrary, such organizations are common. Presbyterians,. Methodists, Baptists, Disciples, and all other denominations, are so united in their various bodies. What then, has this pnrti, ular- ‘ ‘Christian union demonstrated, 1 ’ which has not not been often similarly demonstra’ed bofore?’ Nothing. It is simply one more exhibition of the common sense truth, that two can walk together it they can agree. Unify precedes union. Unity consists in mutual love and agreement in the truth. For unity, and not.for union, Jesus prayed. It would indeed be a grand achievement if all the Christians of Rensselaer could be united in one churchy because it would indicate a a previous unity. But an attempt ,to effect a general ehurcH union, here or elsewhere, where unity does not exist, would be chimerical, not to say puerile. keptics stumble not at our want of union, but at our apparent inability to agiee about what the Bible teaches. and ou r lack of brotherly love, -in a word, of unity. We must ail confe-s that somebody is at fault. ' The Bible is not to blame. If I am light, he who holds a contrary opinion or practice is wrong. This obvious fact may explain the ardor of “Au Kevoir” to begin a reformation in the second. person.

Like him, or her, or it, I look for a period of universal union, but I dis cover its approach by very diilergxittokens. 1 see that love is paving the way for agreement by and by, denominations which used to burn and suffer burn ini’at each other's hands, can now worship ill flip same meeting lmiKfl t -aii,l each other like gentlemen, without even the supervision of a policeman., Yes, my brother, (perhaps) the' mil Temnum is coming, but it is not, to be ushered nor hastened by vociferations f'.*r ekureh union.'r it? herald is love, under whose banner it is possible for men to see eye to eye. It is somewhat entertaining to see how hope congratulates itself upon the imaginary triumphs ot this old Bu cephalus newly, shod at Philadelphia. The Disciples, the Freewill Baptists, aud the Christian Connection, are ex’peeled to celebrate Immediately their triangular naptnals. "Then, when the vahguard ot their marlial host 800, IKK) strong, is displayed bn the plains of controversy the ob-cure sect of Baptists numbering only ”.500,000,. will come bending ami the bigotry of the other sects will perish before the spirit of union like the corn of the Philistines behind Samson's foxes. . 'a But events' d) rot seem to follow this tenor. The Freewill Baptists aud! the Christian Connection were a. wooing •u time past: but just when we all *r thought that both Barkis and 'Pegged y were ffwillin,’’ the match Was broken. It is to be feared that when wo get ready to iuiifSLe’tiiC Philadelphia anion there will be trouble Sumo G,010,000 or sj, of the bigoted devotees of sectism will begin to say. * Brethren of the current reform, do you teach ,ths people htt&t thvir salvation is dependent’ upon their baptism?'’ And upon receiving the answer, ••Why y — n— ah- let u; have union.” they wall say, “Go to now it is eatier -lor. a . camel to go through the eye of a needle.” . V.” x Obion. ,