The things we have in common with other sincere followers of Christ are far greater than the things which separate us from them. We are reformed from others, not against them. Along with this common mission we are committed to a particular mission which finds a spearhead in a special emphasis and plea. We have stressed the truth that the essence of Christianity is the response of persons to a Person. The Church is committed to the task of winning persons to this response.
Evangelism is the primary commission.
This truth is not peculiar to us. It is not our distinctive contribution, but it is a characteristic emphasis of our movement. Undergirding this emphasis our particular mission is rooted historically in a protest against division and a plea for the union of all Christians on a divinely given basis. From the beginning it has been our ideal to be a movement. It is not easy to maintain this ideal for it involves constant tension and man is ever tempted to escape tension.